• "If You Want to be Treated Like India, be Like India"
• Bilateral Ties in Good Shape: Wen Jiabao
• India, China Begin 8th Round of Boundary Talks
• New Delhi to Host 2006 ICCO Global PR Summit
• Delhi Dhaka to Sign Extradition Treaty
• India, China Border Trade Through Nathu La From July
• After China, Arab League Proposes Second Forum
• India, US Will Continue Talks on N-Issue
• Trade Delegation to Visit Japan
• Chambers Outline Blueprint For India, Bangla Ties
• Draft National Competition Policy Ready
• Portal to Promote Indo-Swedish Trade Launched

• India, UK Sing Joint Statement on IP rights
• India Gifts military Radars to Sri Lanka
• Hasina Calls For Strengthening India-Bangladesh Relations
• India-China Border Talks Next Week
• India China Agree to Reopen Historic Trade Route
• India Calls For Zero Tolerance to Terrorism
• China to Forge Strategic Ties With India
• US Could, India Can
• India to Ink MoU With Gulf Countries
• India, Ehtopia Revive Trade Panel
• NRI Appointed to Top New Jersey Post

Even as the landmark India-United States nuclear deal sailed through the 50-member International Relations Committee of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, supporters in the House termed it a defining moment in relations between the two countries. The legislation was piloted by the Chairman of the House Committee, Henry Hyde, Ranking member Tom Lantos and the co-chairs of the India Caucus, Gary Ackerman and Ilena Ros Lehtines. Mr. Ackerman called the Bill a "right balance'' and one that deserved careful consideration. The New York Democrat argued that it was better to have India inside the non-proliferation system than outside. "If you want to be treated like India, be like India,'' he said in an apparent reference to countries, which are critical to the deal. A one-time critic of India, Republican Dan Burton of Indiana said that the civilian nuclear agreement "has a lot of merit'' and that India would be a greater ally of the United States and a good partner down the road.

Courtesy: The Hindu, June 29, 2006

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India and United Kingdom signed a Joint Statement of Intent to create and implement an Intellectual Property (IP) Rights programme bet-ween the two countries. The agreement was signed by Union minister Kamal Nath and Lord Sainsbury, UK Science Minister, at the conclusion of the second annual India-UK Business Lea-ders Forum 2006. IPR is one of the key areas identified by Jetco (UK-India Joint Economic and Trade Committee) as providing potential for increased trade and investment in the future. Mr Nath urged British companies to tap the potential in India by investing in the country thus, making India UK's largest trading partner.

Courtesy: The Asian Age, June 29, 2006

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Beijing: India and China on Monday began the eighth round of talks on their boundary dispute since the appointment of special representatives at the political level in 2003. National Security Adviser M. K. Narayanan and Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo met at the Diaoyutai State Guest house here for the first day of talks, which are expected to conclude on Tuesday. The two had met informally on Sunday in Xian, where they had the opportunity to interact outside of the strict protocol confines of formal negotiation. As in the case of the other seven preceding rounds of dialogue, the talks were held in camera and details of what was discussed will not be made public. The focus of the current round of talks is on devising an agreed framework for a settlement of the border issue on the basis of the "political parameters and guiding principles" finalised during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to India in 2005. Mr. Narayanan also paid a courtesy call on Mr. Wen, who told him that bilateral ties were in a "good shape." "You are not only the Special Representative [for the India-China border talks] but also a friendship envoy," exulted Mr. Wen. The last round of talks between Mr. Narayanan and Mr. Dai took place in March in India. Following that round, Mr. Narayanan said that he was hopeful that the basic framework of a "package deal" on the boundary issue would be agreed upon within the next two or three rounds of dialogue. The new round of negotiations is taking place close on the heels of a visit to China by Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee. The first ever Memorandum of Understanding between the defense ministries of the Himalayan neighbors was signed during his visit. Several other high level exchanges are being planned, including a visit by Chinese President Hu Jintao to India later in the year. Cultural ties are also being strengthened after a 40-year period of deep-freeze. India and China are currently celebrating a "Year of Friendship." Film festivals are being planned and the ancient link of Buddhism that threaded the two countries together centuries ago is being highlighted through photo exhibitions and the building of an Indian stupa-style temple in Henan province.

