Commonwealth Bats for Climate Change Accord

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held at Port of Spain in Trinidad and Tobago from 27-29 November 2009 had climate change as core agenda. The meeting also attracted climate change champions such as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen. The Summit threw full weight behind a negotiation process to create a new global climate change agreement at the Copenhagen Summit in December. It also backed the proposal for a climate change fund.

Inaugurating the Summit, the British Queen said, “This diamond anniversary year is important time for the Commonwealth to look back and look forward. In doing so, I believe we can be pleased with how far the Commonwealth has come in its 60 years, and yet how true it has remained to its origins. But this does not mean we should become complacent or rest on past successes. Like any good organization we must continue to pay close attention to the things that give it distinctive character. On this eve of the UN Copenhagen Summit on Climate Change, the Commonwealth has got an opportunity to lead once more. The threat to our environment is not a new concern. But it is now a global challenge which will continue to affect the security and stability of millions for years to come. Many of those affected are among the most vulnerable, and many of the people least well able to withstand the adverse effects of Climate Change live in the Commonwealth.” The CHOGM also admitted African country Rwanda as 54th member.

Iran Foreign Minister Visits India

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki arrived in New Delhi on 16 November for bilateral talks and Vice President Hamid Ansari, PM Dr. Manmohan Singh and Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna.

Officials from Iran and India discussed cooperative training of troops and the possible Indian launch of an Iranian commercial satellite. Talks also reportedly covered the much-delayed US$7.5 billion gas pipeline project. India withdrew last year from the talks because of repeated disputes about prices and transit fees.

India is very keen on the integrated development of the Iranian Chabar port and building a railway line from there to Bam on the Iranian-Afghanistan border. From there goods could be taken to the Afghan garland highway through the Zaranj-Delaram highway built by India in Afghanistan. The Afghan garland highway provides access to several Central Asian countries and would serve as an economical access route for goods in the absence of a direct route through Pakistan.

India-South Africa to Step up Trade

India and South Africa on 14 November agreed to widen the export basket and to work closely for the early conclusion of the India-South African Customs Union (SACU) Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPA).

This was decided between India’s Commerce and Industry Minister, Anand Sharma and the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane.

Anand Sharma said that India had identified South Africa and other African nations as the priority destinations under the diversified market scheme and Indian exporters were being encouraged to tap these potential markets. Besides speeding up the SACU-India PTA and early conclusion of the BIPA, both Ministers agreed that the CEO Forum should be reconstituted at the earliest.

Both expressed satisfaction at the level of bilateral trade which touched US$7.41 billion in 2008-09. India’s imports from South Africa stood at US$5.44 billion during this period and India’s exports to South Africa were US$1.97 billion. Both ministers discussed the two-way investments, and noted that Indian investments were about US$3 billion with many projects still under implementation.

There is also interest in South African companies to invest in India and the present inflows are about US$100 million. The visiting minister informed Mr. Sharma that the South African President had accepted the invitation to visit India, which is likely to happen early next year.

India, US to jointly develop new energy technology

India and the US have agreed on joint development of new technologies in the field of energy. In a meeting between the US Energy Secretary, Mr. Steven Chu, and India’s Minister of Power, Mr Sushil Kumar Shinde on 14 November in New Delhi, they discussed working towards the creation of a joint mechanism to promote research and the development of clean and efficient technologies. According to a statement, “both sides agreed that joint development of new technologies in the field of energy would be of mutual interest. Among the areas identified for cooperation were clean coal technologies, smart grids, and energy efficiency”.

They also discussed ways to accelerate the adoption of clean and efficient coal energy technology in India, in view of the large scale growth in infrastructure in India over the next few decades.

The two sides also discussed the possibilities that could be exploited through the availability of cheap storage solutions such as batteries and pump hydro. These could enable decentralised stand-alone grids, based on local resources. Technologies for energy from municipal waste were also identified as an area for mutual benefit.

Rajiv Shah to Head USAID

Mr. Rajiv Shah will head the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). U.S. President Barack Obama nominated this Indo-American to the high post of Administrator of the federal agency responsible for all non-military aid by the U.S.

