• Sino-Indian Trade to Top $10 Billion
• India, Britain to Combat Terrorism in 'All Its Forms'
• $50-m Plan to e-connect @frica
• "India Solidly Behind Sri Lanka's Integrity"
• India, S. Africa to Intensify Strategic Partnership
• India, Nepal Join Hands Against Terror
• China Seeks Deal with India for Iron Ore Imports

• Kerala Must Include Organic Farming in Export Policy
• Pak Exporters Seek Support
• Indians don't Need Visas, says Mauritius
• Indian Skilled Labour Wooed by NZ
• 'India, Pakistan will become Friends One Day'
• India, Bangla to Discuss N-E Militancy
• China Reaffirms Friendship with India

Kerala is possibly the first Indian State to draw up a draft export policy, but the State must ensure that the measures suggested in the policy are implemented, said Mr K.T. Chacko, Director-General of Foreign Trade. While Kerala's draft export policy does attempt to leverage the State's strengths, several new areas must also be included, he suggested. For instance, organic farming must find a place in Kerala's export policy, Mr Chacko said. Given Kerala's tradition of farming using fewer chemicals and the growing international demand for organic produce, the State must place special emphasis on organic farming, he added. The `commercially important person' scheme that forms part of Kerala's draft export policy, if implemented "honestly" will be extremely good for the State's exports, Mr Chacko declared. In fact, the State should look at measures such as better infrastructure that will help exporters reduce their transaction costs, he added. The Foreign Trade Policy announced recently by the Government of India focuses on the issue of encouraging exports from India, he said.

Courtesy: www.thehindubusinessline.com, September 25, 2004

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Exporters from Pakistan have sought greater cooperation between India and Pakistan in the textile sector to enhance the industry in the two countries. This move is planned ahead of the phase-out of the textile quotas under the multi-fibre arrangement or MFA from January next year. A group of business delegates from the Pakistan Textile Exporters Association met commerce and industry minister Kamal Nath on Thursday. The delegation apprised the minister that Pakistan was keen to import textile machinery, dyes and chemicals from India. They also said that India should take steps in promoting free movement of goods across the border by customs facilitation and tariff concessions under the South Asia Free Trade Agreement SAFTA for textile items from Pakistan. Meanwhile, the commerce ministry announced the setting up of a National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council. The council will provide inputs for policy making and suggest measures for enhancing competitiveness of Indian industry.

Courtesy: The Economic Times, September 25, 2004

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Sino-Indian trade is set to cross the $10 billion-mark this year for the first time and New Delhi is determined to further diversify and strengthen bilateral ties, Indian Ambassador to China, Nalin Surie has said. "One of the principle efforts from our part is to increase the trade and economic relationship with China," Surie said. "We should, according to Chinese figures, cross $10 billion in bilateral trade this year," Surie said in Beijing addressing the first-ever interactive session with Indian businessmen and professionals organised by the Indian Embassy here. "We are quite determined to take this forward. My own personal preference is for a realistic figure of $20 billion by 2010 which I think is doable if we go by what we have done in the last five years," he said. According to latest Chinese customs figures, Sino-Indian bilateral trade during the first seven months of this year amounted to $7.7 billion, up 88.21 per cent over the corresponding period of 2003. The total trade during January-July period has already exceeded $7.6 billion recorded during the whole of 2003. India's exports to China during January-July touched $4.8 billion, up 103.94 per cent over the same period last year. At the same time, India's imports from China rose 67.34 per cent to $2.9 billion.

Courtesy: www.rediff.com, September 25, 2004

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Mauritius has scrapped the visa system for Indian tourists from next month to give a fillip to tourism. ''We have taken this very important decision to abolish the visa system for all bonafide Indian nationals willing to visit Mauritius and this law will be effective from October,'' Mauritius Tourism and Leisure Minister Anil K. Gayan told reporters here on Wednesday. Gayan, who was here to inaugurate the Mauritian Food Festival, said his country held India ''in high esteem''. ''Abolishing visas for Indian tourists, will go a long way not only in further promoting tourism but also strengthening bilateral ties with New Delhi,'' the Minister said, adding that tourism fetches most revenue for the island country. Acknowledging Indian assistance to Mauritius in its development process, Gayan said: ''We are grateful to India for what it has done to us.'' The Minister said the Mauritius Government was keen to further promote relations with India, adding ''our cordial ties with New Delhi will remain unchanged even with the change of government''.

