• India, EU Seek to Enlarge Bilateral Trade
• India to Help Bhutan Conduct 2008 Elections
• India to Serve on Human Rights Council of UN For One Year
• India, NZ Forge New Links
• India May Sew up $7-bn Iran Pipeline Deal in June

• India, Japan Join Hands to Make Sea Lanes More Secure
• India to Buy 3 More Stealth Frigates Soon
• EU-India Partnership
• NRI Appointed to Top New Jersey Post

To boost bilateral trade between the India and the European Union (EU), a 13.35 million Trade and Investment Development Programme (TIDP) was launched on May 25. The programme was launched at a workshop organised by Overall Technical Assistance Team of the EU, in co-operation with the Confederation of the Food Trade and Industry of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Speaking at the launch of the programme, Mr Etienne Claeye, Head of Operations, EU delegation in New Delhi, said that while India's exports and imports to the EU stood at 22 per cent and 17 per cent respectively, it accounted for a mere 1.5 per cent of EU's global trade. "These figures present great opportunity for both the EU and India to increase trade and investment either way," he added. Speaking in favour of growth of India's trade with EU, he said, additional exports worth 1 million to India would translate into 2,500 stable jobs and support the livelihood of about 10,000 people. The programme seeks to strengthen the food testing laboratories in Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Cochin, Kollam, Porbandar and Veraval with a total investment of 3 million. Another 2.74 million would be spent in exposing three inspecting agencies and the private sector to the best practices in the EU through study tours and training.

Courtesy: www.thehindubusinessline.com, May 27, 2006

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Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, currently in Japan on an official visit, today announced that strategic cooperation between the two countries needed to aim at maritime security in the sea lanes of trade, including the Malacca Straits. After a meeting with Japan's Minister for Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kazuo Kitagawa, Mukherjee said, ''The security of sea lanes, which carry major energy sources, and the growing concentration of lethal weapons at the hands of non-state actors require the collective intervention of the world community who have interest in peace and stability of the world.'' ''Therefore, we do feel, in order to ensure the maritime security in the Indian Ocean, cooperation on Malacca Straits between India and Japan will be helpful,'' he added. The two countries decided to enhance cooperation to tackle transnational organised crimes at sea, such as piracy, armed robbery, trafficking in illegal migration, arms and drugs. They also agreed to cooperate in search and rescue operations and protection of marine environment. Concrete measures decided as part of the joint statement include annual Coast Guard talks, regular exchange of visits, exchange of Coast Guard ship visits, combined exercises for anti-piracy, search and rescue and disaster relief. Earlier in the day, the Defence Minister visited Nippon Electronic Corporation (NEC), one of Japan's electronics giants, which also participates in a big way in the country's defence market. As the Indian armed forces move towards obtaining a network-centric capability, replete with the best digital communications technology, New Delhi sees Japan as providing crucial niche products in the modernisation process. Six army personnel completed the first-ever ascent by an Indian team of the 8,201-metre Mount Cho Oyu in Tibet, the sixth highest mountain in the world, on May 23. Seven other members of the team climbed the peak on Friday. Cho Oyu is the fifth mountain higher than 8,000 metres conquered by the Indian Army. The expedition was led by Lt Col Anand Swaroop and included Naib Subedar CN Bodh, who is now the only Indian to have climbed five of the eight mountains higher than 8,000 metre.

Courtesy: The Indian Express, May 27, 2006

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India will help Bhutan to hold the first ever national elections in 2008 when the Himalayan kingdom formally makes its transition from a monarchy to a parliamentary democracy. India's chief election commissioner BB Tandon and his Bhutanese counterpart Dasho Kunzang Wangdi signed a memorandum of understanding in Bhutan's capital Thimphu on Wednesday. Bhutan has sought the help of India's Election Commission to train Bhutanese citizens and its officials to participate in and conduct the historic polls. "The exchange of visits, training of Bhutanese election workers, and the exposure to the electoral processes in India would go a long way in helping us to prepare for the historic elections," Wangdi was quoted as saying by the kingdom's government-run newspaper Kuensel. Tandon during his meeting with Bhutanese election commission officials cautioned the Himalayan nation against the use of 'money power and muscle power' when it goes to the polls. "The judicial system also needed to work fast to prevent criminal elements influencing the voting," the Kuensel quoted India's chief election commissioner as saying. Bhutan's bid to hold the first ever national elections in 2008 has been formalised with King Jigme Singye Wangchuck appointing Wangdi as the chief election commissioner in January to finalise the constituencies for the polls.

