Global Connections India New Delhi, India / Washington, D.C. Editor: Christopher S. Biggers Email: chris.biggers@gmail.com
Volume 1 (1), Monday, 09 May 2011
Letter from the Editor Welcome to Global Connections India’s inaugural edition of the GC India Monitor (GCIM). The GCIM is really just a replacement, or what I would rather call an extension, for the widely-read Lisbon India Monitor (LIM) previously edited by Constantino Xavier. Due to Constantino’s busy schedule, he is unable to continue producing the Monitor which has left a void for all those who enjoyed it previously. Constantino is now working on other issues, particularly those related to Pakistan at the Brookings Institution in Washington D.C. As he moves on to new projects, I hope he may come back from time to time to provide commentary and apply his expertise on emerging events in India.
That said, I have spoken with some of the prior readership of the LIM, and, for the sake of maintaining continuity with the readership, I have kept most of the prior sections. While there may be some changes in the near future, I hope that the GCIM will remain relevant and valuable to its audience. If at any point, the readership has suggestions as to some additional areas they would like covered, please feel free to contact me. In addition to keeping a comparable layout with the Lisbon version, the GCIM will continue to be a weekly edition whose distribution will take place on the following Monday of the coverage week. Within a couple of weeks, you will be able to find back-issues of the GCIM on scribd.com Until next week, Christopher S. Biggers
From & On India China Tata Steel plans more investment in China
Wang Xiaotian Tata Steel Limited - the world's 10thlargest steel company by production and a subsidiary of Tata Steel Group - will increase investment in China by 5 percent in 2012. { HYPERLINK " http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/201105/03/content_12433784.htm" } India to have a network of strategic roads by 2013 { HYPERLINK "http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy /infrastructure/india-to-have-network-of-strategic-roads-by2013/articleshow/8188463.cms" } 24 Chinese Crew free after Indian Navy Warned Off Pirates { HYPERLINK " http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/201105/07/content_12462871.htm" }
Quality of Life: India vs China Amartya Sen { HYPERLINK "http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2011/may/12/qu ality-life-india-vs-china/ }
The Western Front Pak Army, Govt Warn India Against Abbottabad-Like Operation { HYPERLINK "http://www.indiatvnews.com/news/World/Pak_Army_Govt_ Warn_India_Against_Abbottabad_Like-3683.html" } Pakistan troops along LoC put on high alert { HYPERLINK " http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-0508/india/29522213_1_pakistani-army-pakistan-armyindian-army" } PM Takes Another Pak Initiative
Jyoti Malhotra Osama seems to have drowned out a
GC India Monitor Vol 1 (1), 09 May 2011
key step taken by India and Pakistan in recent weeks to normalise relations, using trade as an instrument of foreign policy.{ HYPERLINK " http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/pm-takesanother-pak-initiative/434903/" }
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), and many others – and it looks set to initiate more negotiations. But the US is the forgotten player, in part because Washington has yet to sort out its own trade priorities with India. { HYPERLINK " http://www. business-standard.com/india/news/ evanfeigenbaum-timeforus-india-investment-treaty/434101/" }
South Asia Indian fake currency gangs chose Nepal star-hotel for deals { HYPERLINK " http://www.deccanherald.com/ content/159389/indian-fake-currency-gangs-chose.html" } Nepal-Tibet trade talks kick off { HYPERLINK " http://in.news.yahoo.com/nepal-tibet-trade-talks-kick-off095854162.html" } Indo-Bangladesh chamber seeks land for Indian SEZ { HYPERLINK " http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/business/indobangla-chamber-seeks-land-for-indiansez_100534439.html" } Briefing by Special Secretary (PD) on Vice President’s Visit to Bangladesh { HYPERLINK " http://meaindia.nic.in/mystart.php?id=530317595" } India to finance major harbour in Sri Lanka { HYPERLINK " http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/indiato-finance-major-harbour-in-sri-lankalead_100534451.html" } Central team reviews Indo-Myanmar trade at Moreh {HYPERLINK " http://in.news.yahoo.com/central-teamreviews-indo-myanmar-trade-moreh-070326918.html" } Indo-Myanmar liaison meet discusses border security { HYPERLINK " http://www.ifp.co.in/imphal-free-press-fullstory.php?newsid=16612 }
EU
US Releases 2011 Section 301 Report with India remaining on Priority Watch List { HYPERLINK "http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/reports-andpublications/2011/2011-special-301-report" } Over half of US green card holders plan to return home: Survey { HYPERLINK "http://www.deccanherald.com/content/159063/over-halfus-green-card.html" }
Strategic Masala Osama hit a wake-up call for India
