February

Mr.Maxime Bernier, Minister of Tourism, Canada called on Union Tourism Minister K Chiranjeevi in New Delhi on 26 February. Both sides resolved to strengthen cooperation in tourism sector. It was also decided that both the countries will identify areas for working together and explore new opportunities in tourism sector especially in the field of human resource development, exchange of tour operators, investment in the tourism sector and exchange of information related to tourism sector. The possibility of signing an agreement/MoU between India and Canada was also discussed. It was also agreed that Tour Operators and Travel Agents of both the countries will interact with each other in order to promote two way tourism between India and Canada. The possibilities of promoting more package tours in either of the countries could also be explored by the travel trade of two countries. Both sides also explored the possibilities of promoting joint venture investment in the field of hotel industry and tourism infrastructural sector. Now that Hotels and Tourism sector has been opened for Foreign direct investment up to 100% on automatic routes, Canadian investment in tourism infrastructure in India could be one of the major areas of cooperation. Canada is one of India’s primary source markets. Foreign tourist arrivals from Canada to India have increased considerably over the past few years.

The Union Minister of Steel, Beni Prasad Verma recently led a delegation to Brazil to strengthen cooperation between the two nations in steel & mining. During the visit, a Letter of Intent (LoI) was signed by the Secretary, Ministry of Steel on behalf of Government of India and by the Executive Secretary (Mines & Energy) on behalf of the Government of Brazil on 7th February. The LoI inter-alia aims to promote and expand bilateral relations between the two countries in the mineral sector with focus on strengthening the supply chain for the growth of the steel industry in both the countries. The Letter of Intent aims to encourage investment opportunities in iron & steel related businesses by the Indian and the Brazilian companies in India and Brazil, facilitate exchange of technical know-how in developing the iron and steel production and other steel related raw materials, including pelletisation plants and other associated industries. Both the Governments would jointly work for developing the steel industry and to exchange technically qualified manpower for sustainable growth of the iron & steel industry. The possibility of signing a Memorandum of Understanding during the forthcoming visit of the President of Brazil to India is also being explored. Both India and Brazil have been showing robust growth in the consumption of steel and are globally viewed as the two large emerging markets after China in terms of their growth potential.

The Health Ministers of India and Bangladesh signed an MoU on Health in New Delhi on 12 February. While GhulamNabi Azad, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare signed on behalf of Government of India, Dr. A. F. M. RuhalHaque, Health Minister signed on behalf of Government of Bangladesh.The salient features of the MoU between India and Bangladesh are as follows: The main areas of cooperation between the two Governments will include the following:
Exchange of medical doctors, other health professionals and experts:
Development of human resources.
Exchange of information on health.
Medical and health research development.
Regulations of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and cosmetics.
Health promotion and disease prevention.
Fostering cooperation for the development of culturally sensitive and effective public and professional awareness campaign including clinical are practices and best practices guidelines for healthcare providers and caretakers to benefit individuals and families touched by Autism Spectrum Disorders and Developmental Disabilities
Any other area of cooperation as may be mutually decided upon.

India and Japan have resolved to strengthen cooperation in tourism sector. This was decided at a meeting between the visiting Japanese Senior Vice-Minister of Tourism, Mr. Hiroshi Kajiyama and Union Tourism Minister K Chiranjeevi in New Delhi on 12 February. It was also decided that both the countries will identify areas for working together and explore new opportunities in tourism sector especially in the field of human resource development, exchange of tour operators, investment in the tourism sector and exchange of information related to tourism sector. The possibility of signing an agreement/MoU between India and Japan was also discussed.India and Japan are important tourism markets to each other. Japan is one of the top ten tourist generating markets for India as for as inbound tourism is concerned. There is a strong interest of Japanese Tourists in places connected with Buddhism in India. JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) has extended loan of 7331 million Japanese Yen (Rs.299 Crore) for Development of Ajanta Ellora Conservation and Development Programme – Phase II). Ministry of Tourism will be holding road shows in Tokyo on 18th and Osaka on 20th of this month

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in New Delhi on 14 February, between the Ministry of Railways, Government of India and the Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français (SNCF), the French National Railways, for Technical cooperation in the field of Railways. The MoU was signed by Vinay Mittal, Chairman, Railway Board, from Indian side and Mr G.Pepy, Chairman and CEO SNCF from the French side. The MoU was signed in the presence of H.E. Francois Hollande, the President of France.Four areas of cooperation have been identified in the MoU. These are: 1. High speed and semi-high speed rail; 2. Station renovation and operations; 3. Modernisation of current operations and infrastructure; 4. Suburban trains. Under the High Speed Cooperation Programme, the Parties have decided to carry out jointly an ‘operations and development’ feasibility project on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail. This project will be funded by SNCF with a support from the French Ministry of Finance. The MoU is valid for a period of 5 years and is extendable by 1 year with mutual consent. Specific cooperation projects would be undertaken under the MoU as agreed by both the parties.