Courtesy: The Hindu, June 27, 2006

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After about six years, India has resumed its defense ties with Sri Lanka with the commissioning of two military radars to secure the island-nation against low-level aerial attacks. The decision to gift the indigenously made Indra radars was made late last year following reports that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was scouting the global arms market for air assets. At present, the LTTE is believed to possess a couple of micro light aircraft. It had also developed two airstrips in the area under its control. The last time India provided military capabilities to Sri Lanka was in 2000, when it gifted a fast attack craft, to help maintain sea dominance in general and check LTTE activities in particular. Confirming the installation of the radars, non-military sources said the gift fell under the category of "defensive and non-lethal equipment" and was in line with India's policy to help the militaries of neighboring countries to counter threats from non-state actors. The sources said India recently gifted a war ship to the Maldives to patrol its island territories more effectively. Similar assistance was being provided or would be given to other neighboring countries such as Seychelles, the Mauritius and Myanmar. Radars that could locate artillery and mortar gun positions across the border were the first Government-to-Government sale by the United States to India after sanctions were lifted in 2000. Internationally, even Japan was considering lifting its 60-year-old ban on military sales by gifting frigates stripped of their weaponry to some South-East Asian countries to help counter threats from pirates and poachers. The decision to gift the radars was taken on the eve of Sri Lankan President Mahendra Rajapakse's maiden visit to India in December last but was not disclosed by the defense establishment. In response to a query, however, Defense Ministry sources confirmed the transfer of the radars. India too is inducting Indra radars under the Air Defense Ground Environment System plan to improve low-level detection capability especially in peninsular India. India hastened to provide the radars after Pakistan began showing interest in improving Sri Lanka's aerial detection capabilities. The offer was first made during the former External Affairs Minister, Natwar Singh's visit to Colombo over a year ago. India had generally refrained from extending military assistance to Sri Lanka after stopping supplies in the mid-1980s. But sources were unable to say if the current transfer by the Indian Air Force would mark the beginning of the supply of more "non-lethal and defensive military" equipment to that country.

Courtesy: The Hindu, June 27, 2006

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India and China opened the eighth round of boundary talks here on Monday to find a political settlement to the vexed dispute. India's Special Representative to the India-China boundary talks, K Narayanan and his Chinese counterpart, Dai Bingguo met officially after a day of informal parleys in the northwest Chinese city of Xian. During the two days of talks, the two sides are expected to continue their in-camera sessions in an effort to resolve the boundary issue under the "political parameters" set during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to New Delhi in April 2005. The two sides formed the Special Representatives mechanism in June 2003 during the visit of the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to China. Among other things, these guiding principles commit both India and China sides to arriving at a "package settlement" of the boundary question in a spirit of mutual respect and mutual understanding, analysts said. India says China is illegally occupying 43,180 sq kms of Jammu and Kashmir including 5,180 sq km illegally ceded to Beijing by Islamabad under the Sino-Pakistan boundary agreement in 1963. China accuses India of possessing some 90,000 sq km of Chinese territory, mostly in Arunachal Pradesh.

Courtesy: Economic Times, June 26, 2006

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There is a need to strengthen bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India and her party, the Awami League, would accord priority to this need if voted back to power, the former Bangladesh Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, said here on Sunday. However, She feared that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party would resort to electoral malpractices in next year's parliamentary elections to stay on in power. "I am afraid that the BNP Government will again resort to electoral malpractices to cling on to power in next year's parliamentary elections in my country," Ms. Hasina said during a brief visit to the city. Ms. Hasina said she was confident that her party would be returned to power but "only if the elections were held in a free and fair manner" and the electorate cast its votes freely. On India's concerns over insurgents setting up camps in Bangladesh, she said: "Terrorism is a global phenomenon and Bangladesh is no exception." She and her party workers too were victims of terrorist attacks in August 2005, she recalled. Ms. Hasina also called on veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu at his residence and later said that they discussed bilateral relations between the two countries. "I acknowledge with gratitude Jyoti Basu's contribution to finalising the Indo-Bangladesh water shearing treaty during my tenure as Prime Minister," she said. Mr. Basu said he shared with the former Prime Minister thoughts about his association with her father, Sheikh Mujibar Rehman, and his role in the liberation of Bangladesh.

