INDIA & THE WORLD BILATERAL AFFAIRS NOVEMBER 2012

INDIA & THE WORLD BILATERAL AFFAIRS NOVEMBER 2012

• India and Libya on 30 November signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in New Delhi, for cooperation in the field of election management and administration, with Libyan Election Commission seeking training and electoral assistance from Election Commission of India. The MoU was signed by the Chief Election Commissioner of India, V.S. Sampath and the Deputy Chairman of the High National Election Commission of Libya, Mr. Najeeb Abdessalam Mohammed Arrabiti. The major aims of MoU are: promotion of exchanges of knowledge and experience in electoral processes; exchange of information, materials, expertise and training of personnel; production and distribution of materials pertaining to electoral systems, voting technology, voters’ education and awareness, and participation of women and minorities in electoral process. Election Commission of India has so far signed sixteen MOUs with Election Management Bodies and international organizations across the world. Some of the MoU signed recently are with Egypt, Venezuela, Republic of Korea and UNDP.
  
• A social security agreement between India and Sweden was signed in New Delhi on 26 November. The agreement was signed by Vayalar Ravi, Union Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs from the Indian side and Mr. Ulf Kristersson, Minister for Social Security of Sweden from Swedish side. Speaking on the occasion, Ravi said this agreement will help both the countries in more investment and work opportunities for nationals of India and Sweden. The Minister said this agreement will encourage more and more Indians to go to Sweden for employment opportunities. Mr. Kristersson said that 156 Swedish companies are operating in India and expressed the hope that this agreement will encourage Swedish people to come in large numbers to India. He said, India is the first Asian countries with which Sweden has signed this type of agreement.The Social Security Agreement will enhance cooperation on social security between the two countries. The Agreement will provide following benefits to Indian nationals working in Sweden: a) For short term contract up to two years, no social contribution would need to be paid under the Swedish law by the detached workers provided they continue to make social security payment in India. b) The above benefits shall be available even when the Indian company sends its employees to Sweden from a third country. c) Indian workers shall be entitled to the export of the social security benefit if they relocate to India after the completion of their service in Sweden. d) The self-employed Indians in Sweden would also be entitled to export of social security benefit of their relocation to India.
  There are about 18,000 Overseas Indians in Sweden, most of whom are working as professional and self-employed. However, there is a huge potential for Indian workers to take employment in Sweden owing to the huge labour supply gap in the market. As such, a bilateral Social Security Agreement with Sweden is a significant requirement from the futuristic point of view to take advantage of the emerging employment opportunities and to strengthen the trade and investment between the two countries. India has singed similar agreements with Belgium, Germany, France, Switzerland, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Hungary, Denmark, Czech Republic, the Republic of Korea, Norway, Finland, Canada and Japan.
  
• India-Maldives Joint Military Training Exercise EKUVERIN 2012 held in Belgaum
  The fourth Joint Military Training Exercises between the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) - EKUVERIN 2012 - was held in Belgaum, India from 12 to 25 November 2012. A total of 45 personnel from the MNDF are taking part in the exercises along with the personnel from the Indian Army. The bilateral annual exercises, which commenced in 2009 in Belgaum, are alternately held in India and Maldives. The aim of the exercises is to enhance the close military cooperation between the two countries. In April 2012, both countries, along with Sri Lanka, held joint Coast Guard/Naval exercises – DOSTI XI - off the coast of Male (Maldives) to strengthen the bonds of friendship and enhance mutual operational capability and cooperation in the region.
  
• The 2nd India-China Strategic economic Dialogue held in New Delhi
  The 2nd India-China Strategic Economic Dialogue was held in New Delhi on 26 November, 2012. During the 2nd meeting of the Dialogue, India and China discussed a wide range of topics including greater cooperation at the global level, strengthening communication on macro-economic policies, deepening and expanding trade and investment and promoting bilateral cooperation in the financial and infrastructure sectors. The proposals and recommendations made by the five Working Groups were considered during the 2nd Dialogue and directions given for their future activities.
  
• A delegation of Saudi – India Business Network (SIBN) which called on the Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Dr. S Jagathrakshakan in New Delhi on 22 November, showed keen interest on investing in India and forming joint ventures with Indian companies. The 15 member ISBN delegation was led by its President Dr. Ghazi Binzagar. The Saudi delegation showed particular interest in petroleum, petrochemicals, fertilizers, infrastructure, food processing, health care, herbal and medicinal sectors. Addressing the delegation, Dr Jagathrakshakan detailed the vast investment potential available in India following the spate of new initiatives and liberalization. He said the proposed US $ 750 million Saudi – Indo Investment Fund, jointly set up by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia and the Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation (IDFC) will start in the near future.The fund focuses on channelizing Saudi investments into Indian infrastructure projects. The Minister called upon the delegation to utilize the services of ‘India Invest’ a joint venture special purpose vehicle of the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion with FICCI and the State governments. ‘Invest India’ gives a fillip to investment promotion and handholding services to foreign investors particularly to the Small and Marginal Enterprises (SMEs) and family owned overseas enterprises in a structured manner. Dr. Jagathrakshakan also invited the Saudi business community to participate in the oncoming 4th GCC-India Industrial Conference (IGIC) to be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from 19th to 21st February 2013.
  
• India and Israel diplomatic relations were established in 1992. To mark the occasion of 20 years of diplomatic relations, India Post has issued a set of two stamps (Joint Issue-each stamp of Rs. 5 denomination)depicting the festival of lights, Deepavali & Hanukkah, on 5th November, 2012. Hanukkah, is a Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabeen Revolt of the 2nd century BC. Hanukkah is observed for eight night and days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar by lighting candles in windows or doorways on each of the eight nights of Hanukkah. The candles are lit in a unique candelabrum, the nine-branched Menorah or Hanukkah. Like the ‘diyas’ of Deepavali, the Hanukkah candles symbolize the triumph of good over evil and the victory of justice over injustice. The stamps are valid for postal use till the stocks last. India Post Commemorates National and International events by releasing Commemorative and Special Postage Stamps.
  
• Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad laid the foundation-stone of PPD Secretariat Building in Dhaka on 12 November. Azad is currently on an official tour to Bangladesh capital Dhaka in connection with the International Conference on “Evidence for Action: South-South Collaboration for ICPD beyond 2014” organized jointly by Partners in Population and Development (PPD) and Bangladesh and also for attending PPD governance meetings. Bangladesh is one of the 10 founding members of PPD. It has since 1996 not only been hosting the Secretariat but has also created a conducive environment for seamless functioning of the Secretariat. PPD was created in Cairo in 1994, where during the landmark International Conference on Population and Development, ten developing countries united to establish Partners in Population and Development; a unique inter-governmental organization to facilitate the implementation of the ICPD Program of Action in developing countries through South - South Cooperation. PPD currently serves over 57% of the world population and is a permanent observer to the United Nations. Its membership has grown from 10 founding members in 1994 to 25 member countries in 2012 across the global south. Apart from the Secretariat in Dhaka, Bangladesh, PPD has an Africa Regional Office in Kampala, Uganda and a Programme Office in China.
  
• Hamid Karzai, the President of Afghanistan paid a state visit to India from 9 November to 13 November 2012 following the invitation of the President of India Pranab Mukherjee. During his India Visit the Afghanistan’s President attended a business meet at Mumbai on 10 November 2012 participated by the business leaders of India. On 12 November 2012, he delivered a Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Memorial lecture that was organised by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) in New Delhi. The good relations started between the two nations after the two signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement in October 2011 for creation of strong ties between both the nations.
  
• India and Japan on 16 November inked two strategic agreementsincluding one that will enable Tokyo to import rare earth minerals that is vital for producing a range of high-tech products. The agreements were inked in Tokyo by Japanese foreign minister Koichiro Gemba and India's ambassador to Japan Deepa Wadhwa. Under the signed agreement, Japan will import over 4,000 tonnes of rare earths a year from India. This is its second deal this month to diversify supply from China for the metals used in mobile phones and hybrid cars to missile guidance systems. Japan has in the past imported all its rare earth requirements from China but has been scouting for alternatives after political turbulence hit its ties with Beijing. With rare earth production at full throttle, India could supply around 4,100 tons annually, equivalent to around 10 percent of Japan's peak annual demand. The production and exports will be conducted by a joint venture between Japan's Toyota Tsusho Corp. and India's state-run Indian Rare Earths Ltd. The other deal is Social Security Agreement which will immediately benefit about 30,000 citizens of both countries. About 22,000 Indians working in Japan and about 8,000 Japanese are employed in India and their social security contributions won't be deducted in both countries.
  
• India and Canada agreed on 6 November to boost cooperation in civil nuclear energy, agriculture, information technology and joint research and development in the defense field. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper arrived India on a six day visit .Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Indian P.M Manmohan Singh felt that "energy cooperation, particularly exports of Canadian oil and natural gas as well as renewable energy cooperation, was an area with enormous potential."Harper said the two sides welcomed the conclusion of discussions for operationalizing an agreement on civil nuclear energy cooperation they signed two years ago.The agreement provides Canada's nuclear industry access to India's expanding nuclear market cooperating with Indian civilian nuclear installations under international safeguards.India stressed that cooperation with Canada in the field of agriculture was crucial to its food security as it imported 40 percent of its pulses and 25 per cent of potash requirements from Canada.Indian and Canadian officials signed three agreements for avoidance of double social security contributions by workers and cooperation in the areas of information technology, electronics and joint research and development in the defense field and science and technology.Sources said, Canada is seeking to boost its presence in Asia, and two-way trade touched $5.2 billion last year, up more than 28 percent from 2010. Total Canadian investment in India was estimated about $4.3 billion. Both sides expect the two-way trade to triple to $15 billion by 2015.Canada mainly exports vegetables, fertilizers, machinery and wood pulp, while its main imports from India are organic chemicals, knit and woven apparel, precious stones and metals, electronics and machinery.
  