Chietigj Bajpaee The May 3 hit draws attention to the shallowness of India's claims to be an emerging "great power" since it caps events in South Asia over the past decade that show India remains incapable of solving problems within its own sub-region, far from acquiring the capability to project influence on a larger scale. { HYPERLINK " http://www.atimes.com/ atimes/South_Asia/ME07Df02.html " } Dr Ashwani Kumar underscores India-Russia Strategic Partnership { HYPERLINK " http://www.pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=71991" } US-India Strategic Partnership after the MMRCA Deal
Rajesh Rajagopalan New Delhi’s decision to not consider the American F-16 and F-18 for its Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) might have been sound on technical grounds but it nevertheless has important political implications for India’s relations with the U.S. { HYPERLINK "
No compromise in our stance on IPR, says India { HYPERLINK "http://www.deccanherald.com/content/157977/nocompromise-our-stance-ipr.html"}
http://www.idsa.in/idsacomments/TheUSIndia StrategicPartnershipaftertheMMRCADeal_rrajagopalan_06 0511 " }
India, France Discuss Nuke Cooperation, Situation in Region { HYPERLINK "http://www.deccanherald.com/content/159664/indiafrance-discuss-nuke-cooperation.html" }
Dan Twining argues why the skeptics have it wrong on India and considers the policy option from New Delhi’s perspective.
Why isn’t India buying American fighterJets?
{ HYPERLINK "http://shadow.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/04/29/why_isn _t_india_buying_american_fighter_jets “}
New U.K. High Commissioner to India { HYPERLINK "http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2004179.ec e" }
The Big Picture
Czech Republic for ties with India on new footing { HYPERLINK " http://www.thehindubusinessline.com /industry-and-economy/economy/article2004040.ece " }
{ HYPERLINK " http://pragati.nationalinterest.in/2011/05/the-big-picture/ “}
Shyam Saran describes what India’s strategy should be in an era of heightened uncertainty.
India welcomes Fatah-Hamas Reconciliation { HYPERLINK " http://www.mea.gov.in/mystart.php?id=190017604" }
USA Time for a US-India Investment Treaty
Even A Feigenbaum India has concluded a raft of trade agreements – with Japan, South Korea, the
Projecting Power to Protect Unity
Nitin Pai The dominant view among the members of India’s strategic community is that India lacks a
GC India Monitor Vol 1 (1), 09 May 2011
strategic culture. Given the cacophony, rancour and partisanship in public debate, with policy discussions taking place… { HYPERLINK" http://pragati.nationalinterest.in /2011/05/projecting-power-to-protect-unity/" }
Defense & Security Defence cluster sees big business { HYPERLINK " http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/defencecluster-sees-big-business/433479/" DRDO to create technology base for 155mm Artillery Gun Project { HYPERLINK " http://frontierindia.net/drdo-to-create-technology-base-forpossible-155-mm-artillery-gun-project “}
Economy Aviation needs $30 bn investment over 15 yrs { HYPERLINK "http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-byindustry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/aviation-needs-30bn-investment-over-15-yrs-secy/articleshow/8183248.cms" India flourishing marketplace for New Zealand { HYPERLINK " http://www.livenewsindia.com/business/india-growingmarket-for-new-zealand/ ” } Over 30,000 Indians to be recruited in Australia { HYPERLINK "http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-byindustry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/aviation-needs-30bn-investment-over-15-yrs-secy/articleshow/8183248.cms" FM holds bilateral talks with Japanese Finance Minsiter { HYPERLINK " http://www.pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=71974”
Domestic Arena Empowering Kashmir
M Rajagopalan In India, where providing infrastructure is often an afterthought, almost all states suffer from a shortage of good roads and reliable power supply, but in Kashmir’s case the problem assumes an alarming dimension, one that seriously impacts our national security. { HYPERLINK "http://pragati.nationalinterest.in/2011/05/empoweringkashmir/ " } Barricades re-erected to stop officials from entering Posco site { HYPERLINK “ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/barrica des-re/erected-to-stop-officials-from-entering-Poscosite/articleshow/8171539.cms “} Farmers' unrest spreads to Agra { HYPERLINK “http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_farmers-unrestspreads-to-agra-noida-toll-rises-to-4_1540740 “} Supreme Court likely defer hearing on Ayodhya suits to July { HYPERLINK “http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_supreme-courtlikely-to-defer-hearing-on-ayodhya-suits-to-july_1541046 “}
Coming Up PM Manmohan Singh may visit Afghanistan this week over concerns about Pakistan after the death of Osama bin Laden. Visas for the 20-member entourage have already been obtained. President Asif Ali Zardari will visit Russia next week at the invitation of President Medvedev ahead of his trip to Washington which now seems unlikely to take place in the near future.