Courtesy: The Hindu. June 26, 2006

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India will host the 2006 ICCO Global Summit in New Delhi from 5 October to 6 October. ICCO is the apex body of over 850 public relations consultancies across the globe and this is the first time in its history that the annual summit is being organised in Asia, reflecting the growing importance of the region in the world economy. The theme of this year's Summit is, Forget Best Practices, Think Next Practices, shifting the focus from today to tomorrow, and underlining the need for the communications business to pen a whole new rule book to remain relevant in a rapidly transforming world. Speakers will also include corporate chiefs and ambassadors from the new media. The Summit will be attended by the heads of leading communications firms worldwide including, among others, founding chairman urson-MarstellerHarold Burson; Weber Shandwick CEO Harris Diamond; Porter Novelli CEO Helen Ostrowski; Text 100 CEO Aedhmar Hynes; and licis Public Relations & Corporate Communication chairman Lou Capozzi. Introducing the theme of the Summit, John Saunders, ICCO President, Said, "The communication industry is at the cusp of a rapid change being led by digitalisation. The industry collectively needs to think about the next practices that are going to define our future and drive growth. Added Prema Sagar, president of the Organising Committee, ICCO Global Summit. India is the perfect setting for this Summit as it is an emerging economy with vast diversity that is experimenting with new communication channels and technologies to reach its large population." The summit has been organised in association with Public Relations Consultants Association of India (PRCAI) and is supported by The India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF). Says Nandita Lakshmanan, president, PRCAI. The ICCO Summit is a great platform for global communication leaders to see the vast opportunities that India offers. It is also the right time for both the Indian PR Industry and its counterparts worldwide to explore the synergies and dichotomies between economies, to leverage the opportunities and beat challenges posed by globalisation. The PRCAI is delighted to be associated with the 2006 ICCO Global Summit, the release adds. ICCO's key objectives, amongst others, are to contemplate and discuss the issues that the industry faces and to provide a platform to share experiences and best practices across the globe.

Courtesy: indiantelevision.com: June 22, 2006

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Continuing with their efforts to resolve the boundary dispute, Indian and Chinese Special Representatives will meet to discuss the issue in Beijing on June 26 and 27. This will be the eighth round of talks between the Special Representatives, South Block sources said on Tuesday. The Indian Special Representative for the talks is National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan while his Chinese counterpart is Vice-Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo. Traditionally, India and China have revealed few details of the discussions between their Special Representatives. After the last round in New Delhi and Kumarakom in March, a brief statement said: "The two Special Representatives continued their discussions for an agreed framework for the resolution of the boundary question in a constructive and friendly atmosphere." The two sides agreed upon the Special Representatives mechanism in June 2003 during the visit of the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to China. A joint statement issued at the time said: "The two sides agreed to each appoint a Special Representative to explore from the political perspective of the overall bilateral relationship the framework of a boundary settlement. "They reiterated their readiness to seek a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution through consultations on an equal footing. "The two sides agreed that pending an ultimate solution, they should work together to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas, and reiterated their commitment to continue implementation of the agreements signed for this purpose, including the clarification of the Line of Actual Control." During the visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to New Delhi in April 2005, the two countries agreed on a set of "political parameters" and "guiding principles" for the settlement of the boundary question. Among other things, these guiding principles commit both India and China sides to arriving at a "package settlement" of the boundary question in a spirit of mutual respect and mutual understanding.