The Congress has to endorse the nomination of Dr. Shah who is the Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics and Chief Scientist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He would become the highest ranking American of Indian origin in any U.S. administration.

“Rajiv brings fresh ideas and the dedication and impressive background necessary to help guide USAID as it works to achieve this important goal,” said Mr. Obama in a statement announcing his decision. The mission of USAID is to advance U.S. interests by strengthening relationships abroad.

Dr. Shah manages the Agricultural Research Service, the Economic Research Service, the National Agricultural Statistical Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the US Department of Agriculture with more than 10,000 staff worldwide including 2,200 federal scientists and a budget of more than US$2.6 billion.

India, Columbia sign Investment Agreement

India and Columbia on 11 November 2009 inked a bilateral investment promotion and protection agreement. The agreement was signed by Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma and Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism of Columbia Luis Guillermo Plata.

After signing of the agreement, both ministers hoped that it would serve as a catalyst in boosting investment flows between the two countries. The agreement aims at enhancing bilateral investment and technology flows between the two countries, by creating favourable conditions for investors. These include a mutually acceptable definition of investment as also IPR, besides national treatment and most favoured nation treatment on post-establishment basis, protection against expropriation, except for a public purpose against a fair and equitable compensation, and full reparability of investment and returns.

The agreement provides an elaborate dispute resolution mechanism to settle disputes between an investor and the host Government or between the two governments. The dispute resolution mechanism includes recourse to negotiations, conciliation, domestic dispute resolution mechanism and to international arbitration. The agreement will remain in force for a period of ten years and thereafter, it will be deemed to have been automatically extended unless either country gives to the other country a written notice of its intention to terminate the agreement.

Spanish Prince Visits India

Spain’s Crown Prince Felipe and his wife visited India from 10-12 November. The inauguration of the Cervantes Institute in India on 11 November was one of the key events of the official visit of the Prince and his wife, Princess Letizia.

Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia inaugurated an exhibition of Picasso etchings at the Institute. The event is for improving the cultural dialogue between the two nations and to give a further boost to the already existing cordial relations. The institute also aspires to make Spanish a language of importance in India.

The Prince met India’s President, Vice President, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.

President Pratibha Patil invited the royal couple to a private luncheon at her official residence, something that is reserved only for heads of state, which diplomatic sources interpreted as an important political gesture of friendship toward Spain. Vice President Mohamed Hamid Ansari offered an official dinner in their honour.

India demonstrated the desire to intensify the bilateral relations that have already been strengthened in recent years by acts such as the inauguration of the House of India in Spain, the creation of a bilateral council, India’s presence as an invited guest at Spain’s ARCO art fair and Indian President’s official visit to Madrid in April.

In the economic area, the two countries reaffirmed their interest in jointly exploring new business opportunities in the areas of industry, tourism, renewable energy, infrastructure and the service sector. Prince Felipe had earlier visited India in February 2001 as a Guest of Honour at India Engineering Trade Fair - 2001 where Spain was a partner country.

India, China, Russia Foreign Minister’s Meet in Bangalore

The foreign ministers of India, China and Russia met on 27 October 2009 in Bangalore to boost ties. Climate change, world trade and the global financial crisis were discussed. The meeting of the countries normally grouped together with fellow emerging giant Brazil as BRIC, brought together Russia’s Sergei Lavrov, India’s S.M. Krishna and China’s Yang Jiechi.

Thomas Matussek is Germany’s new Ambassador to India

Germany’s new Ambassador to India, Mr. Thomas Matussek, presented his credentials to President Pratibha Devisingh Patil on 11 November. Before taking up his new position, Ambassador Matussek had served as the head of Germany’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York. Ambassador Mattusek described Indo-German relations as good and deep. “The two countries share a long and burden-free history. India was always admired by German poets, thinkers and philosophers. German indologists played a big part for India to rediscover its own ancient heritage. In many respects, the German and Indian economies are complementary. Germany is good in top end manufacturing. India, on the other hand, is excellent in the IT and services sectors. It can help to overcome shortcomings. So, working together, both countries are ideally equipped to meet the challenges of the future,” the new Ambassador said.