From the Editor-in-Chief
Welcome to the September edition of Diplomatist. India is all set to host the Commonwealth Games 2010 in New Delhi from 04-14 October; it is obviously an occasion of joy and pride. On this occasion, we have an article that looks at the values, goals and historic evolution of Commonwealth as a post-colonial club, both nostalgically and critically.   Read the Note.  
  

TRILATERAL TRANS-HIMALAYAN ECONOMIC COOPERATION      
For decades, small countries in South Asia have had to rely on India for economic assistance and the trade and transit outlets. Sometimes, it was not uncommon for them to feel Indian leverage in matters related to national politics. For a long time, China had maintained a low key approach to dealing with these small neighbours in South Asia. China’s new found prosperity, its natural resources needs, and their pursuit to seek alternate maritime passages have all changed the South Asian dynamics in a significant way. This thesis argues that both India and China are much better off looking at these smaller neighbours as a land of opportunity rather than a platform for rivalry. We begin with Nepal as an example.   Read the Article.
 

NEW DELHI ALL DECKED UP FOR CWG 2010  
India is hosting the Commonwealth Games 2010 in New Delhi from 04-14 October. After the Olympic Games, it is the second most popular game in the world in terms of number of participating teams, athletes and sporting items. On 03 October, around 60,000 spectators are expected to witness the opening ceremony of the mega-event in New Delhi that will start at 7:30 pm at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium. Subscribe to Read.  
     

TIME TO ADD A GLOBAL TOUCH TO COMMONWEALTH
Can the Commonwealth rely merely on its rich and diverse history to convince the youth about its remarkable ability to accommodate distinctly diverse cultures into its eclectic and pluralistic fold? Is there a way in which the Commonwealth, often seen as nothing more than a slightly efficient talking shop, can acquire a conspicuous presence in a global world, characterised by mega trading blocs and partnerships among countries and chastened by a financial apocalypse?   Subscribe to Read.  
  

COLOMBIA: BICENTENARY IS HOMAGE TO OUR NATIONAL HEROES
“Colombia is a country where freedom offers fruits in very different ways: liberty of expression, with a very liberal state of communication and press activity; individual liberty; freedom of living; freedom of mobility; and protection of property rights; freedom of worship, freedom to create, freedom to write, liberty of thought and to top it all our economy is also liberal with due social responsibility. This is one of the reasons that Colombia has multiple expressions of extraordinary creativity, with great artists like, Gabriel Garcia Marques, Fernando Botero and Shakira”.   Subscribe to Read.  
  

RWANDA: SECOND TERM FOR PAUL KAGAME   
President Paul Kagame of Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) secured about 93 percent of votes in the National Election held on 9th August 2010 and was re-elected for another seven year term. Dr. Jean Damascene Ntawukuriryayo of Social Democratic Party (PSP) secured 4.9 percent, Higiro from Liberal Party (PL) got 1.5 percent and Dr Alvera Mukabaramba of Party for Progress and Concord (PPC) received 0.7 percent.   Subscribe to Read. 
   

GUJARAT OFFERS A CONDUCIVE CLIMATE FOR MSMEs
Indian economy is consistently moving towards a market-led economy. The investments are bound to grow more robust in the time to come. Although the statement `future lies with MSMEs` may sound very clichéd’, the fact is that markets in India are characterised by either expensive big players or small low quality ones, which is not fair play. As the markets grow competitive which is very likely, the answer lies with small businesses, which present optimised solutions in terms of quality as well as price. It is safe to say that investment in MSMEs today is bound to give returns in a span of 7-10 years.  Subscribe to Read.      
     

GUJARAT BRTS: A NEW COURSE IN COST-EFFECTIVE PUBLIC TRANSPORT 
India’s first Bus Rapid Transport System – the Ahmedabad Janmarg Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) was initiated by the Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board (GIDB), in association with Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority. The BRTS has quietly and efficiently heralded a new revolution in India’s public transportation arena. Today, Janmarg covers a total distance of 217 kms, and has managed to win the plaudits of not only the common man, but also of the international community. Ahmedabad’s indigenous BRTS received the prestigious 2010 Sustainable Transport Award from the Institute of Transportation and Development Policy.  Subscribe to Read.  
 

INDIA’S EXPORT PERFORMANCE AND FUTURE POSSIBILITIES    
To combat the adverse impacts of recession on the national economy, the Government of India came up with certain policy initiatives. The Foreign Trade Policy 2009-14 was formulated to improve the export scenario within the context of global recession. The stated short term objective of it was to arrest and reverse the declining trends in exports. In his speech on the recent Foreign Trade Policy, the Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma reiterated the Government’s commitment to increase India’s share of global merchandise trade and to use exports as an instrument to facilitate growth.   Subscribe to Read.
  

NUCLEAR BILL: HIGH ACCOUNTABILITY RAISES CONCERN
Almost immediately after India’s President Pratibha Patil’s visit, China’s Minister for Defence, General Liang Guanglie, led a 17-member high powered delegation to Islamabad for signing with his Pakistani counterpart, Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar, three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at “enhancing Pakistan’s capabilities to fight terror”. Under the accord, the three services of the two countries would hold joint military exercises, while China would provide four trainer aircraft for Pakistan Air Force and 60 million Yuan for Armed Forces training. Subscribe to Read.  
   

SRI LANKA BECKONS INVESTORS IN TOURISM SECTOR
Sri Lanka is expanding its tourism infrastructure through big ticket investments and welcoming investors from all parts of the world. It held a tourism Road Show in New Delhi on 25 August attended by Minister Basil Rajapkasa. The country is experiencing a tourism boom. Sri Lanka has been a popular destination for travellers from all around the world for centuries. The tourism industry has emerged as the 4th highest foreign exchange earner in Sri Lanka. The country has now overcome the temporary setback experienced in tourism sector due to terrorism and a fast recovery has begun. This industry is driven by packaged beach holidays attracting a low-cost, low-value market segment, to the niche market offering specialized products such as Ecotourism, MICE (Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions and Exhibitions), Adventure tourism and Ayurveda/Spa tourism.     Subscribe to Read.  
   

CHINA’S SOUR POLICY AFTER A SWEET WELCOME TO INDIAN PRESIDENT   
The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) held in Hanoi in the last week of July attended by the Association of South-East Nations (ASEAN), the European Union, the US, China, Russia and Japan was a scenario of big powers trying slug it out on regional issues. The meeting discussed a range of regional security issues. But the South China Sea stood out as a core issue among the ASEAN members and China. It became evident that the US has decided to involve deeply in the muddying waters of the dispute.  Subscribe to Read.
  

HANOI ARF AND US-VIETNAM TIES  
The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) held in Hanoi in the last week of July attended by the Association of South-East Nations (ASEAN), the European Union, the US, China, Russia and Japan was a scenario of big powers trying slug it out on regional issues. The meeting discussed a range of regional security issues. But the South China Sea stood out as a core issue among the ASEAN members and China. It became evident that the US has decided to involve deeply in the muddying waters of the dispute.    Subscribe to Read.