• The first ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting on cooperation in Renewable Energy was held in the New Delhi on 7 November. Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Minister of New and Renewable Energy while inaugurating the meeting said that this meeting is a unique opportunity to catalize the India-ASEAN Renewable Energy family. He underlined the importance of Renewable Energy in India’s energy security, for achieving its goal of providing reliable energy supply and access through a diverse and sustainable energy mix. He stated that ASEAN member countries and India have several commonalities in their quest for targeting renewable energy. Globally, renewable energy has started making a positive impact on energy supply. The Global Renewable Energy Status Report 2012 reveals that renewable energy has grown to supply 16.7 per cent of the global energy consumption.Dr. Farooq Abdullah stated that today India stands among the top five countries of the world in terms of renewable energy installed capacity and at present renewable power, with over 26 GW installed capacity, represents about 12.5 percent of the total installed power generation capacity in India. He further said that India aims to achieve about 55 GW of renewable power by 2017. Our renewable energy programme is primarily private sector driven and offers significant investment and business opportunities. The Minister informed that the investment in renewable energy in India has now exceeded US $ 10 billion per year. It may be recalled that ASEAN-India partnership has completed 20 years of existance. To celebrate this successful partnership, the Government of India hosted this meeting of the Ministers of Renewable Energy of ASEAN countries and India. The meeting deliberated and discussed the policy and regulatory framework for promotion of renewable energy in ASEAN member countries and India. The issues of financing of renewable energy, cooperation in research and development, technology transfer were some of the issues that came up for discussion. Prior to this meeting, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), organized an ‘ASEAN-India Workshop on Cooperation in Renewable Energy’ of experts and policy planners from ASEAN countries and India on 5-6 November 2012 at Vigyan Bhavan New Delhi.
  
• India and Malaysia have agreed to promote cooperation in renewable energy, especially in the areas of biomass and biogas, micro hydropower, solar energy and wind power. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to this effect was signed in New Delhi on 8 November. The MoU was signed by Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Minister of New and Renewable Energy and Data’ Sri Peter Chin Fah Kui, Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water, Malaysia. Both the countries also agreed to form a Joint Working Group for better coordination through joint research on subjects of mutual interest, exchange and training of scientific and technical personnel, exchange of available scientific and technologies information and data, organization of workshops, seminars and working groups, transfer of know-how, technology and equipment, on non-commercial basis etc. Dr. Farooq Abdullah briefed his Malaysian counterpart on the progress made by India in renewable energy with special reference to the National Solar Mission launched in 2010 under the National Action Plan on Climate Change.
  
• Tourism Ministry reported that, in the month of October, a total number of 1457 (Visa on Arrivals) VoAs were issued under VoA Scheme as compared to 1234 VoAs during October 2011 registering a positive growth of 18.1 %. During the period January-October 2012, a total number of 12273 VoAs were issued as compared to 9739 VoAs during the corresponding period of 2011, registering a growth of 26 %. As a facilitative measure to attract more foreign tourists to India, Government launched a Scheme of “Visa on Arrival” (VoA) in January 2010 for citizens of five countries, viz. Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand and Singapore, visiting India for tourism purposes. This scheme was extended for the citizens of six more countries, namely Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Laos and Myanmar from January 2011.
  
• The Bangladesh Minister of Agriculture, Begum Matia Chowdhury on 7 november, called on the Union Minister of Water Resources, Harish Rawat in New Delhi. During the meeting, discussions were held on matters of common interest including sharing of waters of Teesta and other common rivers, irrigation projects in Bangladesh, Tipaimukh Hydro-Electric Project, dredging of rivers and other issues of cooperation. Rawat reiterated India’s commitment on signing the Interim Water Sharing Agreement on river Teesta and stated that India is pursuing the matter with stakeholders rigorously and is hopeful of resolving the issue shortly. Rawat also agreed to Bangladesh’s suggestion to help it build irrigation facilities in the South of Bangladesh. It could also help Bangladesh in conservation of ground water, so as to prevent increasing salinity in the coastal region. On the request of Bangladesh Minister to consider supply of amphibian dredgers, Rawat assured full cooperation and requested that a formal proposal be sent by Bangladesh. Both Ministers also agreed to move ahead and expeditiously resolve other minor issues to benefit people of both countries. Frequent consultations / discussions at various levels between the countries were also emphasized.
  
• An agreement for loan of US$ 106 million for Phase-I of the World Bank assistance for the “ICDS Systems Strengthening and Nutrition Improvement Project (ISSNIP)” was signed at New Delhi on 5 November between Prabodh Saxena (Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs) on behalf of Government of India and Mr. Onno Ruhl, Country Director, World Bank (India) on behalf of the World Bank. Representatives from Ministry of Women and Child Development and officials from the World Bank, among others, were present. The overarching Goal of the proposed two-phased Program is to improve nutritional outcomes of children in India. The Objective of the Phase-I is to support Government of India and participating states to: 1)Strengthen the Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS) policy framework, systems and capacities, and facilitate community engagement, to ensure greater focus on children under three years of age. 2)Strengthen convergent actions for improved nutrition outcomes. The Phase-I of ISSNIP is for 3 years.
  
• India and Britain on 8 November 2012 decided to step-up cooperation in Cyber Securityduring the Foreign Minister level talks of both the nations. The representatives of both the nations, William Hague the British Foreign Secretary and Salman Khurshid India's External Affairs Minister after agreeing on the issues of cooperation on cyber crimes, which included cooperation in defining the ways of tackling the cyber crime, bilaterally issued a joint statement on the issues discussed. The London Conference on Cyberspace of 2011 was attended at Ministerial level from the Indian side and following the results of the conference, both the countries started its first dialogue on cooperation in October 2012. India & Britain upgraded the relationship of strategic partnership in the year 2004 and since then the foreign ministers of both the nations have been working on the areas of common interest in the cyber domain. Britain also allowed its citizens to visit Srinagar and Jammu by lifting the ban because of the changed ground realities of the land.
• The Union Finance Minister, P. Chidambram will be arriving in Mexico City, Mexico on 3 November 2012 in order to participate in G-20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ meeting. The Finance Minister along with Governor, RBI D.Subba Rao will attend the session on Global Economy and Framework. On 5 November 2012, the Finance Minister Chidambram along with Governor, RBI and Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance will attend the second session on Financial Regulation and Financial Inclusion, third session on Energy, Commodities and other issues including Climate Finance and Disaster Risk and the last session on International Financial Architecture.
  
• India and UK signed a Protocol amending the Convention between the Government of India and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect of Taxes on Income and Capital Gains (DTAC). This Protocol amends the earlier Convention that was assigned in New Delhi on 25th January, 1993. The Protocol was signed on 30th October 2012 in London by Dr Jaimini Bhagwati, High Commissioner of India to the UK on behalf of the Government of India and Mr David Gauke MP, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury on behalf of the Government of UK. The Protocol streamlines the provisions relating to partnership and taxation of dividends in both the countries. Now, benefits of the Convention would also be available to partners of the UK partnerships to the extent income of UK partnership are taxed in their hands. Further, the withholding taxes on the dividends would be 10% or 15% and would be equally applicable in UK and in India. The Convention, as amended by this Protocol, will provide tax stability to the residents of India and U.K. and will facilitate mutual economic cooperation between the two countries. It will also stimulate the flow of investment, technology and services between India and U.K.
  
• The Government of India is hosting a meeting of the Ministers of Renewable Energy of ASEAN countries and India in New Delhi on 7th November 2012. In the meeting, the Ministers in-charge of Renewable Energy of ASEAN member countries and India would deliberate upon and discuss policy and regulatory framework for promotion of renewable energy in ASEAN member countries and INDIA. Financing of renewable energy, cooperation in research and development, technology transfer and resource assessment would be specific issues that would engage their attention.Prior to the Ministerial level meeting, a two-day workshop on renewable energy of experts and policy planners from ASEAN countries and India is being organized by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Global Innovation Technology Alliance (GITA) and is scheduled in New Delhi on 5-6 November 2012.
  
• The Finance Minister of India, P. Chidambaram and the Minister of Strategy and Finance of the Republic of Korea, Mr. Jaewan Bahk met in Seoul, South Koreaon 2 November, for their 3rd Bilateral Meeting. The two ministers and their delegations discussed a wide range of issues ranging from macro-economic trends and outlook, fiscal cooperation, revision of the Double taxation avoidance convention (DTAC), expanding information sharing between the taxation authorities, cooperation in modernising the customs system of each country, public procurement cooperation and measures to develop co-financing infrastructure projects. The first bilateral meeting of Finance Ministers of India and South Korea was held in Seoul in September 2006 and the second meeting in New Delhi in January 2011.
  
• India-Korea relations rest on deep historical ties based on a strong foundation of shared cultural heritage, commitment to democracy and desire to establish a long-term cooperative partnership. The cooperation between the two countries covers all areas of bilateral relations, namely political, economic and commercial, defence, information technology, science and technology, cultural exchange, etc. The bilateral meeting between the finance ministers is expected to further strengthen this relationship, increase mutual cooperation, and lead to increased investment opportunities in the two countries.
  
• Agriculture and Food Processing Industries Minister, Sharad Pawar is to inaugurate a world-class institution in food processing sector – called NIFTEM - at kundli, Haryana, on 7th November. Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and a number of Union and State Ministers will be present at the inaugural function.NIFTEM or the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management has been conferred Deemed University status. The institute has begun its first academic session this summer. It will confer B. Tech. (Food Technology and Management), M. Tech. and Ph. D. in the area of Food Technology and Management. One important aspect of its functioning is that it has ‘theme centres’ on different sectors such as dairying, cereal-based products, animal protein, beverages, confectionery, and fruit and vegetable based foods. There are also themes cutting across these sectors, e.g. management, packaging, food standards and testing.
  