Courtesy: The Hindu, June 21, 2006

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Dhaka and New Delhi are about to sign an extradition treaty, with Bangladesh reportedly giving final touches to the draft handed over by India. Bangladesh has one such treaty with Thailand. Officials in both sides hope that once the treaty is signed, the fugitives who had been evading justice will be handed over to the respective countries. Bangladesh Law Minister Moudud Ahmed told newsmen that about 5,000 "foreign nationals," including 980 from Myanmar and India were now lodged in different jails. "Some of them have already completed their jail terms but they are not allowed to leave the country due to the absence of an extradition treaty." Dhaka has also handed over a long list of `wanted criminals' to New Delhi alleging that they have taken refuge in various parts of India to avoid arrest. On its part, India has been alleging that insurgents from the northeast were hiding in Bangladesh and operating from there. Denying this, Dhaka has pointed out that it has killed a few dozens of `Indian insurgents' in the bordering Chittagong Hill Tracts and Sylhet region by launching major assaults on their hideouts. India has been seeking extradition of Anup Chetia, a key ULFA leader, and a few top insurgent leaders but Bangladesh has said no to this. Anup Chetia, arrested in Dhaka by the previous government on charges of illegal stay and possessing forged documents, was released from jail on completion of his term in February 2003. Bangladesh Foreign Minister Morshed Khan has called for tolerance and patience to defuse tensions on the frontier with India after skirmishes over the last few weeks. "Political leadership should take necessary steps to reduce the tension," he told the UNB news agency. The Minister said that one or two incidents may happen along the 4,200-km porous border, but "unnecessary tension" should be avoided for good neighbourly relations. Tension mounted in some bordering areas after the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) traded gunfire at Hakimpur in Chapainawabganj on Thursday. The BSF sounded an alert and dug bunkers along the Telkupi frontier in Shibganj upazilla of the district. The forces were withdrawn following a company commander-level flag meeting. Tension escalated along the western Satkhira-Gazipur border on Friday as the border guards exchanged fire. An alert was sounded in all outposts along the border in Tripura to stop possible infiltration of "Indian insurgents" following a crackdown by Bangladesh security forces. Ten insurgents of the banned National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) were killed and arms recovered when the Bangladesh Army and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) raided a hideout in Rangamati hill district last Monday.

Courtesy: The Hindu, June 19, 2006

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China and India have agreed to reopen border trade at the historic Nathu-la pass after more than 40 years, a symbol of rapprochement between Asian giants who fought a Himalayan war in 1962. The pass, at an altitude of around 4,300 metres (14,100 feet) will open on July 6, as per reports, and handle trade between the tiny northest Indian state of Sikkim and southern Tibet. "The reopening of border trade will help end economic isolation in this area and play a key role in boosting market economy there," Tibet vice-chairman Hao Peng said. The agreement to reopen the ancient Silk Road route was the latest sign of warming relations between the world's most populous countries. China now recognises Sikkim, a former Buddhist kingdom, as part of Indian territory, and although much of their 3,500-km (2,200-mile) border remains disputed, last year they agreed to settle the issue politically. Bilateral trade grew to $18.7 billion in 2005, up 37.5 per cent from the previous year, Chinese figures show. With the new pass, iron ore and livestock products from India and wool, herbs and electric appliances from China, could be transported over the narrow, mountainous border road, Hao said. Sikkim has yet to win approval from New Delhi for a highway from Nathu-la to western India that could further boost trade. But pressure is building from China, as it tries to boost economic development and extend political control to remote Tibet, which its troops invaded in 1950 to cement Communist rule.

Courtesy: Economic Times, June 19, 2006

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India and China have reached a historic agreement to resume border trade through the strategic Nathu La Pass from July 6 after 44 years of its closure. The reopening of Nathu La pass would give a major boost to the local economies of the land-locked mountainous regions of the two Asian giants and promote bilateral trade. The delegations of the two sides reached agreement and signed the agreed minutes late on Sunday night, an official source said today on phone from Lhasa, capital of Tibet Autonomous Region. The agreement allows residents living on the border areas of the two countries to trade nearly 30 items mentioned in the border trade agreements of 1991, 1992 and 2003. The items, including agricultural implements, food grain, blankets, agro-chemical products, dry fruits, beverages and canned food, have reportedly been approved by the Indian government for trade, earlier media reports said. "The resumption of border trade is a great historic event, not only for enlarging trade, but also for greater relations between the two great countries," additional secretary of the Department of Commerce, Christy Fernandez, who headed the Indian delegation, said. "The reopening of border trade will help end economic isolation in this area and play a key role in boosting market economy there," Vice Chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region, Hao Peng, who led the Chinese delegation, said. "It will also boost the transportation, construction and service industries, paving the way for a major trade route that connects China and south Asia," he said.The pass used to be an important trade passage between China and India and part of the fabled 'Silk Route.' Currently China and India trade mostly through sea route. Tibet Autonomous Region imports and exports to India via Tianjin, a port city in the north. Tibet is expected to benefit much from the resumption of border trade at the Nathu La Pass, Hao Peng said. "If only 10 per cent of Sino-Indian trade goes through the pass, it means trade of more than one billion US dollars," Xinhua news agency quoted Hao as saying. Last year the foreign trade volume of Tibet was USD 200 million. With the reopening of Nathu La Pass, iron ore and livestock products from India and wool, herbs and electric appliances from China can be transported across the border through the short cut, Hao said. By reopening the trade route, India and China will be attempting to discard their diplomatic mistrust that has hindered the development of China's southwest and India's northeast regions and prevented them from tapping the economic potential of their landlocked territories, analysts said. The reopening of Nathu La will also signal the Chinese government's abandonment of its policy of treating the erstwhile Himalayan kingdom of Sikkim as an "independent nation", they said. China and India signed a memorandum of understanding on the resumption of border trade in 2004. The State Council, Chinese cabinet, has also approved the plan on the construction of border trade markets in Yadong. China and India recorded USD 18.73 billion in trade volume in 2005, up 37.5 per cent from the previous year, according to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce. The volume is expected to exceed USD 20 billion this year. Head of the Yadong county government, Wang Ping said more than 30 business people came to Yadong in the first quarter for investment talks, while only two or three came the same period last year. On Saturday, the seven-member delegation called on the Chairman of Tibet Autonomous Region, Qiangba Puncog, who expressed China 's keen interest in reopening the mountainous border trade point. Qiangba said China and India's friendship has a long history and the economic and trade cooperation between the two nations have been close in recent years.