India and France on 14 February 2013 agreed to strengthen counter terrorism and intelligence cooperation between the two countries during the visit of French President Francois Holllande to India. Both nations exchanged views on a number of bi-lateral, regional and multilateral issues. India and France also reviewed progress on the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project and reiterated our commitment to its early implementation as soon as the commercial and technical negotiations, which have made good progress, are completed. Both the nations also concluded negotiations on the short range surface to Air missile to be co-produced in India. They also agreed on the need to reinvigorate economic engagement between the two countries. Moreover, they had in-depth discussion on the defence cooperation issue including submarines and missiles.

Other Important India-France Agreements
Both the nations agreed to strengthen cooperation in the fields of the modernisation of the railway, high speed corridors and network upgradation of railway stations.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and France's CNES under the space cooperation programme, jointly identified the means to pursue further cooperation.
A pact was changed to increase exchanges between the sportspersons, artists, architects, researchers, teachers, students to improve people- to- people contacts.
The cooperation between various Indian and French educational institutions was finalised.
MoU was signed between Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and France's CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)
CFA(Credit Facility Agreement) was signed for the Bangalore Metro Rail Project, Phase-1 between Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance and the French Development Agency(AFD)

Prime Minister of Bhutan, Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley was on the home visit to India from 7 February to 9 February 2013. During his visit to India he met with President of India, Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Vice-President of India-Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister- Manmohan Singh, Minister of Finance-P Chidambaram and Foreign Secretary-Ranjan Mathai. His visit was aimed at improving India-Bhutan bilateral relationship. Thinley is the Prime Minister of the Royal Government of Bhutan from 2008, after Bhutan became a democratic country. Bhutan became the youngest democracy of the world on 6 November 2008. Lyonchhen served as the Prime Minister of Bhutan twice before introduction of Democracy in the nation and the period included July 1998 to July 1999 and August 2003 to August 2004.

A delegation led by the Union Minister of Steel, Beni Prasad Verma met with the President of Uruguay, Mr. Jose Mujica in Montevideo on 6th February, 2013. The Union Minister of Steel and the President of Uruguay discussed points to improve co-operation in the mining sector between the two countries. Also present during the meeting were the Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining, Government of Uruguay Mr. Roberto Kreimerman and other ministers. The President of Uruguay welcomed the Indian Steel Minister and thanked him for visiting Uruguay. Both expressed their strong desire to increase trade turnover in the coming years. The Steel Minister invited the Uruguayan Trade and Industry to participate in the Indian Trade Exhibitions and conduct roadshows for more joint ventures, transfer of technology and inviting Indian investment for setting up production facilities in Uruguay for exports to other Latin American countries. The Steel Minister thanked the President of Uruguay for showing interest to collaborate with India in the mining sector. Later on the same day the Minister of Steel met with the Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining, Government of Uruguay, Mr. Roberto Kreimerman in Montevideo. The two ministers discussed various aspects of joint exploration and production of minerals in the Latin American country. Speaking on the occasion Mr. Verma said, “There is a huge potential for mining of iron ore, granite, gold and diamond, which can be explored by Indian companies in Uruguay. I believe the two countries can collaborate to utilize each others strength in areas of mineral exploration.” During the visit a Letter of Intent (LoI) was signed between Mr D.R.S. Chaudhary, Secretary Steel, Government of India and Mr Roberto Kreimerman, Minister, Industry, Energy & Mining, Government of Uruguay to explore and encourage investment opportunity in iron and steel sector and to facilitate exchange of technical knowhow in iron ore and steel related raw materials. The visit of the Indian delegation was successful in establishing a firm base for mineral exploration and production by Indian firms in Uruguay.

India and Austria on 5 February 2013 inked a social security pact at Vienna, under which the Indian professionals working in Austria would be exempted from paying the social security contribution of the country, if such payments are already made in India. Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi and Austrian Minister for Labour and Social Security, Rudoulf Hundstorfer signed the pact. The pact of social security between the two countries would also boost cooperation of the labour market expansion in Austria, the country that is a home for more than 17000 Indian professionals.

The Union Cabinet on 7 February, gave its approval for formation of the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) Pipeline Project and to permit GAIL India Ltd. to join the SPV. The four countries involved in the TAPI Gas pipeline project, signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement along with a Gas Pipeline Framework Agreement (GPFA). To accelerate the project, parties have formed the Minister Level Steering Committee and Technical Working Group (TWO). Suitable provisions for security & safety of the pipeline have been made in the Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) and Gas Pipeline Framework Agreement (GPFA).The SPV would take up the Feasibility Study and Design work of the TAPl pipeline to meet the agreed timelines for the project, as well as search for a consortium lead. Turkmenistan and Pakistan agreed to the formation of TAPl Ltd. considering it to be in consonance with the GPFA. Afghanistan also agreed to the formation of TAPl Ltd. so long as there was consensus amongst the Parties. TAPl Ltd. is required to have an initial contribution of USD 20 million that is USD 5 million from an identified entity from each of the four participating countries. GAIL, being a Navratna Company, is empowered to make an investment of this level for India. GAIL has agreed to make an investment up to USD 5 million in the proposed SPV that is TAPI Ltd. Based on an 'in-principle' approval of the Cabinet on 18th May, 2006, India joined the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TAP) Project in April, 2008 and thereafter, the name of the project stood amended to Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPl) Gas Pipeline Project.