• With India and China set to hold their annual Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) in New Delhi in the last week of November, both countries this week launched a renewed push to address a ballooning trade deficit which, officials say, is beginning to increasingly strain the trade relationship. While bilateral trade has soared from a few billion dollars to $74 billion last year — when China became India’s biggest trade partner — the trade imbalance has widened rapidly, reaching $27 billion in 2011.

INDIA & THE WORLD BILATERAL AFFAIRS OCTOBER 2012

INDIA & THE WORLD BILATERAL AFFAIRS OCTOBER 2012

• India, U.S. and Japan on its third trilateral meet on 29 October 2012 discussed trilateral cooperation in maritime security and a route through middle or north of Myanmar leading up to Hanoi. The other major area of discussion was on exchanging of proposals for doing projects together in Africa as well as cooperating on the economic side in Afghanistan. The three countries were on cycle of talk which they completed following this meet. The talk began with their first meeting in Washington in December 2011 which was followed by next meeting in Tokyo in April 2012.Talking of maritime security the three countries discussed some specific areas of cooperation which will be productive in the next cycle of talks that is going to begin after the U.S. Presidential elections and with the settling down of next US administration.
  
• Each side gave a strategic overview of the Asia Pacific. While Japan‘s Briefing was primarily focused on dispute with China over the Senkaku islands.India with discussing issues on Myanmar had taken up a trilateral connectivity initiative with Myanmar and Thailand that touched on a route through upper Myanmar that would lead into Vietnam. Also, US briefing was about its much-talked about policy of 'pivot to Asia', which is a move driven by the allure of emerging Asian economies, especially China and India.
  
• An Rs 1,200 crore proposal for procuring 10,000 anti-tank guided missiles for the Army from Russia was cleared on 25 October by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). The CCS cleared the proposal to acquire Russian-origin 10,000 Konkurs-M anti-tank guided missiles for the Mechanised Infantry and Infantry battalions of the Army. The Konkurs-M are part of the weapon systems being procured by the force to augment the anti-tank arsenal in the Army. The Cabinet Committee had last week cleared the purchase of 25,000 Invar missiles for the T-90 tank fleet under a Rs 2,000 crore proposal. The Konkurs are part of the anti-tank weapon family of the force which includes the Milan anti-tank guided missiles which India has been buying from France and also license-producing it at the Bharat Dynamics Limited facilities here.
  
• British High Commissioner to India James Bevan called on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on 22 October to ''engage in'' and ''strengthen'' diplomatic and business ties with the Gujarat government. The meeting follows the British government decision about a fortnight back to resume relationship with Gujarat which had been in a deep freeze since 2002 Godhra riots.
  
• Ministry of Commerce & Industry,Government of India in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Embassy of India, Beijing is organizing the “India Show” concurrently with 6th China International Auto parts Expo from 26-28 October, 2012 in Beijing. The event is organized during this year which has been announced as the "Year of India-China Friendship and Cooperation", pledging to push the Sino-Indian strategic cooperative partnership to a new level. As part of India Show, CII will be leading a high-powered 19 member CEOs/ Business delegation led by Mr S Gopalakrishnan, President Designate CII & Executive Co-Chairman Infosys Technologies Ltd from 25-26 October 2012.CII is also organizing the India China Business Seminar on 26th October 2012 coinciding with the inauguration of India Show. Further, as part of the “India Show” an Indian wine festival is being organized by Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and an Indian Cultural and Dance Performance by Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). The Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India and CII attaches great importance to this show in enhancing the ties between two emerging economies and also in building “Brand India” in China.
  
• V.Narayanasamy, Minister of State (PMO & PP), said India attaches highest importance to its relationship with Bangladesh. He welcomed Mr. Hossain Toufique Imam, Adviser to Prime Minister, Bangladesh and appreciated the meeting with him on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management (CAPAM) Biennial Conference hosted by India on 25 October ,in New Delhi. This meeting had a very fruitful dialogue with Bangladesh that covered commencement of unfettered 24-hour access across the Tin Bigha corridor as well as duty-free import of all items, except 25. The Minister of State referred to the cultural identity of the people of Bangladesh and India and the age old relationship between the two countries since 1971. He also mentioned on the commonality between the two countries on health, education, and border issues. Narayansamy looked forward to a deeper engagement and interaction with each other on various issues of administrative reforms, pension, and best practices in the area of public administration and governance.
  
• India and Spain on 26 October, signed an Audio visual Co-production Agreement in New Delhi, seeking to improve cooperation between the two countries in the audio visual sector. The Agreement was signed between Ambika Soni, Minister for Information & Broadcasting and Mr. Jose Garcia Margallo Y. Marfil, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Kingdom of Spain. The agreement establishes a legal framework for relations regarding cooperation between the two countries in the audio visual field thereby facilitating the development of the audiovisual industry. The framework for co production includes feature films, documentary and animation films. The agreement provides opportunities for both the countries to pool their creative, artistic, technical, financial and marketing resources to co-produce films. The co-production would provide an opportunity to create and showcase ‘soft power’ of our Country. Currently, as part of the initiative, the Government has signed co-production agreements with Government of Italian Republic in 2005, with Government of UK of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 2005, with Federal Republic of Germany in 2007, with Federal Republic of Brazil in 2007, with Republic of France in 2010, with Government of Republic of New Zealand in 2011, with Government of Republic of Poland in 2012.
  
• Memorandum of Understanding between the Indian Railways and RENFE-Operadora and ADIF (Spanish Railways Infrastructure Manager) of Spain on technical cooperation in the field of Railway sector was signed by the Minister of Road Transport & Highways and Minister of Railways, Dr. C.P.Joshi and visiting Spain Minister of Public Works and Transport, Ms. Ana Pastor Julián, in New Delhi on 26 October. Under this MOU, both the countries are to promote cooperation and information exchange in the areas of High Speed Railway, upgradation of speed of passenger trains on existing lines, improving safety of train operations, modernization of Rolling Stock, construction and maintenance technologies for fixed infrastructure – Track, Bridges, Tunnels, OHE, Power Supply Systems, Signaling and Telecommunications and other cooperation in railway related technology developments.
  
• Memorandum of Understanding between India and Spain on Roads and Road Transport Sectorwas signed by the Minister of Road Transport & Highways and Minister of Railways, Dr. C.P.Joshi and visiting Spain Minister of Public Works and Transport, Ms. Ana Pastor Julian in New Delhi on 26 October. The objective of MOU include promoting efficient and environmentally sustainable transport systems and to institutionalize a technical and scientific cooperation in the fields of road infrastructure, construction, maintenance and management of roads. It will also include exchange of information between Government officials and specialists of the Highway Departments in the field of transportation by road, and promote and develop the relations between enterprises (consultancy, engineering and road transport service provider companies) to enable transfer of technology in the field of road and road transport.
  
• The Government of India and the Government of Spain signed in New Delhi on 26 October, the Protocol for amending the Convention and Protocol between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Kingdom of Spain for avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and on capital. The Protocol has been signed by the Union Finance Minister of India, P. Chidambaram on behalf of India, while Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Spain, Jose Manuel Garcia-Margalloy Marfil signed it on behalf of Spain.
  
• India on 22 October 2012 held its first 2+2 dialogue with Japan for enhancement of cooperation in the key areas that includes Maritime, Outer Space and Cyber Security at Tokyo, Japan. During the talks, both the nations agreed to hold a dialogue on Cyber Security on 5 November 2012. The Indian Delegation to Tokyo was led by the Foreign Secretary of India Ranjan Mathai and the Defence Secretary Shashi Kant Sharma and their counterparts from Japan were Deputy Foreign Minister Akitaka Saiki and Administrative Vice-Defence Minister Hironori Kanazawa. Ashok Mukherjee, Special Secretary of Ministry of External Affairs would lead the Indian team to the Cyber Security dialogue between the two nations. The scheduled dialogues between the two countries are the results of the action plan initiated in December 2009 for advancement of the security cooperation followed by the meet of June 2010 at New Delhi. The potential expansion of India-Japan defence relations took a kick-start after the Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda lifted the national ban on arm exports following the new guidelines announced under National Defense Program Guidelines in December 2010 in Tokyo. Japan can now sell military equipment and weapons with the purpose of peace-building and peace keeping operations. It can also join hands in weapon and military technology development with partner nations. Besides the traditional partner Russia, India’s defence partners at present are US, France and Israel.
  
• India and Bulgaria will explore the possibilities of cooperation in Tourism Sector. This was decided at a meeting held between Tourism Minister of Bulgaria Mr. Delian Dobrev and Union Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahai on 15 October in New Delhi. It was decided in the meeting that both the countries will identify areas for working together and explore new opportunities in Tourism sector especially in the field of Hospitality Training, Promotion, Marketing, Development and management of Tourist destinations. Both sides also exchanged views to explore the possibilities of promoting investment in the field of hotel industry tourism and infrastructural development. India allows 100% FDI in Hotel sector on automated basis. It was also agreed to explore the possibilities of enhancing air-connectivity between both the countries as lack of direct air connectivity between India and Bulgaria is one of the major reasons for small number of tourists traveling between the two countries. Mr. Delian Dobrev said Bulgaria with its beautiful mountains, the Black-Sea coast boasting of cities like Varna has become an attractive destination for Indian film Industry. Mr. Delian Dobrev is on a visit to India in connection with the 17th session of the Indo-Bulgarian Joint Commission on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation of which he is the co-chairman.
  
