INDIA Newsletter
#4 2015 October - December
Message from H.E. Mrs. Banashri Bose Harrison Ambassador of India to Sweden and Latvia
Dear Readers of our Newsletter, Dear Friends of India in Sweden & Latvia, The momentum generated in India-Sweden relations by the first-ever visit by the President of India to Sweden in the summer continued with high-level contacts and visits during the last three months. Foreign Minister Margot Wallström met the Indian Minister of State for External Affairs General Dr. V.K. Singh for useful discussions on the sidelines of the gathering of ASEM (Asia Europe Meeting) of Foreign Ministers in Luxembourg in October. The Swedish State Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office Hans Dahlgren visited New Delhi for the Strategic Dialogue with the National Security Advisor of India. The Swedish Minister for Urban Development, Housing and Information Technology Mehmet Kaplan paid a very successful visit to India which, I am confident, will give a big boost to our collaboration between our two countries in the Smart Cities programme. Smart urban development was also one of the main focus areas of the visits of two high-level delegations from the states of Delhi and Telangana. I am also optimistic that their visits will hasten the establishment of IKEA stores in India - something that we are all looking forward to! The ASEM Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Luxembourg also provided the opportunity for a meeting between the Foreign Minister of Latvia Mr. Edgars Rinkēvičs. The Indian Council of Cultural Relations sent the amazing music virtuoso Dr Shoma Ghosh to Sweden in October. Besides enchanting audiences at the successful 9th Stockholm Sangeet Conference, she and her group also gave highly appreciated performances in Uppsala and Linkoping. I had the great pleasure of meeting the board members of the reconstituted India-Sweden Friendship group in the Riksdag. Since parliaments represent the voice of the people, their potential contribution towards strengthening the ties between the two democracies is invaluable. I would like to thank all of them for their interest and time. The Indian festival of Deepavali was celebrated with enthusiasm in different parts of Sweden and also in Riga, bringing light and colour to all the participants at the right time of the year. Let me end by wishing a Happy New Year to all our readers. I look forward to receiving your feedback through emails to ambassador@indianembassy.se. We plan to include them in our next Newsletter so don’t forget to write! Sincerely,
(Mrs) Banashri Bose Harrison / (श्रीमति) बनश्री बोस है रीसन Ambassador of India / भारि की राजदि ू
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INDIA & SWEDEN
MOS for External Affairs and Swedish Foreign Minister meet in Luxembourg
Minister of State for External Affairs General (Dr.) V.K. Singh met the Swedish Foreign Minister Ms. Margot Wallström in Luxembourg on November 5 on the sidelines of a gathering of ASEM (Asia Europe Meeting) Foreign Ministers. Both Ministers agreed to maintain the momentum in bilateral relations which were revitalized by the landmark state visit of President of India to Sweden in June 2015. Minister Wallström conveyed that the Swedish industry was keen to participate in India’s economic transformation and were ready to partner in programmes such as ‘Make in India’ and Smart Cities. Both Ministers appreciated the upward trend in exchange of students and the increasing collaboration in the higher education sector. Minister Singh briefed his Swedish counterpart on the need for urgent UN reforms, including the expansion of the Security Council to reflect the realities of the contemporary world.
Ms. Margot Wallström and General (Dr.) V.K. Singh
Swedish Housing, Urban Development & Technology Minister visits India The Swedish Minister of Housing, Urban Development & Technology Mr. Mehmet Kaplan led a large delegation to India from October 13 to 18. He had fruitful meetings with the Indian Minister of Urban Development, Housing & Poverty Alleviation Mr. Venkaiah Naidu and the Minister of Information Technology Mr. Ravi Shankar Prasad. The Ministers identified promotion of public transport, municipal waste management and digitalization as priority areas for cooperation between India and Sweden. It was agreed that efforts would be made to identify specific joint projects for promoting sustainable urban development in India. The first meeting of the Indo-Swedish Joint Commission on Sustainable Urban Development took place during the visit.
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India-Sweden Strategic Dialogue The first round of the revived Indo-Swedish bilateral strategic dialogue was held in New Delhi on October 7 between Mr. Hans Dahlgren, State Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office and India’s National Security Adviser of India, Mr. Ajit Doval. The revival of this dialogue had been announced during the landmark visit of the President of India to Sweden in June this year.
Sweden—India Flag
Ms. Ann Linde, State Secretary for Home Affairs, who was a member of the delegation led by Mr. Dahlgren, called on the Indian Minister of State for Home Affairs, Mr. Kiren Rijiju, on October 6 and discussed issues related to disaster management, threat from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, de-radicalization and counter-terrorism.
Ministerial delegation from Delhi visits Sweden A 10-member Delhi government delegation led by Mr. Satyendar Kumar Jain, Minister of Health, Home, Power, PWD and Industries visited Stockholm for a study tour from October 24 to 30. It also included Shri Gopal Rai, Minister of Transport, Employment, Development, Labour and General Administration, in addition to other senior officials. The main focus of the visit was on collaboration opportunities with Sweden in the field of sustainable urban development and Smart City planning and the delegation met with senior officials and business executives with expertise in these areas. The Ambassador hosted a welcome dinner for the Indian Delegation and representatives of the Swedish companies participating in the programme. The President of the City Council of Stockholm Ms. Eva-Louise Erlandsson Slorach hosted a lunch for the delegation.
