Shri Anand Sharma, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, while addressing the media persons in Geneva last evening, emphasised that there was no change in India’s negotiating position in Agriculture and NAMA. When asked for his views on the success of the Ministerial Conference, Shri Sharma informed that this was the first full Ministerial in the aftermath of the global economic meltdown and the Conference had provided Members with an opportunity to collectively discuss the world economic scenario, challenges faced by the multilateral trading system and to review the working of the WTO. “While the Conference was not intended as a negotiating forum, it had provided a useful opportunity for different groups and caucuses to assess the direction of the negotiations. India and its coalition partners were steadfast and united in their commitment to uphold the development dimension, the centrality of the multilateral process and the need to safeguard livelihood concerns, particularly of the poor, subsistence farmers in their countries”. While addressing the Working Session of the Seventh Ministerial Conference of the WTO on “The WTO’s Contribution to Recovery, Growth and Development”, Shri Sharma stated that the first priority should be to conclude the Doha Round as quickly as possible. Banking the progress that has been achieved in reducing tariffs, cutting distorting subsidies, opening markets and removing non-trade barriers would go a long way to increasing world trade and welfare, he said and stressed the importance of inclusive global development to shore up demand. Referring to the collapse of trade finance from September 2008 onwards, Shri Sharma emphasized the importance of the WTO initiatives for aid for trade and trade financing and underlined the need to rebalance factor movements and flows of capital and investment and for liberalisation across other factor markets including greater mobility of labour. Appreciating the WTO’s role in monitoring protectionist trends, the Minister observed that for the WTO to contribute to recovery growth and development, it must be made a more effective institution. Shri Sharma also addressed a Ministerial Session of the Negotiating Committee of the GSTP, which adopted the Draft Ministerial Decision on Modalities for the Third Round of Global System of Trade Preferences negotiations. “India attaches a great deal of importance to the GSTP process for optimizing South-South synergies and expanding trade among developing countries. GSTP has contributed to an expansion of trade and has also fostered special and differential treatment to the exports of the Least Developed Countries. India participated actively and exchanged tariff concessions with 14 countries in the First GSTP Round in 1989. India believes that timely implementation of the agreement would assist developing countries in coping with the debilitating effects of the global economic crisis”, the Minister said. Shri Sharma also met his counterparts from Argentina, Malaysia and Australia, during which a range of issues including the Doha Round were discussed. (IMC)
World Bank President holds meeting with Indian Finance Minister
December 3, 2009 — IMCThe World Bank President Mr. Robert B. Zoellick and the Finance Minister Mr. Pranab Mukherjee had a luncheon meeting here today and discussed wide ranging issues. Mr. Mukherjee conveyed his appreciation to the World Bank for their increased lending in the wake of financial crisis. He also appreciated the personal contribution of Mr. Zoellick who was instrumental in the approval, by the World Bank Board, of several loan packages to India amounting to US$ 4.3 billion in one single day in September 2009. Mr Zoellick complimented India on being the single largest borrower of the World Bank. He appreciated India’s contribution and the role India has played in the World Bank group namely IBRD, IDA and the IFC. He sought India’s support in widening the capital base of the World Bank so that it can appropriately meet the needs of developmental finance.
Mr. Mukherjee informed the World Bank President that India has always been at the forefront of providing greater capital support to all the multilateral development institutions and had enthusiastically supported a 200% capital increase for the Asian Development Bank. Mr. Mukherjee expressed that he is looking forward for expeditious completion of the process of voice and quota reforms in the institutions of the World Bank, so as to increase the effective representation of the emerging and developing economies.
Mr. Zoellick was accompanied by Ms Isabel Guerrero, Vice-President for South Asia, Mr. Roberto Zagha, Country Director-India, Mr. Paolo M. Martelli, Director, IFC, and Ms Julia Nielson, Assistant to the President. From Indian side, Mr. Pulok Chatterji, Executive Director, World Bank, Smt Omita Paul, Adviser to the Finance Minister, Smt L M Vas, Additional Secretary (Economic Affairs), and Dr. Anup K. Pujari, Joint Secretary, were present.
This was the second meeting between the two in the last three months. They had earlier met at Istanbul during the Annual Meetings of the World Bank/ IMF in October 2009. Mr. Mukherjee requested the World Bank President to visit other parts of the country and have a firsthand knowledge of India’s developmental efforts aimed at better service delivery. The current World Bank portfolio in India consists of 68 projects with a total commitment of US $ 19.57 billion. The average commitment during the last four financial years from the World Bank has been approximately US $ 2.3 billion. However, in the current year, the commitments are expected to reach about US $ 7 billion.