Courtesy: The Times of India, May 26, 2006

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In a major defence deal, the Navy is all set to order three more Talwar-class "stealth" frigates from Russia. To be inducted within five years, these multi-role guided-missile warships will cost well over Rs 1,000-crore each. That's not all. Faced with rapidly depleting force-levels, the Navy now has as many as 33 warships "under production or order", mainly in public sector shipyards, to retain its war-waging capabilities. Moreover, the Navy has also got government approval "in principle" for 30 more warships after these 33. "The technical and commercial negotiations for the three new frigates from Russia have now been wrapped up. The contract will be signed formally as soon as the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approves it," said sources. The first three such frigates, INS Talwar, INS Trishul and INS Tabar, were inducted in Navy in 2003-2004 after considerable delay due to glitches in missile systems. The Navy, however, now simply loves these 4,000-tonne frigates due to the deadly punch they pack, with a wide array of sensor and weapon systems, including the 200-km-range 'Klub-N' cruise missiles. The next three frigates, incidentally, will also be armed with the 300-km range BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles. While the six Scorpenes will be ready between 2012 and 2017, the ADS will be fully operational only by 2014 or so. The Navy, of course, is eagerly awaiting the induction of aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya (the 44,570-tonne Admiral Gorshkov undergoing a refit in Russia), with its 16 MiG-29K jet fighters, in end-2008. The other indigenous projects include three Shivalik-class stealth frigates and three Kolkata-class destroyers at Mazagaon Docks; four anti-submarine warfare corvettes, two fast-attack crafts and three landing ship tankers at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) at Kolkata; and three offshore patrol vessels at Goa Shipyard Ltd.

Courtesy: Times of India, May 10, 2006

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India, which has won the election to the newly established Human Rights Council of the United Nations, would serve on the body only for a year. The Council members would have three year terms with one-third retiring each year. Since this was the first election, lots were drawn to decide which countries would retire at the end of first and second year. In the Asian group, India along with Bahrain, Indonesia and the Philippines will retire at the end of the first year. Pakistan, Japan, Sri Lanka and South Korea will retire at the end of second year. Bangladesh, China, Jordan, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia will serve full three-year term. The vote yesterday, in which the entire membership of the world body participated showed India securing 173 of the 191 votes. Also, India got far more votes than both Japan and China, whose tally was 158 and 146 respectively. In the African group, Algeria, Morocco, South Africa and Tunisia will serve for one year, Gabon, Ghana, Mali and Zambia for two years and Cameroon, Djibout, Mauritius, Nigeria and Senegal full three-year term. In the Eastern European group, Poland and Czech Republic will retire at the end of first year, Romania and Ukraine second year and Azerbaijan, Russia will serve full three year term. In the Latin American & Caribbean group, Argentina and Ecuador will serve for one year, Brazil, Guatemala and Peru for two years and Cuba, Mexico and Uruguay for three years. In Western European and Others group, Finland and Netherlands are slated to retire at the end of first year, Britain and France at the end of second year and Canada, Germany and Switzerland would serve for three years.

Courtesy: The Hindu, May 10, 2006

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With economic growth of 8 percent in the last quarter, the importance of India to the global economy is set to increase in the coming years and hence it is important for the European Union and India to make greater efforts to solidify their strategic partnership. This gist emerged from a hearing on "EU-India: Shift in the centre of gravity of trade policy,'" held in the European Parliament in Brussels last week. Indian's ambassador to the EU Dipak Chatterjee said the growing trade figures between the 25-member European Union and India shows that the Indian market is open and receptive to European products. EU-India trade has grown impressively over the years, from 4.4 billion euro in 1980 to 33 billion euro in 2004. Chatterjee stressed the importance of the services sector in both the EU and India (the services sector accounts for 70 percent in Europe and 50 per cent in India). "Both of us have strong interest for the services sector as a critical input in the manufacturing sector, improving the overall efficiency and competitiveness of the economy. "India's top diplomat in Brussels called for a relaxation of stringent visa systems and immigration laws in the EU. "India is now looking at several different partners such as the US, China and Australia, so it is important for the EU to be there,'" asserted Neena Gill, who was born in Chandigarh but now a British Labour Member of the European Parliament.