Courtesy: The Hindu, June 19, 2006

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India today said Asian nations should make a commitment to zero tolerance towards terrorism for peace and security. "Today, we see a re-emergence of forces, which spawned the culture of terrorism in our region. It is necessary for us to redouble our efforts to root out this menace to our common peace and security with single-minded focus," Union petroleum and natural gas minister Mr Murli Deora said today addressing the CICA summit in Almaty. "No cause, however noble, can justify killing of innocent men, women and children through acts of terrorism. We should commit ourselves to zero tolerance for terrorism," he said. An IAF first in 40 years As a rare gesture that reflected the growing warmth in bilateral ties, China has allowed an aircraft carrying Indian Air Force insignia across its territory for the first time in over 40 years. The Brazilian Embraer aircraft of IAF's VIP squadron carrying petroleum and natural gas minister Mr Murli Deora, who is Prime Minister's special envoy to the summits of Shanghai Cooperation Organization and Conference on Interactions and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, was allowed to fly into and out of China.

Courtesy: The Statesman, June 18, 2006

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In a sign of warming ties, India and the Arab League propose to establish a permanent forum to institutionalise political, economic and cultural dialogue and set up an Arab Cultural Centre in New Delhi. The details of the forum - on the lines of the Sino-Arab Cooperation Forum - will be discussed at a meeting between India and the 22-member Arab League in Cairo June 28, diplomatic sources said. Rajiv Sikri, secretary (east) in India's Ministry of External Affairs, will lead the Indian delegation to the bilateral meeting that will also hold discussions on political, economic, cultural and multilateral issues, the sources added. "The only forum that exists between the Arab League and another country is one with China. The forum covers areas like politics, economy, culture, education, health and sports," an Arab diplomat said. "Since India and the Arab world enjoy centuries-old ties, we want a similar institutionalised mechanism for dialogue. The Arab world and India can jointly work in areas of mutual interest as we share common interests," he added. On the issue of an Indo-Arab Cultural Centre, diplomatic sources said it would be different from the centre announced by Human Resources Development Minister Arjun Singh during his recent visit to Dubai. Singh had said that the centre - housed at the Jamia Milia Islamia University in New Delhi with funding from the University Grants Commission - would bring India and Arab countries closer as they shared deep historical ties. India, in fact, has already offered to build a cultural centre in the name of its first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, in Khartoum in Sudan at a cost of $10 million, said the diplomat, who because of protocol reasons cannot be identified. In the economic sphere, India and the Arab League are working out modalities for the mutual promotion of trade and investment and cooperation among the various industry lobbies and chambers of India and Arab countries. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Arab League recently formulated an action plan for targeted collaboration in investment and trade relations between India and Arab countries that would also be discussed at the Cairo meeting, officials said. Arab diplomats said that India's bilateral trade with Arab countries, not counting petroleum and fuels, stood at $11.7 billion last fiscal and that these countries as a group were India's third largest trading partners after the US and China.