Courtesy: The Indian Express, September 24, 2004

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The Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, and his British counterpart, Tony Blair, today signed a Joint Declaration, defining "a comprehensive strategic partnership" and avowing to "take our relationship to a new level." Building on the 2002 New Delhi Declaration, the Blair-Manmohan Singh statement talks of the two countries working for "a safer and more prosperous world." It notes that "the United Kingdom will continue to work for India's Permanent Membership of the United Nations Security Council." Reflecting the convergence on the issue of terrorism, the Declaration commits the two countries "to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations." The two countries "will work together to try to ensure that the global norms against terrorism are upheld by all countries." There is an agreement to cooperate "to counter money-laundering and terrorist financing..." The two countries expressed a "shared interest in combating key global challenges - terrorism, poverty, HIV/AIDS, environmental degradation, climate-change, drugs, international crime, illegal migration and trafficking in our people." On economic issues, India and Britain agreed to "work closely together for a successful conclusion to the World Trade Organisation's Doha Round" of multilateral trade negotiations. There is also a desire to expand cooperation in "the fields of civilian nuclear activities, civilian space programme, and high technology trade, in accordance with their international obligations."

Courtesy: The Hindu, September 21, 2004

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The government of New Zealand has changed its immigration policy to attract the "cream" of skilled workers from around the world and India has emerged as the second-largest group of potential immigrants under the new policy, a New Zealand immigration official said. "Since the policy was implemented - in which New Zealand invites potential migrants based on a points system - in February, Indians have been second largest, or sometimes the third largest, contingent to be invited to migrate to New Zealand. This is because India has many highly skilled people, who are familiar with the English language," Mr Smith said. Migrants from the United Kingdom top the list, while South Africa is at third place. "The change has allowed us to choose the most skilled people for important areas of the labour market in New Zealand," Mr Smith said. Mr Smith was in Hyderabad as part of a delegation to promote education in New Zealand among students here. According to Ms Tricia Reade, chairperson of the India Education Export Network, the "New Zealand Education Fair" was being organised to showcase the courses being offered by the eight universities and 20 institutes of technology. Currently 2,222 Indian nationals were enrolled at universities and polytechnics in NewZealand, studying for degrees in business, IT, biotechnology and food technology.

Courtesy: The Asian Age, September 20, 2004

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President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam today proposed a mammoth project to e-connect 53 nations of the African continent via satellite and fibre optic network to support tele-education, tele-medicine, e-governance, e-commerce, infotainment and meteorological services in an effort to fight poverty and disease, the ''common enemies'' stalking Africa and India. In his address to the Pan African Parliament - the first by a non-African head of state - President Kalam said the project would connect five universities, 53 learning centres, 10 super-speciality hospitals and 53 patient-end locations in rural areas. Installation, initial operation and maintenance for the first three years would cost around $50 million. ''It will be in position within the next three years' time, and all the African nations participating in this network would be able to reap full benefits. An Indo-Pan African team can make a comprehensive proposal and prepare a roadmap,'' he said in the address that was telecast live throughout Africa.

Courtesy: The Indian Express, September 17, 2004

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The Chief of the Naval Staff, Arun Prakash, said today India was "solidly behind" Sri Lanka's integrity and sovereignty and it was the country's stated policy that it "would like to underwrite the integrity" of the island-nation. Concluding a five-day visit to Sri Lanka, Admiral Prakash told the correspondents from Indian newspapers based in Colombo: "I felt the situation warranted us to come [on] a first hand assessment." Since his arrival here on Sunday, he met the Sri Lankan President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, the Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapakse, and visited the Trincomalee port in the east. One of the "thrust areas" of his visit "has been to come to a very clear understanding with the Sri Lankan Navy as to the rules on the ground." Pointing out that it "is a very emotive issue in Tamil Nadu," Admiral Prakash said: "if we sit down and talk to each other, get some ground rules going, we should be able to resolve it." Asked about possible Indian participation in the joint patrolling of the Malacca Straits, he said at present "countries bordering the straits have actively undertaken" the patrolling. "Things seem to be in good hands."

Courtesy: The Hindu, September 17, 2004

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Beginning his visit to South Africa, the land where Mahatma Gandhi launched his "Ahimsa Dharma" movement years ago, the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, expressed the hope that India and Pakistan would become friends like the European nations. Mr. Kalam's remarks came at a reception hosted in his honour by the Indian High Commissioner, Shiv S. Mukherji, here. He was responding to a question if India and Pakistan would ever become friends. "Pakistan and India are sitting across the table to discuss various issues. Like European nations which have come together and have even common currency after so many years of fighting, one day we will all become friends,'' he said amid applause from the select gathering. Asked what he would like to do if given another chance in life, pat came the reply from Mr. Kalam: "I will become a teacher again." The President said "youth force and energy" should be harnessed into a tremendous source of "positive energy" as it was the most "powerful resource on planet Earth." Mr. Kalam visited the Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela had been imprisoned for 27 years.