• India and Indonesia on 16 October, decided to significantly enhance their defence cooperation with the Defence Minister Shri AK Antony declaring his meeting with his Indonesian counterpart Mr Purnomo Yusgiantoro as a ‘turning point’ and an ‘excellent beginning’. This was the first Ministerial level biennial defence dialogue between the two countries. The two sides exchanged views on a whole range of issues relating to regional and global security, bilateral exercises involving Services, training, co-production of defence equipment and ammunitions and visits at high levels. The defence dialogue mechanism at the highest level was agreed upon during the visit of Indonesian President SusiloBambangYudhoyono to India in January last year. The two sides noted with satisfaction that Defence Cooperation constitutes one of the principal focus areas of their diversified relationship. Encouraged by the success of the first Joint Exercise on Counter Terrorism and Jungle Warfare in India earlier this year, Antony proposed that the two countries should continue the joint exercises between the two armies on a mutually agreed frequency. Similarly, the two navies are regularly conducting coordinated maritime patrols (CORPAT). He also offered to Indonesia establishment of a formal maritime domain information sharing arrangement between the two navies.
  
• The Prime Minister of Australia Ms. Julia Gillard on 17 October called on the President Pranab Mukherjee and held wide ranging discussions on bilateral and multilateral issues. The discussions covered issues relating to trade and investment, energy, supply of resources for India’s economic development, education, and people to people contacts. The two leaders also discussed cooperation in multilateral forums such as G-20 whose summit Australia will host in 2014. The President congratulated the Prime Minister on the launch of Oz fest in Indiaand described it as a good initiative. He said India is committed to strengthen its strategic partnership with Australia. The President expressed appreciation for Australia’s support for India’s candidature in an expanded United Nations Security Council and said the two countries should work together in reforming the international financial architecture and equipping institutions like the World Bank with the resources they need. The Australian Prime Minister informed the President that she was gifting two saplings of Wollemi Pine for the Rashtrapati Bhavan. This tree was discovered in Australia in 1994 and its origins date back to time when the Dinosaurs roamed the earth. She expressed the hope they will flourish in the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
  
• India and Australia on 17 October 2012 announced the launch of nuclear negotiations for a civil nuclear deal that will enable the sale of uranium from Australian Capital city Canberra to New Delhi. The deal was announced by Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on her visit to India. The deal is going to provide stretch in India's civilian nuclear ambitions and will also strengthen bilateral ties between both the Countries. Earlier in 2011, the Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Australian Labour Party refused to sell uranium to India by specifying that India had not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The actual Supply of uranium is going to take couple of years as negotiations for the safeguards agreement are complex and lengthy. Both the Countries also signed four other agreements, the most important of which is agreement on Student mobility and welfare in which they agreed to hold annual meetings at the summit level either bilaterally or during multilateral events. India and Australia also agreed to launch a Ministerial-level Dialogue on Energy Security, establish a Water Technology Partnership and start negotiations for an Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Persons.
  
• Kapil Sibal, Union Minister of Human Resource Development and Steven Joyce, Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment, New Zealand co-chaired the first meeting of the India-New Zealand Education Council held on 19 October in New Delhi. The Council has been constituted to draw up a framework and devise mechanisms of co-operation and set the agenda for improving educational relations between the two countries. Both leaders renewed their commitment to collaboration and partnership in higher education. India and New Zealand expressed their commitment to earmark US $ 1 million annually to enhance the cooperative activities through specific programmes designed by the India-New Zealand Education Council. The programmes will include joint research, student mobility, faculty development, qualifications framework as well as vocational education and training, among others.
  
• Six MoUs of cooperation between different institutions were also signed on during the meeting.
  1. MoU between the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Government of the Republic of India and Sport New Zealand of the Government of New Zealand on Cooperation in the field of Sports. The objectives of this MoU are to encourage and promote an exchange of programmes, experiences, skills, techniques, information and knowledge.
  2. Educational Partnership Agreement between University of Delhi, India and Massy University New Zealand .
  3. Memorandum of collaboration between Indira Gandhi National Open University(IGNOU), India and the Open Polytechnic of New Zealand.
  4. MoU between Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand and Jawahar Lal Nehru University of India.
  5. MoU between Waiariki Institute of Technology of New Zealand and Punjab Technical University, India.
  6. Educational Partnership Agreement/MOU between University of Delhi, India and Lincoln University/Asia-Pacific Football Academy has already been signed.
  
  
• Pakistan’s Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources Asim Hussain met Cabinet Minister of Petroleum and Natural gas of India, Jaipal Reddy in New Delhi on 17 October 2012 on the sidelines of an event PETROTECH 2012 and discussed avenues for energy cooperation, including the trans-regional project TAPI. Asim Hussain talked about the need of hastening work on the TAPI and the importance of demonstrating political will. He also stressed for setting up the economic modality by establishing a Special Purpose Vehicle or consortium duly empowered to take all necessary decisions. The TAPI is the Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline project that is also known as Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India Pipeline, TAP or TAPI. It is basically a proposed natural gas pipeline that is developed by the Asian Development Bank. The project was started on 15 March 1995 by signing a memorandum of understanding between the governments of Turkmenistan and Pakistan for a pipeline project. Under the Proposed plan, the pipeline will transport Caspian Sea natural gas from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan into Pakistan and finally to India.
  
• The Defence Minister AK Antony will embark on a three-day visit to Indonesia, beginning on 15 Oct 2012, to take part in the first Ministerial level biennial defence dialogue between the two countries. The defence dialogue mechanism at the highest level was agreed upon during the visit of Indonesian President SusiloBambangYudhoyono to India in January last year. The defence ties between India and Indonesia have been progressing steadily ever since the two sides signed the Agreement on Defence Cooperation in the year 2001. The Indian Navy and the Indonesian Navy regularly carry out Coordinated Patrols along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). The Armies of the two countries held the first joint exercise in India this year. There are regular training interactions between the Armed Forces of the two countries. Besides meeting the Minister of Defence of Indonesia, Shri Antony is also expected to call on President Yudhoyono and meet the Foreign Minister of Indonesia. The Defence Minister will return home on 17 Oct 2012.
  
• The twelfth meeting of the India-Russia Inter-governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation was held in New Delhi on 11 October. The Indian delegation was led by the Defence Minister Shri AK Antony and the Russian delegation was led by Shri AE Serdyukov, Defence Minister of the Russian Federation. The two sides expressed readiness to take all necessary measures to further expand the cooperation on a mutually beneficial basis. The Commission endorsed the Protocols of the meetings of the Working Group on Shipbuilding, Aviation and Land Systems, (WG SALS) and the Working Group on Military Technical Cooperation (WG-MTC) which was held in New Delhi on 27-28 August 2012 and 30-31 August 2012 respectively. The Commission appreciated the work done by the Co-Chairmen and Members of both the Working Groups and noted with approval the significant progress made in promoting bilateral military technical cooperation between the two countries.
  
• Union Minister of Urban Development Kamal Nath and Ms. Nicole Bricq, Minister for Foreign Trade, Government of France signed an Administrative Agreement in the field of Sustainable Urban Development in Paris on 8 October. Speaking on the occasion, Shri Kamal Nath expressed appreciation for the related work in the field of Sustainable Urban Development carried out in France and felt that India could benefit immensely from the French experience. Kamal Nath stated that both India and France would benefit from the Agreement, as it would provide an enabling platform for the officials, professionals, business leaders and local self-governing bodies to meet and share knowledge and best practices in the urban sector. He expressed the hope that this Joint Declaration would lead to enhanced cooperation and deepen the engagement between the two countries. He invited the international firms including French firms to participate in the process of making cities greener and more sustainable. Kamal Nath also participated in a business roundtable organized by the MEDEF International. The roundtable was attended by leading infrastructure companies. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister highlighted the immense challenges and opportunities that exist in the urban sector in India today. He informed that India would soon launch the next phase of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) and that the Government of India is keen to encourage Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in urban sector, especially in larger cities, which would ease the process of investment and involvement in the burgeoning urban sector in India.
  
• A trade mission, led by Washington governor Christine Gregoire, signed a ‘joint statement of interest’ with the Andhra Pradesh (AP) government for collaboration on trade, commerce and culture between the two states. The current trade mission, which is on a reciprocal visit to a 25-member delegation’s visit from Andhra Pradesh to Washington to promote Brand Hyderabad in particular and the state in general in 2010, comprised 50 members, including 10 companies that are into the information technology (IT) services business. The signing of the statement of interest is aimed at forging relationships in IT, biotechnology, skills development, agriculture, horticulture, clean energy, and health and hygiene. As part of the mission, Gregoire visited the Manikonda campus of Infotech Enterprises Limited, a Hyderabad-based provider of engineering services and Solutions Company. The commercial port city of Seattle in Washington state is home to multinationals like aircraft manufacturer Boeing, which is one of the clients of Infotech, Microsoft, Starbucks Coffee Company and e-commerce player Amazon.
  
• Visiting US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on 10 October met corporate India leaders and discussed the recent American policy measures like the quantitative easing and the economic climate in the country. A majority of the business leaders mentioned that the recent decision of the Federal Reserve to inject third round of liquidity injection and its implications were discussed. Business leaders said that Bernanke explained what the strategy for QE3 (quantitative easing 3) was and assured us that the implications are not going to be as large as people fear. Finance Minister P Chidambaram during interactions with Geithner had expressed his concerns over the impact of the QE3 on commodity prices, as that will have a direct bearing on the government's and the RBI's efforts at controlling inflation and boosting growth here. Mortgage major HDFC Chairman Deepak Parekh said the recent spate of reforms in the country, the need for the government do to reduce subsidies and boost growth were also discussed. Others present at the meeting included CII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee, Kotak group's Uday Kotak, Venu Srinivasan of TVS Group, Ishaat Hussain of Tata Sons and the US Consul General in Mumbai, Peter Haas. Both the visiting US officials had a series of meetings with top government officials, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister P Chidambaram on 9 October in New Delhi apart from industry bodies and will be winding up their India visit with a series of meetings in the financial capital.
  