Cement demand slackens on slowdown in realty, infrastructure { HYPERLINK “ http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/article200 4318.ece ” }
Energy & Resources Promoters' green policy to decide fate of big projects
Piyali Mandal Big industrial projects may face a hurdle in getting clearances if their promoters do not have a sound corporate environmental policy (CEP) in place { HYPERLINK " http://www.businessstandard.com/india/news/promoters/ -green-policy-todecide-fatebig-projects/434902/ “ } Initial bids for Orissa UMPP to be invited by May-end { HYPERLINK " http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/initial-bidsfor-orissa-umpp-to-be-invited-by-may-end/134140/on “} India to add 67,000 MW solar power capacity by 2022 { HYPERLINK " http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-byindustry/energy/power/india-to-add-67000-mw-solar-powercapacity-by-2022/articleshow/8201503.cms “}
GC India Monitor Vol 1 (1), 09 May 2011
India Goes South India & Africa
India & Latin America
India, Morocco focus on SME cooperation { HYPERLINK " http://smetimes.tradeindia.com/smetimes/news/topstories/2011/Apr/30/indo-moroccan-smes-need-tocollaborate-sharma625315.html" } Indian Investors face no discrimination in Ghana { HYPERLINK " http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-0506/news/29517255_1_investors-face-trade-policy-cheapchinese-imports } Nigeria-India Trade Value Hits $12bn { HYPERLINK " http://www.livenewsindia.com/business/nigeria-indiatrade-value-hits-12bn-2/ } Africa to weigh on Bharti Airtel's earnings near term { HYPERLINK " http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-byindustry/telecom/africa-to-weigh-on-bharti-airtels-earningsnear-term/articleshow/8168400.cms } New Mangalore Port container traffic grows 38% { HYPERLINK " http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-andeconomy/logistics/article2004199.ece} Tata Motors starts sending Nano to overseas markets { HYPERLINK " http://www.thehindu.com/business/article2003480.ece } India key partner in Kenya’s development { HYPERLINK " http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/mobi/businessdetails.php?newsI D=TlRrNE9RPT0=&page=business } India backs Mozambique electricity plan { HYPERLINK " http://www.miningmx.com/news/energy/154141.htm}
Argentina has world’s third largest shale gas reserves
IFFCO of India has invested 25 million dollars in a Canadian company Americas Petrogas which has a shale gas block in Argentina. They are looking for financial and technological partners for exploration and production. { HYPERLINK "http://businesswithlatinamerica.blogspot.com/2011/04/arge ntina-has-worlds-third-largest.html “ } Argentina to buy Drugs worth $200mn from India { HYPERLINK " http://www.pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=71934" } Indian delegation from the Unique Identification Authority visits IPC-IG Brazil { HYPERLINK " http://pressroom.ipc-undp.org/2011/indian-delegation-fromthe-unique-identification-authority-visits-ipc-ig/ece } The Other BRIC in Latin America: India
Jorge Heine & R. Viswanathan In April 2010, Beijing stopped buying Argentine soybean oil in retaliation for Argentina’s restrictions on Chinese imports. That could have dealt a serious blow: Argentina is the world’s largest exporter of soybean oil, and China is the world’s largest importer. Enter India, which promptly tripled its own imports of Argentine soybean oil from $606 million in 2009 to $1.8 billion in 2010 { HYPERLINK " http://www.americasquarterly.org/node/2422 “ } Brazil & Argentina – Sources of edible oil and pulses for India { HYPERLINK "http://businesswithlatinamerica.blogspot.com/2011/04/brazil -and-argentina-sources-of-edible.html } India for expanding trade ties with South American Countries { HYPERLINK "http://www.thehindu.com /business/Economy/article1988423.ece }
India's Taurian Manganese plans $150 mln manganese plant in Zambia { HYPERLINK " http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/04/17/idINIndia56388420110417 }
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GC India Monitor Vol 1 (1), 09 May 2011