Courtesy: The Hindu, September 16, 2004

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India and South on Wednesday decided to intensify their "strategic partnership" and explore possibilities to enhance the cooperation in newer areas based on shared democratic values. The entire gamut of bilateral relationship came up for sharp focus during a one-on-one meeting between the visiting President A P J Abdul Kalam and his South African counterpart, Thabo Mbeki. Kalam, who arrived here Tuesday on a four-day visit, the first ever by an Indian Head of State to South Africa, was earlier in the day given a ceremonial reception by Mbeki. This was followed by the official-level talks. Warmly greeting Kalam, Mbeki said the strategic partnership and the time-tested relations between the two countries went back to many years. Observing that India has around 260 million people living below the poverty line and South Africa also has around 20-30 per cent of the population in that category, Kalam said "our aim and mission have to be towards fighting the common enemy of poverty." Referring to the Joint Commission of top business people from both the countries likely to be set up by next month, Mbeki said this should bring the business cooperation between two countries much closer.

Courtesy: The Hindu, September 16, 2004

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India and Nepal today expressed their determination in combating terrorism as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh assured Kathmandu of further strengthening security forces, including the Nepal police to curb the Maoist insurgency. New Delhi's assurance was contained in the joint statement issued at the end of the five-day visit of the Nepalese PM Sher Bahadur Deuba. ''The Prime Ministers reiterated the determination of the two countries in combating the scourge of terrorism. They agreed to further intensify cooperation in curbing the activities of the extremists. In this context, they express satisfaction at the ongoing cooperation under the existing mechanism in the areas of equipment, training and exchange of information," the statement said. Deuba thanked the Government of India for the ''timely and substantive" support provided by India in Nepal's efforts to deal with the Maoist insurgency. Singh reassured the support of the Government of India for further strengthening of Nepal's security forces, including the Nepal Police, the statement said. The two PMs stressed the need for early conclusion of the extradition treaty and agreement on mutual legal assistance on criminal matters and directed the home secretaries to take up the matter in the next meeting in October to finalise the documents.

Courtesy: Indian Express, September 13, 2004

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The Indian government will voice its concern about the presence of Northeast militants on Bangladeshi soil during the home secretary level talks with Bangladesh to be held in Dhaka next week. Addressing a Press conference here, Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Ms Veena Sikri today said the northeastern states' concern about the presence of N-E militants across the border in Bangladesh would be conveyed to the Bangladesh authorities during the home secretary level discussions. "Indian states situated next to Bangladesh have a very important role to play in bilateral ties with the latter, she added. The Indian government is looking forward to the high-level meeting, which is being held after a gap of four years, an official said. Besides security issues, other important ones such as transit facilities through Bangladesh, economic cooperation and bilateral trade, improved people-to-people relations would come up for discussion.

Courtesy: The Times of India, September 12, 2004

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China wants to forge a long-term partnership with India for import of iron ore to meet growing requirements of Chinese market, a senior industry official has said. "We are willing to import more iron ore from India," Luo Binsheng, vice-president of China Iron and Steel Association, said at the India-China Ferrous Minerals Summit that gathered major steel makers, miners and traders from both countries. "And we wish more long-term deals could be signed between Chinese and Indian firms," Luo said. Most transactions between India and China in iron ore were conducted under spot purchases or short-term contracts of less than a year. A combination of factors including price and the lack of knowledge about each other had led to that situation, Luo was quoted as saying by China Daily. Luo also called for Chinese and Indian companies to sign more long-term contracts to secure India's iron ore supply to China. "We are capable and ready to supply China in future," president of Federation of Indian Mineral Industries, H Abdul Wahab said. He said India is improving its port and railway capacities to facilitate delivery of iron ore to China.

Courtesy: The Times of India, September 08, 2004

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The Chinese Vice-President, Zeng Qinghong, today emphasised his country's policy of developing friendly ties with India. In an interaction with a group of Indian politicians, on the sidelines of the ongoing International Conference of Asian Political parties in Beijing, Mr. Zeng pointed out that the India-China ``friendship'' had, despite some ``minor'' setbacks, spanned over the millennia. The Chinese leader's upbeat assessment of the current political mood on the bilateral front was summed up by Sitaram Yechury, member, Polit Bureau, Communist Party of India (Marxist). The Indian political leaders, who called on Mr. Zeng, included the leader of the Congress delegation, Saifuddin Soz, and the chief representative of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Sushil Kumar Modi, besides Mr. Yechury and others. Reciprocating the warm sentiments expressed by the Chinese leader, Mr. Yechury conveyed to him the basic fact that successive governments in India had, over the years, adopted a policy of seeking to improve relations with Beijing. This approach was based on a national "consensus'' across the Indian political spectrum. Mr. Zeng was "very appreciative'' of this trend, Mr. Yechury said later.

Courtesy: The Hindu, September 05, 2004

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