• Japan and India on 10 October 2012 launched a joint research project into pricing structures in LNG markets. Japan’s industry minister Yukio Edano and Deputy chairman of Planning commission of India Montek Singh Ahluwalia, signed the agreement on joint research in Tokyo. Resource-poor Japan is on the hunt for cheaper energy, with the situation further worsened by the shuttering of all but two of its nuclear reactors amid public distrust following tsunami-sparked meltdowns at Fukushima. Japan is the world’s top importer of liquefied natural gas. India's expanding economy also demand more and more energy keeping this in view both the countries agreed for a research project to study price structure.
• Minister of Railways and the Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Dr. C.P.Joshi and visiting Federal Minister of Transport, Innovation & Technology of Austria Doris Burse signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 1 october,in New Delhi for strengthening long-term relationship and bilateral cooperation on road infrastructure and road transportation technology matters. Speaking on the occasion, the Railway Minister said that Austrian companies have been involved in some major projects in India, both in Road and Railway projects. Starbag, a construction major have done a project in New Delhi and have secured a contract worth 83 million EUROs from Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.The company along with its Indian counterpart Afcons has jointly been awarded the Rohtang pass tunnel worth 250 million EUROs. Likewise Austrian company is designing a railway arch bridge in Jammu & Kashmir.Dr. Joshi said that a Memorandum of Understanding regarding Technologies Specific Cooperation in the field of Railways was signed between the Ministry of Railways, India and Federal Ministry for Transport Innovation & Technology of Republic of Austria in October, 2011.He said that the areas of cooperation have been identified in the fields of Tunneling Technology, Training and upgrading of skills like a psychological qualification test for locomotive drivers, Track maintenance as well as track monitoring & mechanised laying of track, Signaling & Telecom and Traction and Rolling Stock.
  
• India and Austria signed MoU to strengthen bilateral cooperation on Rail and Road:
  A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on 1 October 2012 between Indian and Austria to strengthen the long-term bilateral cooperation and relationship on rail and road infrastructure. The MoU was signed in between C.P. Joshi- the Minister of Railways and Road Transport of India and Highways and the Doris Burse-the Federal Minister of Transport, Innovation and Technology of Austria during her visit to India. The identified areas of cooperation as declared by C.P. Joshi are tunnelling technology enhancement, training and skill up gradation like locomotive drivers’ psychological qualification test, track monitoring as well as maintenance. The memorandum also includes provisions of mechanised track laying, traction and rolling stock and telecom and signalling. As per the provisions of the MoU, there has been an agreement on establishing and encouraging relationship for communication and cooperation that is effective and continue for a long term. The understanding also includes exchange of information related to infrastructural development for roads, their management, administration, road safety and different areas of mutual interests that includes intelligent Transport Systems related to road transport technologies.

INDIA & THE WORLD BILATERAL AFFAIRS SEPTEMBER 2012

INDIA & THE WORLD BILATERAL AFFAIRS SEPTEMBER 2012

• India on 17 september, offered a $40 million soft loan to Burundi, a mineral-rich country in eastern Africa, and signed a clutch of pacts in areas of rural development, education, and health and medicine to cement a burgeoning relationship.Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held talks in New Delhi, with Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza, who is on a three-day visit, on a range of issues including a review of India’s capacity building initiatives in Burundi, deepening trade and investment, and UN reforms.After the talks, the two sides signed the agreements.Underlining India’s commitment to the development of infrastructure in Burundi, Manmohan Singh announced a new line of credit worth over $40 million to Burundi for a farm mechanization and food processing project.This will be addition to the $80 million line of credit for the Kabu hydroelectric project committed earlier.Manmohan Singh also urged the Burundi leader to facilitate Indian investment in agriculture, infrastructure and manufacturing.The two leaders discussed a host of regional and global issues, including the fight against piracy and the need for reforms at the UN Security Council.
  
• India and Egypt signed an MoU for cooperation in the field of electoral management and administration on 17 september,in New Delhi. The Election Commission of India and the Supreme Presidential Election Committee of Egypt will henceforth cooperate on initiatives designed to strengthen electoral systems and democratic institutions, besides training of personnel and human resource development. The MoU was signed between India's Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath and Secretary General of Egypt's Election Committee Hatem Bagato . Sampath said Egypt has evinced keen interest in the use of electronic voting machines and India's voter education programme and techniques used for cracking election frauds.
  
• India and Burundi signed 3 Major Agreements and issued a Joint Statement:
  President of the Republic of Burundi visited India from 17 to 19 September 2012. During this visit, India and Burundi signed three agreements-(i) Exchange Programme for Cooperation in the field of Education, (ii) Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the field of Rural Development and (iii) Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the field of Health and Medicine. Besides, India also announced a Line of Credit of 42.38 million US dollars for Farm Mechanisation and Integrated Food Processing Complex in Burundi.
  
• India and Burundi issued a joint statement on that occasion. The major highlights of the joint statement are as following: 
  • India and Burundi agreed to further enhance the bilateral cooperation in view of the considerable untapped potential.
  • Burundi thanked India for approval of a concessional line of credit of 80 million US dollars for the Kabu – 16 Hydro-electric project.
  • Both nations agreed to continue strengthening cooperation in the areas of economy, trade and investment, finance, human resource development, culture, etc. while striving to expand cooperation into other potential areas such as agriculture, food processing, ICT, science & technology, health, mining etc.
  • Burundi conveyed its support for India’s candidature for Permanent Membership in an expanded United Nations Security Council.
  
  
• Aiming to improve ties between India and Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), "INS Sudarshini", a sail training ship, began its journey on 28 September, from Chennai on a nine nation voyage. Director General, Naval Projects (V) Vice Admiral V K Namballa flagged off the ship, manned by five officers, 31 sailors, 30 Naval and Coast Guard cadets, from the Chennai Port Trust. During its journey, the ship would call on 13 foreign ports across nine nations to bolster friendship across the seas. The ship would take the ancient route of Indian mariners to South East Asia, it said, adding during its journey, the ship would spend a total of 127 days before berthing back at Kochi on March 29, 2013.
  
• India, Palestine against any outside interference in solving Gulf issues:
  India and Palestine on 11 September, called for resolution of all the developments in the Gulf through dialogue without any outside interference. Visiting Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh exchanged views on regional developments, particularly the developments in the West Asian and the Gulf region. "There is a great degree of similarity in our views. We both agree that the developments in the region must be addressed through political dialogue and peaceful means without recourse to violence and outside interference, while taking into account the legitimate aspirations of all people," Dr Singh said in a statement to the media after holding talks with Mr Abbas. Mr Abbas also expressed the commitment of his nation to resolve issues with Israel through negotiations, while calling upon the neighbour to stop all violence and illegal settlements. He thanked India for its continued support to the Palestinian cause and sought to underline that a "Palestinian state with its East Jerusalem as its capital" was all for living in peace with Israel. Responding to the Prime Minister's call for early resumption of the peace dialogue between Palestine and Israel, Mr Abbas said both the states living in peace and security was the objective his government was aspiring forv
  
• India extended a credit of $10 Million aid to Palestine in a gesture of support:
  Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced a support of $10 Million to Palestine during a meet with Palestine’s National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on 11 September 2012. Palestinian president was here in Indian on a three day visit from 10 to 12 September 2012. Mr. Singh also promised his Palestinian counterpart about India’s backing for their full and equal membership of the U.N. the one that is threatened by US for veto. During the meet, both the sides inked three different agreements comprising information and communication technology, education and vocational training. The agreements were inked in presence of the Indian external Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and the member of executive committee of Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) Dr. Saeb M.S. Erakat. A MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) has been signed up to set up two schools at two districts of Palestine namely Abu Dees and Asera Al Shamalyeh, which will be named on the name of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister. Cost estimated for the construction of the two schools is US$ 1.8 million and will help about eight hundred students of these districts to fetch quality education. The schools at Abu Dees and Asera Al Shamalyeh will be constructed in an area of 1700 and 1900 square meter with 10 and 12 classes respectively. In the second agreement, India will set a state-of-the-art information and communication technology center in Palestine to create IT experts and generate opportunities of employment. To make the center of Palestine self reliable, some of the IT professionals from Palestine will be trained here in India to a higher level. As per the third agreement, India will participate in providing vocational training to the women and youth of Palestine. The training will include technical and machinery know-how to. Prime Minister Mr. Singh stated that he supported the Palestinian cause to achieve independent, sovereign and united state of Palestine and East Jerusalem as a capital to the state.
  
• India, Myanmar and Thailand decided to implement Trilateral Connectivity Project by 2016:
  India, Myanmar and Thailand on 10 September 2012 reviewed the eagerly awaited trilateral connectivity project and decided to make all efforts to implement this by 2016. This was done at the meeting of the India-Myanmar-Thailand Joint Task Force, which met in New Delhi. It was also agreed during the meeting that steps be initiated to address issues related to harmonisation of customs and immigration procedures at border check-posts to enable seamless movement of goods and people to realise the full potential of the trilateral highway.
  
• Commerce and Industry Minister, Anand Sharma, on 4 September, said India and Pakistan would soon ink three agreements in the areas of customs co-operation, mutual recognition of standards and redressal of trade issues to give a fillip to economic activity.Addressing a Pakistani Parliamentary delegation at FICCI’s first India-Pakistan Parliamentary Dialogue, Mr. Sharma said India was ready to grant multi-entry and multi-city visas to businessmen from Pakistan. Mr. Sharma said there was a need to also open up more land routes to allow more people-to-people exchange and smooth entry and exit of business community from both nations. India recently allowed Pakistan nationals and companies to invest in India through the semi-automatic approval route. Bilateral trade between India and Pakistan stood at $2.7 billion in 2010-11.Haider Abbas Rizvi, a member of Pakistan National Assembly, said that increase in trade and investment would help both sides to resolve other matters.
  