Courtesy: The Pioneer, May 08, 2006

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It's now the turn of Kiwiland to forge a new education partnership with India, which goes beyond admitting Indian students. This was the message which was conveyed to India during the recent visit of Hon Trevord Mallard, economic development minister, New Zealand (NZ). The visit of Mallard focussed on strengthening and forging a new partnership in the area of research between NZ and Indian institutions. "We are exploring new opportunities that NZ has to offer to Indian students and institutions. In 2005, there were 3340 Indian students compared to 164 in 1998. The NZ international education market is $2 billion per year. The Indian market itself is estimated at $60 million. Our visit centres around raising awareness about the programmes for international students available in our country," said Mallard. The minister also announced that an education counsellor would be based in the Capital from year-end to promote closer partnership between institutions in both countries. This initiative is part of government of NZ's commitment made in 2004 when NZ$40 million were allocated over four years to broaden the international education framework. This is being achieved through appointment of seven offshore education counsellors, improving quality systems across sectors and for a scholarship and study abroad programme for NZ and international students. The counsellor in the Capital as Mallard remarked, "will support relationship-building by promoting NZ knowledge of policy, practice and directions in Indian education, assist Indians in understanding the strengths and policies of the NZ systems." The counsellor will also focus on expanding tertiary links, particularly in research, biotechnology and ICT industries and on student and staff exchange. The minister also announced that the NZ government has lowered the cost of PhD programmes and international students will be given domestic student status and not charged full fees by the universities. He also talked about scholarship programmes for international PG and UG students.

Courtesy: The Times of India, May 07, 2006

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Uttar Pradesh-born Ved Chaudhary, an Indian American agricultural engineer and management specialist, has been appointed assistant commissioner for finance and budget in the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). A political appointment in New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine's administration, Chaudhary's responsibilities will include finance and budget, human resources, information resource management, occupational safety and health, general services and property management, audit, equal opportunity, and public records access. Hailing from Etawah in India, Chaudhary came to the US in 1965 to do his masters degree in agricultural engineering from Rutgers University. He worked in AT&T Bell Labs, ITT (Europe), Bell Communications Research (Bellcore) and Telcordia Technologies for more than 25 years. He has managed high profile projects in Europe, Africa and the Middle East apart from the US. Chaudhary has also served as presidents of the Association for the Advancement of Asian Americans, the '80/20 Initiative' for equality and justice for Asian Americans (NJ Chapter), and the Indian American Forum for Political Education. He is also the founder of the Hindu International Council Against Defamation, on the lines of the Jewish Anti-Defamation League, to take action against any misinformation or defamation of Hindu gods and rituals. The NJDEP appointment is being seen as recognition of Chaudhry's vast work experience in various sectors.

Courtesy: The Times of India, May 05, 2006

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India, Pakistan and Iran are expected to close the $7-bn gas pipeline deal in June, possibly overriding US' pressure for a rethink. Deputy oil minister of Iran Mohammad-Hadi Nejad Hosseinian will arrive in Delhi with his eight-member delegation, following up a visit to Pakistan. "A trilateral meeting of secretaries will be held in Islamabad from May 22-24 to take the issue further," petroleum secretary M Srinivasan said on the sidelines of the inauguration of a drilling ship, Joides Resolution. The Pakistan talks will be followed by ministerial talks in Iran in June, when a final draft will be prepared, he said. Asked about pressure from the US to reconsider the proposal, Mr Srinivasan said: "Our considerations remain the same, despite the concerns." The petroleum secretary was in Tehran recently for talks on the pipeline. Before that, the oil minister of Pakistan had made a trip to Delhi to see how the project could be carried forward. The Iranian delegation is visiting Pakistan and India to speed up the project and work on the fine-print of the deal. All sides are keen to conclude the deal, initiated more than a decade ago. Political uncertainty between India and Pakistan, as well as an Iranian nuclear policy that has raised US hackles, have kept the plan on the backburner. The pipeline through Pakistan would link Iran, which has the world's second-largest gas reserves, and is expected to take care of India's energy needs for at least 25 years. The 2,670-km pipeline will run 1,115 km in Iran, 705 km in Pakistan and 850 km in India.

Courtesy: The Economic Times, May 01, 2006

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