Courtesy: Hindustan Times, June 16, 2006

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Sino-Indian relations have entered a 'new phase' and Beijing is committed to forging long-term strategic cooperative partnership with New Delhi, President Hu Jintao said in Shanghai on Friday. "This is an established policy of the Chinese government," Hu said during a meeting with Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Murli Deora in Shanghai on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit here in the eastern Chinese metropolis. The relationship between China and India has entered a new phase as the two countries announced last year to forge a strategic cooperative partnership, Hu was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua news agency. This year is a Year of Friendship between China and India, and the two countries will hold a series of activities to enhance bilateral friendship and reciprocal cooperation, Hu, also General Secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), said. "I believe, with the joint efforts of our two sides, the relations between China and India will keep upgrading," Hu said. Deora, who is in China for the SCO summit as a representative of the government, conveyed Indian leaders' congratulations to China on the successful summit which ended on Thursday. He said the relations between India and China have developed smoothly over the years and bilateral economic and trade cooperation is also growing rapidly.

Courtesy: Hindustan Times, June 16, 2006

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After three days of "intensive discussions," New Delhi and Washington on Thursday said their negotiating teams had managed to narrow their differences on a number of draft provisions of the proposed bilateral agreement on civilian nuclear cooperation. "The two negotiating teams held intensive discussions over three days, from June 12-14, 2006 and were able to narrow their differences on a number of draft provisions of the proposed agreement," the spokesman of the ministry of external affairs said. "As a result of their detailed discussions, the officials of the two sides now have a much better appreciation of their respective legal and political positions. Pending issues will now require internal consultations on both sides with a view to jointly formulating a draft which meets with the approval of both sides," the spokesman observed. New Delhi and Washington have accordingly agreed to meet at an early date once their follow-up internal consultations have been completed. The spokesman said that both sides covered a range of issues in their discussions "in a forward looking and constructive spirit." "The progress we have achieved so far makes us confident that we would be able to arrive at a text that conforms to our well-known positions, which are reflected in the July 18 joint statement and in India's Separation Plan," it was added. Foreign secretary Shyam Saran had met US under-secretary of state for political affairs Nicholas Burns in London last month to review the progress of the talks on civilian nuclear cooperation. India then provided its counter-draft of the "123 Agreement."

Courtesy: The Asian Age, June 16, 2006

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It is not only military belligerence and arm-twisting economics that has raised the US to the pinnacle of political power. It is also for the fact that there was a time when that country embraced all. And if 45 of the 50 most important patents of the last 50 years are in the name of Americans, it is their immigrant scientists who made it possible; they were mostly Jews, Germans, British and other Europeans by origin. European scientific infrastructure was never found lacking. So why did these scientists migrate? Because as in India, bureaucrats in Europe thought they knew more. "Daring blue-sky research is never given a green signal either here or in Europe," Sam Pitroda had said to me during the 92nd Indian Science Congress. Imagine a student dropping out of school to carry out research for an indefinite duration on the digit '0' and being paid an equivalent of Rs 1,50,000 as unemployment allowance till he figures out how his findings would contribute to humankind! You can't in India; and so you would rather migrate to the US if your purse permits, or stay here, acquire a PhD in mathematics or physics, but do nothing to change India with that doctorate. The other American difference is its constant endeavour to unravel routine mysteries. There is no code of life that the Americans have not deciphered, or at least not tried to. And that includes what is widely known as "body language". How do you know someone's lying? How does the intonation of a baby's voice change when she cries, depending on what she's crying for? What does a dog's barking and wagging its tail simultaneously mean? There is an American book on everything. However, where American society fails is: Within the scope of formal training, a student has to fit even trivia into rigid compartments. Hence, for all aspects, their children need books - or software - to learn not rocket science, but things like cycling in the neighbourhood park. When one talks on any issue with foreign students, only the Americans ask, "Have you had formal training in this?" It is this ability to understand life - without a Deepak Chopra or a Shiv Khera's explanation - that makes Indians superior. Let's cash in on our inherent intelligence. Let's also invite the best brains in the world to accept our citizenship and tell them, "Chase your dreams, we'll provide you sleep!"