• India and Tajikistan on 3 September 2012 signed six agreements in the field of sports, health, culture, education, labour, textiles and energy. India and Tajikistan agreed to advance their ties to a strategic partnership in order to impart greater strength to the relationship through all-round co-operation and engagement. Both the countries identified information technology, biotechnology, mining, tourism, pharmaceuticals among other sectors as high potential area. After the agreements, it was decided that India would increase training slots for Tajikistan from 100 to 150 under India Technology and Eco Training Programme.
  
• Minister of State for External Affairs of India E Ahamed and Prime Minister of Niue, H. E. Toke Talagi signed a Joint Communique on the establishment of Diplomatic Relations between India and Niue, at Cook Islands. Niue is a Pacific island country, which is a member of regional bodies such as the Pacific Island Forum and the Pacific Community and also of UNESCO, WTO and FAO.
  Since 2002, India has intensified its cooperative relations with all countries in pacific island region. Niue, is an island of 1400 inhabitants, which is also known as the world’s first “Wi-Fi nation”, in which free wireless Internet access is provided throughout the country. Niue is also known as the ‘Rock of Polynesia’, and is situated 2400 km northeast of New Zealand .
  
• India and Pakistan on 8 September signed the much-awaited new liberalised visa agreement to boost people-to-people contacts between the two nations. The new pact, signed between External Affairs Minister SM Krishna and Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik, replaces a 38-year-old restrictive visa agreement. The new visa policy will ease restrictions on visitors from both the countries. In addition, senior citizens will be granted visas on arrival at the Attari and Wagah border in India and Pakistan respectively. Under the new arrangement, senior citizens will be granted a visa on arrival valid for 45 days. For the first time, group tourism will be part of the new pact which will also have other new categories, including multiple city one-year visas for businessmen and visa-on-arrival for people aged 65 years. 

INDIA & THE WORLD BILATERAL AFFAIRS AUGUST 2012

INDIA & THE WORLD BILATERAL AFFAIRS AUGUST 2012

• India and China, on 27 August agreed to set up a joint working group (JWG) to look into not only trade-related issues but also investments. The working group is expected to come out with a report within 90 days. The decision to set up the JWG was taken at the meeting of India-China Joint Group on Economic Relations, Trade, Science and Technology in New Delhi on 27 August 2012 .The working group is set up even as India has expressed serious concerns over the widening trade deficit with its neighbour and sought a correction. On its part, China expressed serious concern over the imposition of duty on import of power equipment by New Delhi. Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said after the meeting, both countries had also agreed to work on a five-year plan on economic cooperation. His China’s counterpart, Mr. Chen Deming said, in times of global economic crisis, there was a need for strengthening India-China economic relationship. He also expressed the hope that bilateral trade would hit the target of $100 billion by 2015. The total bilateral trade between India and China for 2011-12, stood at 75457.42 million dollar as compared with 59000.36 million dollar in 2010-11. During 2011-12, the exports were 17902.98 million dollar while the imports stood at 57554.44 million dollar. The provisional trade deficit for 2011-12 was 39651.46 million dollar. The Joint Group on Economic Relations, Trade, Science & Technology was formed in 1988 when then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited Beijing.
  
• India and Belgium on 8 August decided to cooperate in the railway sector. A MoU was signed for this purpose in the presence of visiting Deputy Prime Minister Didier Reynders, who also holds the portfolio of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and European Affairs. Speaking on the occasion, Minister of External Affairs SM Krishna said India wanted to collaborate with Belgium in newer areas, particularly in infrastructure and energy sector, including port development, renewable energy, both solar and wind power. He said his discussions with Mr Reyders touched the entire gamut of their bilateral relations and touched on their cooperation in further strengthening the strategic partnership with the European Union. They took note of the fact that despite global economic slowdown, there was substantial increase in their bilateral trade, which has now crossed the 13 billion Euro mark in 2011. Belgium has now emerged as the second largest trading partner in goods sector within the European Union.
  
• On the sidelines of the First India-CELAC Foreign Ministers Troika Meeting in New Delhi on August 7, 2012, Vice Foreign Minister of Cuba ,Mr. Rogelio Sierra Diaz, met with External Affairs of India, S.M. Krishna. During the meeting, both sides reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction. Both sides reiterated their desire to sustain and consolidate these relations. Both sides noted that the total bilateral trade of US$ 40 million between India and Cuba did not correspond to the excellent bilateral ties. They emphasized that the trade turnover should be enhanced through concerted efforts and underlined that new opportunities for cooperation existed in the area of trade and investment. The Cuban side appreciated the importance of the role played by the Indian Company OVL (ONGC Videsh Ltd.) in the field of petroleum exploration in Cuba and sought OVL’s continued engagement in Cuba in this area. The Indian side reiterated its offer of Lines of Credit announced during the visit of its Minister of External Affairs to Cuba in June 2012. India and Cuba agreed on the need for the reform of the United Nations Organisation. The Indian side appreciated Cuba’s expression of support to India’s candidature for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council. Both sides emphasised the continued relevance of the Non-Aligned Movement in the current context of global relations and agreed to work towards the success of the forthcoming NAM Summit in Tehran. India and Cuba expressed appreciation over the importance and significance of the First India-CELAC Troika Ministerial Dialogue and recalled the considerable opportunities available for mutually beneficial cooperation between India and CELAC both in a multilateral manner and bilaterally.
  
• The first meeting of the India-CELAC (The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Troika foreign ministers was held in New Delhi on 7 August 2012. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Chile Alfredo Moreno Charme, the pro-tempore President of CELAC, led the CELAC Troika. The Foreign Minister of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro and the Vice Foreign Minister of Cuba, Rogelio Sierra participated in the meeting as members of the Troika. The External Affairs Minister of India, SM Krishna, led the Indian delegation. The meeting was held with the objective of strengthening India-CELAC relationship India and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean countries (CELAC) agreed to work for raising their relationship to the level of Strategic Partnership and having regular Summit Level Meetings in the near future. Pending an agreement on full-fledged Strategic Partnership, both sides agreed to cooperate in diverse sectors like trade and investment, energy, minerals, agriculture, science and technology, culture, education and people-to-people contacts. They agreed to work together on common global challenges in the interest of developing countries by maintaining coordinated approach on UN reforms, financial crisis, climate change and international terrorism. They urged the international community to adopt a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism at the earliest. Both sides acknowledged the efforts of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) for a renewed political commitment towards Sustainable Development to achieve poverty eradication through a balanced integration of economic, social and environmental aspects.
  
• Giving a big boost to trade and bilateral relations with Pakistan, the Government of India on 1 August , notified law permitting investments by citizens and companies, under the government route, in sectors/activities other than defence, space and atomic energy, of the neighbouring country. The move is likely to give new direction to South Asian economic integration. Pakistan was the only country in the negative list under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), which prohibits investments in India. Sri Lanka was removed from the list in 2006 and Bangladesh in 2007. The initiative is part of a road map drawn by Trade Ministers and leading chambers of commerce of the two countries to give a fillip to trade and economic engagement. Officials in the Industry Ministry said that to address security concerns over investments from Pakistan, FDI proposals from Islamabad would be routed through the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB), which is headed by the Economic Affairs Secretary in the Finance Ministry.
  
• India and Israel on 2 August, entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for launching a programme that would promote collaborative research across a wide range of disciplines from medical and information technology to social sciences, humanities and arts.The programme, which will run for five years, will provide support up to $1,00,000 a research project for three years. The MoU was signed by Professor Geiger Chairman of the Israel Science Foundation and Chairman of University Grants Commission Ved Prakash. After the signing ceremony, Israeli Ambassador Alon Ushpiz noted that both nations hosted some of the best academic institutions. “The linking of our researchers together comes only naturally,” he said. The programme was initiated during a recent visit of Minister for Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal to Israel, when he met with Israel’s Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz, Education Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Chairman of Planning and Budgeting Committee Manuel Trajtenberg.
  
• India, on 2 August, invited Belgium to invest in the upcoming national manufacturing and investments zones (NMIZs) with a focused approach in energy, water disposal as well as treatment, and research and training. This was conveyed to the visiting Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and European Affairs, Didier Reynders, by Commerce and Industry Minister, Anand Sharma, during his meeting in New Delhi. An official statement issued after the meeting said the visiting Belgian Minister offered expertise in water treatment, waste disposal and energy sector which would be useful in NMIZs .NMIZs will be mega industrial zones with world-class supporting infrastructure.The government is offering incentives such as exemption from capital gains tax and a liberalised labour and environment norms to promote these zones.

INDIA & THE WORLD BILATERAL AFFAIRS JULY 2012

INDIA & THE WORLD BILATERAL AFFAIRS JULY 2012

• India, Indonesia Signed Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement:India and Indonesia signed an agreement to avoid double taxation and prevent fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income on 27 July 2012. Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. R. M. Marty Natalegawa and his Indian counterpart S.M Krishna at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi signed the agreement. Apart from the agreement, both sides also signed the agreed minutes of the fourth Joint Commission Meeting between India and Indonesia. Both the countries, reviewed the entire state of bilateral relationship including trade and commerce. Two nations have also agreed to strengthen the bilateral relationship into a strategic partnership both countries share a warm relationship on account of the solid foundation of historical and cultural ties. Both countries are also hopeful of achieving the trade target of 25 billion US Dollars by 2015.
  
