An ‘Africa Nite’ to Remember

Under the theme ‘India-Africa: Intensifying Cultural Ties’, the Ghana High Commission organised ‘Africa Nite’ in New Delhi on 17 November 2007. Dean of the African Diplomatic Corp, H E Carlos Agostinho Do Rosario, Ambassador of Mozambique to India, was the special guest of honour at the event. In his opening remarks, the ambassador said the cultural event would help India and African countries to forge mutual ties in art and cultural fields. He also mentioned that Africa and India had civilisations-old cultural relations.

The cultural event had its splendour from traditional dance performances, musical shows, and fashion parades presented by artistes from different African countries like Tanzania, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Lesotho. The spectacular dance shows executed by Tanzanian and Kenyan troupes as well as Bhangra gig by an Indian cultural troupe enthralled the packed audience gathered at the lawn of Ghana High Commission. Blending multicultural costumes of different African nations, fashion parades showcased models and couples in traditional attire and the cultural night certainly showcased the unity in diversity between India and African nations.

Cuba Shares its Pride of Parliamentary Polls

Prior to the Cuban Parliamentary Elections held on 20 January 2008 at Havana, the Ambassador of Cuba to India, Miguel Angel Ramirez Ramos, held a press conference to announce the agenda and norms of Cuban elections. Held at the office of Cuban Embassy in New Delhi, the ambassador said, “Cuba has very free and transparent elections unlike in other democratic countries where millionaires only can be elected as leaders. We have equal opportunities for every citizen whether a working class, peasant or intellectual.”

Cuban leader Fidel Castro, 81, was re-elected as Deputy to the National Assembly of the People’s Power. Castro, who has been convalescing after a long ailment of intestinal haemorrhage, has been the nation’s unchallenged leader since 1959. He is amongst the elected 614 National Assembly deputies and 1,201 provincial assembly deputies. Regarding the current health condition of the leader, Ramirez Ramos said, “Castro is too weak to address the public in person.” The ambassador highlighted that Cuba encourages the role of women in society. “Women occupy 65 percent of all jobs in the country and 43 percent parliament seats will be reserved for them,” Ramirez Ramos stated.

Canadian Foreign Minister Visits India

The recently concluded three-day India visit of Canadian Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier explored the potential to expand the relationship between the two countries. During the visit, the minister met with Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath.

During his meeting with Kamal Nath, the Canadian minister identified areas, where commercial relations between the two sides could be expanded, notably through two-way investment and S&T collaboration. He expressed Canada’s special interest in key sectors such as aerospace, agriculture and agri-food, infrastructure, information and communication technologies, energy, and oil and gas.

Eminent members of the Indo-Canadian business community shared their views with the Minister on future business opportunities in India. Bernier visited Delhi Metro, one of India’s most successful infrastructure projects. Canada-based Bombardier won a US$590 million contract to supply 340 metro cars to Delhi Metro Phase II. The foreign minister confirmed Canadian funding of US$3.5 million for Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute over five years.

Cooperation with DR Congo in Industrial Diamond

In view of the abundance availability of diamonds in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and India’s expertise in cutting and polishing them, the two countries have agreed to explore all possibilities of cooperation in this sector. DR Congo is world’s second largest diamond producer where Indian companies like MMTC are in a position to join hands for exploitation of the country’s rich potential exists in this sector.

During his meeting with Endra-Philippe Futa, Minister of National Economy and Commerce of Congo, Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath stated that India could cooperate with DR Congo in productive utilisation of minerals like copper and cobalt, which exists in abundance in the country.

Kamal Nath expressed interest in increasing trade with Congo in view of stabilisation of economic activity in the African region. He also offered Indian assistance in modernising their mining sector.

Indian Railways Supplies DUM Coaches to Angola

A first ever in the history of Indian Railways, it has dispatched Diesel Multiple Unit (DUM) coaches to Angola. At a function in Chennai, Indian Minister of State for Railways R Velu flagged off 15 DMU coaches exported by RITES. “Indian Railways has achieved another milestone as it is for the first time that such DMUs designed and manufactured by ICF are being exported” said Velu.

The minister appreciated RITES for achieving the highest ever turnover of Rs 265 crore (US$67.4 million) in 2006-07 from export of locomotives and rolling stock as against previous best of Rs 110 crore (US$28 million) achieved in 2001-02. Apart from Angola, RITES has been a leader in executing railway related export projects in a variety of Railway Systems of different gauges in Myanmar, Vietnam, Mozambique, Tanzania, Ghana, Zambia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Senegal, and Mali.

VK Agarwal, Managing Director, RITES said that this was a momentous occasion for both RITES and ICF as it is the first time cape gauge DMUs have been designed and manufactured and are being exported by RITES.

South African Delegation for Rural Development

A 22-member delegation headed by Mrs Belinda Scott from South African Natal Province recently paid a 10-day visit to India for the expansion of the rural development schemes and programmes currently being implemented in both countries. The delegation met with Indian Minister for Rural Development Dr Raghuvansh Prasad Singh.

A composite package during the deliberations contained the organisational set up of Rural Development Ministry and its programmes on providing employment to rural folks like National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (NREGP), self-employment programmes under Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY), construction of rural roads under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) highlighting the rural housing activities and so on.

The African delegation took interest specifically in water conservation and land records management. It was agreed that there is ample scope for mutual collaboration between the two nations in the field of rural development programmes.

Omani Deputy PM Visits India

Omani Deputy Prime Minister Sayyid Fahd Bin Mahmood al-Said paid a four-day visit to India. He signed four significant MoUs with Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. During their meeting, the two leaders recalled the historic ties developed between India and Oman, and noted with satisfaction the strengthening of mutually beneficial and traditionally warm friendship between the peoples of the two countries. Agreements signed: i) MoU between NSIC, India and DGD SME, Sultanate of Oman; ii) MoU between IIE, Guwahati and DGD SME, Sultanate of Oman; iii) MoU on Higher Education Cooperation; and iv) MoU between Oman Oil Company SAOC, Oman and Krishak Bharati Cooperative Limited, India.

Both sides noted steady bilateral progress in economic and technical cooperation with a projected trade of US$1.4 billion. Noting the presence of a large number of Indian companies in Oman and Omani companies in India, both sides expressed confidence that the considerable potential that exists could be fully realised. The two countries specifically noted the successful operation of the fertilizer production joint venture OMIFCO set up between IFFCO and Omani oil company Kribhco with an investment of US$969 million.

India-Zambia DTAA Agreement

India gave its approval for signing of an Agreement with Zambia for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to taxes on income.

The agreement is for the stimulation of the flow of investment, technology and services from India to Zambia and vice versa. It will also provide tax stability to the residents of India and Zambia and facilitate mutual economic cooperation.