From the Editor-in-Chief
The SAARC Summit held in Bhutan last month was not at all an epoch-making summit. Nevertheless, it gave the region’s leaders the opportunity to revisit some of the commitments they collectively made in Colombo and elsewhere on different issues. Setting aside all bickering they found Climate Change as one area to work together sans bias. This is definitely a silver lining as the regional bloc is often lampooned for “a glass half empty or half full” depending on one’s level of cynicism. Our analysis of SAARC is lively.  Read the Note.  
  

UK Polls: Great Expectations on the New Coalition
David Cameron becomes the Youngest Prime Minister in 200 years
“I want to make a big, open and comprehensive offer to the Liberal Democrats. I want to work together with them in tackling our country’s big and urgent problems — the debt crisis, our deep social problems and our broken political system” -- David Cameron Read the Article.  
     

16th SAARC Summit: Joint Action on Climate Change in Cards
The leaders strongly condemned terrorism in all forms and manifestations and expressed deep concern over the threat which terrorism continues to pose to peace, security and economic stability of the South Asian region.  Subscribe to Read.  
  

India Expanding Relations with Latin America and Caribbean
As per the recent report issued by ECLAC (UN Economic Commission for Latin America and Caribbean) the LAC region is relatively well placed to withstand the slowdown in the United States and the resultant direct and indirect effects on its exports. The region also enjoys strong fiscal and debt positions that may discourage drastic shifts in financial flows. Latin America is better prepared because of the progress it has made in macroeconomic management.   Subscribe to Read.  
  

Bilateral NOTES  
Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna Visits Kazakhastan
Iran hosts G15 Summit
India-France Foreign Office Consultations
Japan-India Energy Dialogue
Indo-Seychelles Joint Meeting
India Elected to UN Committee
India asks Pakistan to Liberalise Trade
Indian President to visit China
India and Venezuela to Develop US$20-billion Oil Project  
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EU DAY     
EU-India Business Ties are Stable: Rana Kapoor
In an exclusive Interview, Mr. Rana Kapoor, President of the Council of EU Chambers of Commerce in India spoke to G. Kalyan Kumar, Editor-in-Chief, Diplomatist and shared his thoughts on the EU-India business relations and its future. Kapoor is a doyen in the banking industry and is the Founder/ Managing Director & CEO of YES Bank. Excerpts

EU: A Role Model for Stability
A transformed Europe and a transforming world is shaping the 21st century

India Attracting EU Investors
Ms. Prabha Nair, Secretary General, EBGI spoke to G. Kalyan Kumar about the role of her organisation in promoting European Business interests in India and the emerging opportunities. Excerpts

EU-US Economic Ties: Trade Liberalisation can Yield Vast Benefits
The United States and European Union are the largest trading areas in the global economy. In 2008, 21.7 percent of US exports were facilitated in the European Union while the imports from the EU represented 17.7 percent of total US imports.

EU: Racing Against Recession
Even in the matter of recession, European Union is making incremental gains. It is slowly recovering from the deepest recession in its history, with the Commission’s spring forecast predicting the EU economy to be growing by 1 percent in 2010 and 1.75 percent in 2011.

India’s SME Growth to Spurt as new Tax Sops in Pipeline
“We have almost resolved with all ministries to implement the PPP to inspire procurements from the micro and small enterprises. The Ministry has recommended 20 percent procurement from this sector only”. -- Dinesh Rai Secretary, Ministry of MSMEs

INDIA-EU ECONOMIC RELATIONS: Upcoming BTIA—Prospects and Challenges
There is a strong economic reason for India and EU to enter into a BTIA. At present, the EU is India’s largest trading partner in goods, second largest trading partner in services (after the US), second largest investor (after Mauritius) and the largest in terms of foreign technology transfer.

G4S India Securing Your World
G4S is the world’s leading security solutions group, which specialises in outsourcing of business processes in sectors where security and safety risks are considered a strategic threat. G4S is the largest employer quoted on the London Stock Exchange and has a secondary stock exchange listing in Copenhagen. G4S has operations in more than 110 countries and over 595,000 employees.
  
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AFGHANISTAN-INDIA RELATIONS: India Needs to Expand its Role in Afghanistan
After the ouster of the Taliban, India undertook massive reconstruction and rehabilitation work in Afghanistan, currently amounting to around US$2 billion  Subscribe to Read.      
     

G20 Summit in TORONTO: Banking Tax - To Be or Not to Be 
Canada will host the G20 Summit under the theme “Recovery and New Beginnings,” on 26-27 June 2010. The summit will focus on recovery from the global economic and financial crisis and the implementation of commitments from previous G20 summits, while laying the foundation for sustainable and balanced growth. Subscribe to Read.  
 

Africa in Transition: Some Political, Economic and Social Issues  
On the occasion of Africa Day, it may be relevant to look at the socio political changes taking place there. This article is an effort in that direction, trying to analyse the signals of transition in Africa driven largely by forces of internal reforms, globalization and expressions of political will by people for good governance.    Subscribe to Read.
  

CII Exim Bank Conclave in New Delhi
The 6th Exim Bank Conclave on India Africa Partnership, jointly organized by the Government of India, Exim Bank and the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), was held at Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi, India, from the 14th to 16th of March 2010 under the theme ‘Developing Synergies: Creating a Vision’.  Subscribe to Read.  
   

Indian Companies Firming Up Presence in Africa
The India Inc is on an African safari. The recently held Africa- India conclave in New Delhi bore testimony to this. Business projects worth US$10 billion were discussed in the conclave. India focuses on capacity building, training and private investment in Africa.    Subscribe to Read.  
   

APPARELS & TEXTILES: India making rapid strides in global apparel markets   
The Indian textile and apparel industry is taking a new course by entering the Chinese market. Most of the top global apparel retailers, such as JC Penny, Nautica, Docker and Target, have established their sourcing network in India.  Subscribe to Read.