• Australia to restart uranium supply to India:
  Months after reversing its policy of not selling uranium to India, Australia on 11th July, said it was in the process of working out internal arrangements to ensure supply of the yellowcake (Uranium) to New Delhi. In December last year, Australia's ruling Labor led by Prime Minister Julia Gillard cleared the way for the Australian uranium to be exported to India after a strong debate on the floor of the party's 46th national conference. Despite resistance from opponents, the landmark policy change was carried out, paving the way for the first Australian country-to-country agreement to sell yellowcake to a nation outside the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Australia has the world's largest reserves of uranium and its ores are considered to be of superior quality among those found elsewhere across the globe. Currently, Australia exports uranium to China, Japan, Taiwan and the United States. However, it had earlier declined sale to India citing a policy that barred nuclear trade with countries that were not signatories to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
  
• India, Singapore Signed Agreements and MoU :
  India and Singapore signed three key bilateral agreements and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 11 July 2012, New Delhi. The agreements were signed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong. While the MoU was signed by Indian Labour Minister Malikarjun Kharge and Singapore Education Minister Heng Swee Keat.
  
  Salient points of Agreements:
  Both the countries, in the memorandum of understanding have decided to renew the bilateral arrangement between the Air Forces on joint training
  The military training agreement was signed between Indian Defence Secretary Shashi Kant Sharma and Singapore's Permanent Secretary for Defence Chiang Chie Foo. It stated that the military training that Indian armed forces extend to their Singaporean counterparts shall by all means continue.
  The other agreement focused on expansion of joint ventures, technological collaboration both bilaterally and in third countries.
  The agreement also stated that Singapore is all game for investment in education and health. - Both the countries in the agreement also decided to pin on defence cooperation.
  
• Pakistan willing to resolove bilateral disputes with Inida:
  Pakistan on 12th July, said it is willing to go by the agreement that it had in the past with India to resolve some of the disputes like Sir Creek and Siachen. ''If you look at may be some of the disputes that we have. We have Sir Creek, we have Siachen... Pakistan has already made it clear that we are willing to go by the agreement that we had in the past,'' Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar told in an interview. She said the two countries must move forward in the relationship and ''moving forward would require that we all are able to sometimes show flexibility, some times we don't need to show flexibility.'' Ms. Khar is in the Cambodian capital to attend the ASEAN Ministerial meeting.
  
• The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in partnership with Government of India and Afghanistan along with Afghan investment and business organizations organized a “Delhi Investment Summit on Afghanistan” on 28 June, 2012. The summit took place at Hotel Taj Palace, New Delhi. The primary objective of the summit was to attract foreign investment into Afghanistan opening in areas like Hydrocarbons, mining and infrastructure. It envisioned fruitful partnerships to help invest in Afghanistan.The participants in the summit were not only the investors from the public sectors, but also private sectors. The summit was expected to provide an extraordinary opportunity to get information on investment opportunities in Afghanistan.

INDIA & THE WORLD BILATERAL AFFAIRS JUNE 2012

INDIA & THE WORLD BILATERAL AFFAIRS JUNE 2012

• India and South Korea on 28 June decided to enhance engagement in civil nuclear energy cooperation as well as space activities including the launch of Korean satellites by India.
  
• The two sides also evaluated the progress and expansion of their Strategic Partnership during the 2nd India–Republic of Korea (ROK) Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue here.
  
• While the Indian side was led by Sanjay Singh, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs, the Korean side by Ahn Ho-young, First Vice Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
  
• The two sides accepted to work on upgrading their Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with a view to ensuring that it reflects current realities.
  Noting with satisfaction that in the two years since the implementation of CEPA, bilateral trade has surged by 70 percent to USD 20.5 billion in calendar 2011, the two sides welcomed recent progress in the implementation of the POSCO project in eastern India.
  In view of the large Korean business presence in Tamil Nadu, the ROK expressed interest in opening a new Consulate General in Chennai while welcoming India’s decision to open a new Defence Attache’s Office at its Embassy in Seoul before the end of the year.
  The ministry says that enhancement of cooperation in the field of science and technology was also discussed. In this context, the two sides decided to encourage enhanced engagement in civil nuclear energy cooperation as well as space activities including the launch of Korean satellites by India.
  
• India and China on 21 June 2012 agreed to increase their defence and security dialogue and work to take steps to ensure that the two countries achieve a 100 billion dollars trade target by 2015. The decision was taken on the sidelines of the Ri0+ 20 summit at Rio De Janeiro. India also raised the border issue during the talks. India and China agreed that they would continue political dialogue at the political level. India and China also decided that the special representatives would work for preparing the joint record of their work so far, which was already announced in January 2012 and give directions for the future co-ordination between the two countries.
  
• India and Israel made a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to expand the bilateral relation in the tourism sector on 24 June 2012. Israel, under the MoU, will open a tourism office in Mumbai and increase the frequency of flights to India. The MoU was signed between Israeli Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov and his Indian counterpart Minister Subodh Kant Sahai in Jerusalam in Israel. Israel is also set to invest 660000 dollar to draw more Indian tourists to the country. The MoU also set the foundation to establish a tourism development forum, which will seek the advice from various stakeholders including travel agents, hoteliers, and tour operators and from the media, to expand tourism market in both the countries. The two countries have a great scope of tourism development by engaging into cooperation as nearly 40000 Indian tourists visit Israel every year, and the same number of Israeli citizens comes to India annually.
  
• US defence secretary Leon Panetta came India on a two-day visit on 5 June 2012. The visit was aimed at strengthening bilateral strategic and defence cooperation between the two nations. Panetta visited India as the part of his week-long visit to Asia to formulate a new US defence strategy to allies and partners in the region. The strategy, which was released in January 2012, calls for a shift in US strategic focus to the Asia-Pacific. As the time for the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan is nearing, America seeks to establish a stronger strategic and defence tie with India, so that it could keep a tab on the region’s geopolitics even after the withdrawal of its troops. Many analysts believe that the Panetta’s visit is the part of Pentagon’s policy to team up with India against the growing Chinese assertiveness in the global politics.
  
• India on 8 June 2012 announced to allow foreign direct investment from Pakistan. The move is aimed at strengthening the bilateral economic relations between the two countries. The decision will also facilitate the economic integration in the South Asian region. The Union Finance Ministry had received a proposal by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) seeking changes in Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) to allow FDI from Pakistan. Under the present FDI policy, a Pakistani citizen or an entity incorporated in there is not allowed to invest in India. The Government had earlier allowed investments from Bangladesh under the FIPB route. The bilateral trade between India and Pakistan for the year 2010-11 stood at 2.7 billion dollar. With 2.32 billion dollar exports, India dominated the trade, which grew at a rate of 47 per cent and also approaching forward to occupy 1 per cent share of Indian global exports.

INDIA & THE WORLD BILATERAL AFFAIRS MAY 2012

INDIA & THE WORLD BILATERAL AFFAIRS MAY 2012

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh returned 29 may after a three-day visit to Myanmar during which the two countries agreed to expand trade, improve connectivity and bring peace in border areas and emphasised on closer ties to boost energy security. The two countries inked a dozen agreements, including a $500 million credit line, on areas like border area development and air services. Manmohan Singh, who held wide-ranging talks with President Thein Sein, also met Myanmar's iconic leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who said she was "very happy at the prospect of closer ties with India". 

India and Bahrain, on 31 May 2012 made a Tax Information Exchange Agreement to promote economic cooperation and joint investment between the two countries. The agreement is aimed at increasing bilateral trade that stands at 1.7 billion dollar. The agreement with its provision for effective exchange of information between the two countries will help in reducing tax evasion and tax avoidance.The agreement was signed by Indian Minister of State for Finance Namo Narain Meena and Bahrain’s Minister of Transportation and Acting Chief Executive of Economic Development Board Kamal Ahmed in New Delhi. The two countries also inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to make the ties on technological front more effective. Under the newly signed MoU India will provide technical assistance to Bahrain and help it to develop its own IT sector in Bahrain.

INDIA & THE WORLD BILATERAL AFFAIRS APRIL 2012

INDIA & THE WORLD BILATERAL AFFAIRS APRIL 2012

• The Union Cabinet on 26 April 2012 in a meeting headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh approved the signing of a new liberal visa regime with Pakistanthereby paving way for easing travel restrictions and increasing people-to-people exchange. India and Pakistan had decided to ease visa regulations during the meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari in New Delhi on 8 April 2012.
  
• India and Germany on 10 April 2012 decided to promote bilateral cooperation in the field of sustainable urban development through exploration of solutions to problems of mutual concern. A joint declaration to this effect was signed at a meeting in New Delhi between Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath and his German counterpart Peter Ramsauer. The Joint Declaration envisages promoting discussion and strategies on integrated policies and principles for urban development and revitalization in the two nations.
  
• India and Qatar on 9 April 2012 signed six agreements, including a pact on cooperation in oil and gas exploration. The agreements were signed in New Delhi during the visit of Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al- Thani. Both the leaders had discussions on a range of issues, including boosting trade and investment as well as energy ties between the two countries. Issues relating to the welfare of Indian workers in the Gulf country were also discussed. A memorandum of Understanding was also signed between the Reserve Bank of India and Qatar Central Bank.
  
• India and UAE signed an agreement on 4 April 2012 to ease the entry of Indian contract workers in the Emirates. The agreement was signed in Abu Dhabi, UAE. It provides for an electronic contract registration and validation system to safeguard and protect the interests of migrant Indian workers. The move would ensure a transparent, legal and less cumbersome migration of Indian workers to the Emirates. India is the first country with which the United Arab Emirates has entered into the landmark agreement to safeguard the interests of the migrant Indian workers to the Emirates.
  
• In the visit of Brazil President Dilma Rouseff, India and Brazil on 30 March agreed to step up efforts towards global reforms, particularly of the U.N. Security Council. The two countries also agreed to further strengthen the bilateral strategic partnership and exploit full potential in areas such as trade, education, defence, space and nuclear energy. Two countries also set a trade target of 15 billion dollars by 2015. The two sides also signed six documents to enhance cooperation in the fields of science and technology, education and culture.