India-Bangladesh Home Secretary Level talks conclude
December 3, 2009 — IMCThe 10th Home Secretary Level Talks between India and Bangladesh concluded with the signing of a Joint Statement by the two sides here today. Shri Gopal K. Pillai, Home Secretary, Government of India led the Indian Delegation while the Bangladesh delegation was led by Shri Abdus Sobhan Sikder, Home Secretary, Government of Bangladesh.
The talks were held in a warm and cordial atmosphere. In the meeting, both sides highlighted the importance they attach to the relations between the two countries and reiterated their desire to further expand and strengthen mutual cooperation. Both sides agreed to strengthen the bilateral arrangements to address the menace of terrorism and extremism in all its manifestations.
Both sides condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and reaffirmed their commitment not to allow the use of territory of either country for any activity inimical to each other’s interests.
The two sides finalised drafts of Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, Agreement on Combating International Terrorism, Organized Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking; and Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Persons. Both sides agreed to take further steps for early signing of the Agreements. They also agreed to develop mechanisms to further hasten the process of verification of nationality status of prisoners lodged in jails of either country, particularly of those who have completed their sentence, to enable their early repatriation.
Both sides reaffirmed their resolve to take immediate action on the basis of real time and actionable information. It was also agreed to redouble efforts to locate subjects of Red Corner Notices (RCN) in either country.
The Indian side expressed its concern over smuggling of Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) into India and sought the cooperation of Bangladesh authorities for preventing such activities
Both the sides agreed that there was a need to expedite the settlement of land boundary related issues. It was agreed that these would be discussed in the next meeting of the Joint Border Working Group. Both sides recognized the need for electrification of Dahagram and Angarpota as a humanitarian gesture. They noted the menace of trafficking of women and children along Indo-Bangladesh border and agreed to designate nodal points on both sides for coordinated action against individuals/touts/agents involved in human trafficking.
Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in capacity building in Police and other law enforcement agencies. While expressing satisfaction at the existing level of cooperation, they agreed to expand it further.
The two sides welcomed the holding of the first DG level talks on between the Narcotic Control Bureau of India and Department of Narcotics Control in Bangladesh and reiterated the need for further enhancing cooperation including in capacity building of the two agencies. It was agreed that the next Home Secretary level Talks would be held in Dhaka, the date of which would be decided through diplomatic channels. (IMC)
India proposed a BIMSTEC Convention for Combating International Terrorism
December 3, 2009 — IMCIndia proposed a BIMSTEC Convention on Cooperation in Combating International Terrorism, Transnational Organized Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking. The Convention was adopted in October 2008 at New Delhi by the Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism of BIMSTEC member States.
The Convention will provide a legal basis for cooperation among the law enforcement agencies of BIMSTEC Member States for combating international terrorism, transnational organized crime and illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. In particular, member States will provide each other the widest possible measures of mutual assistance in the prevention, investigation, prosecution and suppression of such crimes.
The Cabinet has approved the signing and ratification of the Convention. It is proposed to sign the Convention at the first opportunity during the next high level meeting of BIMSTEC.
This information was given by Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Minister of State, External Affairs in reply to a question by Shrimati Supriya Sule in Lok Sabha Today.
Indian PM’s concern on Bhopal Gas leak disaster
December 3, 2009 — IMCTwenty five years ago, the country woke up to a terrible tragedy in Bhopal. A lethal gas, Methyl Isocyanate (MIC), had leaked from the pesticide plant of Union Carbide India Ltd. at Bhopal into the atmosphere. The leakage resulted in over 5000 people losing their lives and many others being incapacitated permanently. The enormity of that tragedy of neglect still gnaws at our collective conscience.
The families that suffered and lost their dear ones can never really be fully compensated. However, the Government of India has implemented several measures to provide relief to the affected families, including socio¬economic and medical rehabilitation and improvement in their living conditions. Here I would also like to salute the civil society groups who have persisted in pursuing justice and compensation to those who suffered.
Those affected by the catastrophe deserve our continuing support and sympathy. We owe it to our fellow citizens to put in place procedures and precautions to ensure that such a tragedy never occurs again.
I share the grief of those affected by this horrible incident. I reaffirm our Government’s commitment to resolving issues of safe drinking water, expeditious clean up of the site, continuation of medical research, and any other outstanding issues connected with the Bhopal Gas Tragedy. (IMC)
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