Courtesy: The Pioneer, June 13, 2006

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Aimed at cementing its economic ties with Japan, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is mounting a 15-member high-profile CEO's mission to Japan, from 14-16 June the delegation would be led by CII president, Mr R Seshasayee. The CEO mission will complement a high-profile government delegation, led by commerce and industry minister, Mr Kamal Nath.Mr Ajay Dua, secretary, department of industrial policy and promotion (Dipp) and other senior bureaucrats will accompany Mr Kamal Nath. Speaking about the importance of the mission, Mr Seshasayee said: "India and Japan have enjoyed vibrant trading relations in the past. However, over the past decade, India-Japan trade has tended to stagnate and even decline, even as India's trade regime has become steadily more liberal." The turnover in bilateral trade, the CII chief noted, had declined to $3.7 billion in 2002-03 compared to $4.04 billion in 1997-98. Over the past two years, however, this tendency towards stagnation was reversed, with total trade growing by 18 per cent in 2003/04 and by 14 per cent in 2004-05 to reach nearly $5 billion.

Courtesy: The Statesman, June 12, 2006

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In the wake of increasing cases of ill-treatment of its workers abroad, India has decided to sign Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with various Gulf countries and Malaysia to ensure welfare of the emigrants. Taking a lead in efforts to protect the rights of migrant workers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the government there has decided to amend its labour laws and provide smart cards to Indian workers which will contain all their details. UAE has also agreed to set up a Joint Working Group to deal with problems relating to overseas Indian workers and to address their grievances. "MoU on Labour and Employment is proposed to be negotiated and concluded with major labour receiving countries, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Qatar in the Gulf and Malaysia in South-East Asia," Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi said. The Ministry for Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) also proposes to create an Overseas Indian Welfare Fund, which will be deployed for various welfare measures for the benefit of the overseas Indian workers. Ravi, who recently undertook a visit to Gulf countries in the wake of complaints of ill-treatment by Indian workers, said several reforms in emigration of workers needed to be taken immediately to address their problems.

Courtesy: Hindustan Times, June 08, 2006

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Business leaders from Bangladesh and India have agreed to push their respective governments to start containerised movement of cargo through road, rail and inland waterways to facilitate bilateral trade and investment. They also want the Dhaka-Kolkata passenger train service to start at an early date. The agreement was reached at the first meeting of six task forces for promotion of India-Bangladesh trade and investment held here on Sunday. The Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President, Mir Nasir Hossain, who led the Bangladesh side, told the media that "We have agreed only on the modes of transportation which can facilitate trade and investment.'' The meeting formulated a charter of recommendations on six areas of cooperation for consideration by the respective governments, particularly by a commerce minister-level meeting scheduled to be held in Kolkata on June 20. B. K. Bajoria of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Mir Nasir of FBCCI signed a joint statement on the recommendations. Indian delegation leader Mr. Bajoria hoped that "bilateral trade will double in just one year if 30-40 per cent of the recommendations are implemented.'' The task forces were formed under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the FBCCI and FICCI on March 21 in New Delhi during Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's visit to India. They relate to bilateral trade, raising Indian investments in Bangladesh, trade related infrastructure, removal of trade disputes, NTBs and activating programme of Bangladesh-Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. "It is an icebreaking event to start a new era in a structured way,'' Mir Nasir said, referring to the outcome of the meeting. Mr. Bajoria said the recommendations would act as a platform and definitely help increase bilateral trade and investment. According to the joint statement, the task force on bilateral trade agreed on a FBCCI proposal to allow duty-free access of 16 Bangladeshi items to India. The items are fish and fish products, edible oil, automotive battery, ceramic products, cosmetics and toiletries, electrical copper wire, jute and jute products, melamine, leather and leather products, pharmaceuticals and footwear. New LCS' might be opened up between Bangladesh and neighbouring Northeast Indian States. At present, there is no LCS in operation between Mizoram and Bangladesh. The Protocol on inland water transport (IWT) will be extended for a longer period and a joint study by India and Bangladesh to look into the potentials of improving IWT. The task force on trade disputes recommended the formation of a panel consisting of three members from each country for resolution of trade disputes with various mechanisms. It also recommended mutual recognition of accreditation agencies, making Northeast Indian banks capable of transacting business directly with Bangladeshi banks and recognising the FBCCI and FICCI to be the nodal points for resolving the NTBs.