INDIA & THE WORLD BILATERAL AFFAIRS MARCH 2012

INDIA & THE WORLD BILATERAL AFFAIRS MARCH 2012

• The Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh visited South Korea on 25 March 2012.India and South Korea agreed to set a new bilateral trade target of 40 billion US dollars by 2015. During his visit, India and South Korea decided that the seventh meeting of the Joint Commission will be held in New Delhi in 2012. It was also decided that both countries will explore constructive and forward looking ways to facilitate greater access to each other’s products and services.
  
• The Fourth BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) Summit was held in New Delhi on 29 March 2012. The BRICS nations signed two major agreements during this summit. One was to boost trade among BRICS nations by offering trade in local currency. This will replace dollar as the main currency of trade among them. The other agreement was to set up a development bank on lines of multilateral lending agencies. The theme of the Summit was- BRICS Partnership for Global Stability, Security and Prosperity. BRICS declaration (Delhi declaration) issued at the end of the summit says situation concerning Iran cannot be allowed to escalate into conflict. Declaration says BRICS recognises Iran's right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy and supports resolution of issues through dialogue. The fifth BRICS summit will be held in March- April 2013 in South Africa. The first summit was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia in June 2009.
  
• India and Colombia on 12 March 2012 signed a Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP) in New Delhi for the period of 2012-2016. Both India and Colombia shall contribute to the exchange and cooperation between institutions and organisations that deals with cultural affairs, as well as amongst cultural creators, researchers and cultural agents of the two nations.
  Both the nations have agreed to set up a joint working group to look after the implementations of their programme. The joint working group will have a meeting alternately in India and in Colombia when decided by both the nations.

INDIA & THE WORLD BILATERAL AFFAIRS FEBRUARY 2012

INDIA & THE WORLD BILATERAL AFFAIRS FEBRUARY 2012

• India and Saudi Arabia on 13 February 2012 agreed to set up a Joint Working Group on Defence Co-operation during the visit of Defence Minister A.K Antony. The two sides held wide ranging talks including those on combating terrorism and piracy and co-operation in regional affairs.India opined that the situation in the Gulf region is a cause of great concern for India. It hoped the crisis will be resolved through peaceful dialogue.
  
• The 12th India-EU Summit was held in New Delhi on 10 February 2012. EU was represented by Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, and Mr. Jose Manuel Durao Barroso, President of the European Commission.

INDIA & THE WORLD BILATERAL AFFAIRS JANUARY 2012

INDIA & THE WORLD BILATERAL AFFAIRS JANUARY 2012

• India, Japan and China entered into a pact to share data to achieve the most efficient use of Naval Forces present in the Indian Ocean Region. The initiative is known as the Shared Awareness and Deconfliction (SHADE). The initiative began functioning from 1 January 2012. China, India, and Japan also agreed to carry out more effective coordination by establishing a convoy coordination working group as part of the Shared Awareness and Deconfliction Mechanism. 
• Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago Kamla Persad Bissessar visited India from 5 January 2012 to 14 January 2012. India and Trinidad & Tobago on 6 January 2012 signed five agreements during her visit. The agreements are as following: 1)Memorandum of Understanding between India and Trinidad & Tobago on co-operation in the field of traditional Systems medicine.2)Air Services agreement between India and Trinidad & Tobago.3)Technical Cooperation Agreement (In the field of Education) between India and Trinidad & Tobago.4)Programme of Cultural Exchanges between India and Trinidad & Tobago for the years 2012-14.5)Memorandum of Understanding between Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences( CCRAS) Department of Ayush, Ministry of Health& Family Welfare, the government of India and the University of West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago. 
• India's National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), on 29 January 2012 signed an agreement with Bangladesh Power Development Board(BPDP) for setting up a joint venture 1320 MW thermal power plant. The joint venture coal-based power plant will be set up at Rampal in Khulna Division of Bangladesh. The project is the first joint venture power plant in Bangladesh. 
• India signed a multi-lateral agreement with France and Germany to check tax evasion and avoidance. It was signed under the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), a top global financial body, at its headquarters in Paris.

INDIA & THE WORLD BILATERAL AFFAIRS DECEMBER 2011

INDIA & THE WORLD BILATERAL AFFAIRS DECEMBER 2011

• The Prime Minister of India visited Russia on 15-17 December 2011 to participate into the Indo-Russian annual summit. India and Russia signed five major agreements during this summit, which includes licensed production of an additional 42 Sukhoi combat planes and to manage fly ash residue at thermal plants in Siberia. India and Russia also signed an educational exchange programme to share experiences in the field of pedagogy. India and Russia decided to commemorate the 65th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Russia in 2012.
  
• India and Australia on 16 December 2011 signed an agreement to amend DTAA(Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement) with the objective of ensuring more effective exchange of financial information between the two countries. DTAA was signed between India and Australia in 1991. The revised tax agreement will facilitate the exchange of information on banking related information and taxation policies. The revised agreement also has a provision that India and Australia can assist each other in the collection of revenue claims.
  
• The 194-member countries attended the UN COP17 Climate Summit held in Durban in South Africa. On behalf of India Union Minister for Environment Jayanti Natarajan attended the summit.
  
• India and Russia signed agreement in Moscow forcooperation in the area of warplanes.
  
• The first fully modified aircraft, EMB-145I for the indigenously developed Indian Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&C) undertook its maiden flight from Sao Jose dos Campos in Brazil on 6 December 2011. The modified Embraer aircraft undertook its maiden flight with about 1000 Mission System Components provided by the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) of the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO). The indigenous system, AEW&C estimated to cost around Rs 1800 crore would detect, identify and classify threats present in the surveillance area and act as a command and control centre to support air operations, according to DRDO officials. The systems for the EMB-145I aircraft is currently being developed by Bangalore-based Centre for Air Borne Systems (CABS), a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) facility. India and Brazil had signed a deal in 2008, under which Embraer was to supply the aircraft. The fully integrated AEW&C system would be flight tested in 2012.
  
• Australia's ruling Labor Party voted with 206 votes to 185 to lift the ban on exporting uranium to India. Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard proposed to lift the decade old ban on India for supply of uranium. Australia is holding 40 percent of world's uranium stocks.

INDIA & THE WORLD BILATERAL AFFAIRS NOVEMBER 2011

INDIA & THE WORLD BILATERAL AFFAIRS NOVEMBER 2011

• The IBSA (India-Brazil-South Africa) gifted a sports centre to the Palestinian Authority inNovember 2011. Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed, Ambassador Paulo Cordeiro de Andrade Pinto of Brazil and South Africa's Deputy Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Marius Fransman attended the inauguration ceremony in Ramallah, Palestine for the occasion.India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Multipurpose Sports Center was constructed inRamallah with the funding of IBSA Forum. It is the first IBSA project in the entire Middle East.
  
• The Prime Minister attended the 9th ASEAN-India and East Asia Summits at Bali in Indonesia. He also held bilateral talks with US President Barack Obama, Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao. Manmohan Singh also met Prime Minister of Cambodia, Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard and President of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on the sidelines of the Summits. The biggest gathering of Asian countries in Bali, Indonesia sought domination of economic agenda of interest to their region. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stated that Asian countries have stake in early resolution of euro zone crisis and should send a message of solidarity to Europe. In the second leg of his tour, the Prime Minister visited Singapore, where he held bilateral meeting with Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong. Lee supported India's permanent membership in the UN Security Council.
  
• India and the United Arab Emirates on 23 November 2011 signed two key agreements. The first agreement will allow each other's convicted prisoners to serve the rest of their jail terms in their native country. It is likely to benefit 1000 Indians imprisoned in different UAE jails for various crimes. The second agreement is related to security cooperation. The agreement seeks to increase cooperation on several issues like organized crime, combating terrorism and drug trafficking. India and UAE already have an extradition treaty.
  
• Chinese Ambassador, Zhang Yan to India on 17 November 2011 handed over the cheque of 1 million US dollars for construction of a library in Nalanda International University (NIU) to highlight the Chinese art and architecture. The fund will be used for the construction of a library, which will help in strengthening the relations between India and China. China fulfilled the commitment made by Premier Wen Jiabao during his Nalanda visit on 21 January 2011. Exchange of culture through Nalanda International University is a major project for China.
  
• A new defence pact was signed between the USA and Australia. This agreement updated a 60-year-old security alliance between the USA and Australia. The pact will allow up to 250 US marines to be stationed in Darwin in northern Australia in the first phase that will begin in 2012. There will be a rotation every six months, which will bring more than 2,500 marines stationed in Australia by 2014. The two nations also agreed to enhance air force cooperation and visits by US carriers to northern Australia.
  
• Switzerland has started sharing banking and tax-related information with India, more than a year after the two countries signed a revised bilateral treaty that is likely to help in tackling black money.
  
• Pakistan on 2 November 2011 decided to grant India most-favoured-nation(MFN) trade status. The Pakistani cabinet voted unanimously to grant most-favored-nation status to India, which in effect gives Indian businesses lower tariffs and fewer trade barriers. It will allow Pakistan to start removing formidable barriers to sales of Indian goods. India had granted Pakistan most favoured nation (MFN) status in 1996. However, Pakistan had shown reluctance to reciprocate until the dispute over Kashmir was resolved.
  
• Bangladesh and Russia on 2 November 2011 signed a deal to build a nuclear power plant at Rooppur in Pabna district. It would be Bangladesh’s first nuclear plant. Russia will provide technical support for setting up two generators each capable of producing 1000 megawatts of electricity. Russia will also supply fund and fuel rods for safe storage. The new safety features will also be implemented in the plant.