Courtesy: The Hindu, June 06, 2006

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India and Ethiopia have revived the Joint Trade Committee between the two countries following a meeting here after a gap of four years. The committee decided upon a slew of major initiatives for the next year, minister of state for commerce, Mr Jairam Ramesh, today said. "Ethiopia is important to India not just from commercial angle but because of its strategic position," Mr Ramesh said. The second most populous country in the African continent after Nigeria, the country is situated in the horn of Africa, pointing to its importance in the region. Among the seven major initiatives is one on leather. Ethiopia is a major exporter of raw hides and skins and the delegation from the Council of Leather Exporters would visit the country next month to ensure more supply for India's tannery and leather industry. Secondly, Indian companies are participating in road construction operations in Ethiopia, which has received $1 billion aid from African Development Bank and World Bank for this purpose. India is also negotiating to increase its procurement of pulses from Ethiopia. Indian Pulses and Oilseeds Traders Association would see how much additional pulses could be procured from the state, Mr Ramesh said.

Courtesy: The Statesman, June 06, 2006

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A draft national competition policy that aims to introduce competition principles in the government's commercial activity such as merchandise procurement is ready. An 18-member committee headed by former finance secretary Vijay L Kelkar has prepared the draft of the national competition policy. Its final version is expected to be sent to the Ministry of Company Affairs soon, which would then start the process to notify the policy. The competition policy is independent of the passage of the Competition Bill, which was introduced in Parliament in March 2006 but has not yet been approved. It will apply only to the government's commercial activity and will guide its different arms in dealing with other entities. The policy's broad thrust is the introduction of competition principles and transparency in the government's commercial activity. For instance, the policy would examine the way in which government procurement can done in the context of competitive neutrality. Pradeep Mehta, secretary general of an advocacy group CUTS and member of the committee drafting the policy, described competitive neutrality in this context as the way in which a government arm could adopt a non-discriminatory approach between public and private sector competitors during procurement. Another area where the competition policy may try to influence the government's approach is in the principle adopted to provide access to infrastructure controlled by state-owned companies. In the telecom industry for instance, state-owned company BSNL has refused to allow private companies to use its last mile access to consumers. Similar issues are expected to crop up in the area of gas pipelines. The policy may require the government to carry out a competition audit of all existing policies such as reservation of manufacture of some products for small scale industries. All areas of the government's commercial activity may not be amenable to competition principles on account of its different obligations. "We realise there can be exceptions, but they have to be transparent," said Mehta. The application of a national competition policy would not be sweeping. In areas such defence services, the policy would not be applicable.

Courtesy: Business Standard, June 05, 2006

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United States Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Saturday said Washington "values greatly" its military-to-military relationship with New Delhi. The two countries would stay the cooperative course in the defence domain. Mr. Rumsfeld was responding to a question from the media after his 30-minute meeting with Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee on the sidelines of the ongoing Asia Security Summit here. Describing the talks as "very useful," Mr. Mukherjee said "our cooperation in all sectors is going on smoothly since last June." India and the U.S. had then signed a framework agreement on defense-related issues. Asked whether the U.S. military establishment now saw India as a dialogue partner or potential ally or simply as a friend, Mr. Rumsfeld said: "I don't know all the code words that diplomats use. But, over the past five or six years, the relationship between the U.S. and India, from a military-to-military standpoint, has been on a steady improvement. And, it is multi-faceted at this stage. It involves exercise. It involves working together on problems of common interest. And we certainly expect to see that our areas of common interest will continue to bring us together, from a military-to-military standpoint, in the months and years to come." Speaking separately after the talks, Mr. Mukherjee discounted that China's military profile was a matter of common interest in India-U.S. dialogue.

Courtesy: The Hindu, June 04, 2006

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An exclusive portal, business-matching.com, has been launched to promote trade and commerce between India and Sweden-Scandinavia and to establish a common platform for the business communities of the two nations. The portal would enhance the possibility of introducing e-commerce while doing business on the internet and to create one-stop information centre for businessmen of India and Sweden. Andrew S Suneson, founder partner of the portal, told a press conference here that the bilateral trade between India and Sweden had been growing steadily over the years. Over 100 Swedish companies now had operations in India and nine Indian IT companies operated in Sweden. The portal's aim was to substantially increase the number of Indian and Swedish companies doing business with each other. The areas identified for co-operation included IT, software, biotechnology, health, pharmaceuticals, environment technology heavy engineering, e-commerce, internet banking, waste management, energy, lake conservation, waterways, fruits, vegetables and food products.

Courtesy: The Economic Times, June 01, 2006

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