High-level official delegation from Telangana visits Sweden Dr. Rajiv Sharma, Chief Secretary, and Mr. Arvind Kumar, Industry Secretary, Telangana, visited Sweden from October 14 to 17. The delegation visited a number of Swedish companies including Electrolux, Ericsson, H&M and SSAB and made presentations on trade and investment opportunities available in Telangana. They also participated in a well-attended seminar at the
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World Trade Centre organized by Business Sweden and the Sweden India Business Council. The delegation went to Almhult on October 16 to visit the headquarters of IKEA, which is scheduled to open its first store in India in the state of Telengana in 2017.
India-Sweden Friendship Group in the new Parliament On October 14, Ambassador Banashri Bose Harrison met with the President and some members of the Board of the new India-Sweden Parliamentary Friendship Group at the Swedish Parliament. They were briefed by the Ambassador on India’s democracy, its diversity, its demographic potential and the focus on inclusive development. She also underlined the progress and efforts made by India to address the threat of climate change and the key points of the Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) announced in October. The Ambassador also made special mention of the flagship programmes such as Make in India, Digital India, Smart Cities, and Skill India, emphasizing that Sweden was very well-placed to be a leading partner in all these programmes.
Ambassador visits Southern Sweden Ambassador visited Southern Sweden from November 4 to 8. In Gothenburg, she spoke at the business conference Produktion2030 co-organized by the Swedish Engineering Industry Association, where she was the only international speaker. The Ambassador informed the 300-strong audience about the opportunities offered to Swedish industry by the new flagship programmes launched by Government of India. She said that it was the right moment to design, innovate and make with, for and in India. The promotional film on ‘Make in India’ received from Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion was shown to the audience. The Ambassador also went to Lund and Malmo and met the Governor of Skåne and other local dignitaries.
Sweden participates in the 2nd India Central Europe Business Forum Three Swedish companies - Centigo, Instas AB, Scania Commercial Vehicles India Pvt. Ltd. - along with Swedish Trade Invest Council participated in the 2nd India-Central Europe Business Forum, held in Bengaluru on October 5 to 6.
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Leading Swedish Business Paper organizes conference on ‘India 2015’ The leading Swedish business newspaper Dagens Industri (DI) organized a conference on October 21 on the theme “India 2015” with the objective on how Swedish companies could enhance business with India. Ambassador Mrs. Banashri Bose Harrison and Mr. Oscar Stenström, State Secretary in the Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation, were the two keynote speakers.
ICCR-sponsored troupe of Dr. Soma Ghosh enthrals audiences in Sweden An Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) sponsored 6-member troupe, led by Dr. Soma Ghosh, visited Sweden from October 2-11 to give performances of Indian traditional songs, music and dance. The group’s performances in Stockholm, Uppsala and Linköping were enthusiastically applauded by the audience.
Music concert on ‘Tagore’s Poems’ A music concert, created around Tagore’s poems, was held at Musikaliska theatre on October 17. The concert was the second in the Wind Symphonists’ series showing influences which shaped Swedish music and culture. Some of the compositions had Indian expressions as Shipra Nandy joined to create two Swedish folk-song with Bengali essence.
Diwali celebrated in Sweden The Swedish India Society celebrated Diwali at Hotel Clarions on October 24. Most of the guests were Swedish. Indian dances and a puppet show were the cultural highlights of the event. Indian Culture Centre of Scandinavia celebrated Diwali with a gathering of 250 people at Kultrum Centrum Hallonbergsplan on November 21. The event gave a taste of Indian traditions and cuisine and included a variety of music and dance performances. Ambassador Banashri Bose Harrison along with Ms. Margareta Cederfelt, Swedish Member of Parliament were the ‘Guests of Honour’. Vasteras Indian Association (VISA) celebrated Diwali on November 28 with culturally vibrant and colourful performances along with good food, music, dance, games for audience, followed by fireworks. 5
INDIA & LATVIA
MOS for External Affairs meets the Latvian Foreign Minister in Luxembourg The Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs met the Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Genearl (Dr.) V.K. Singh in Luxembourg on November 5 on the sidelines of the gathering of ASEM (Asia Europe Meeting) Foreign Ministers. The Latvian side expressed interest in expanding bilateral trade relations and invited Indian businesses, especially in the sectors of transit and logistics, pharmaceuticals, metal processing, textile, timber processing, health care and information technologies. Both sides welcomed the growing cooperation in higher education. It was agreed that high level meetings should be held frequently which would boost bilateral cooperation.
Ambassador visits Riga Ambassador Harrison visited Riga on November 15. She met Dr. Valdis Pirags, the Vice Dean of the Faculty of Medicine in the University of Latvia and discussed the promotion of Ayurveda and Yoga in Latvia. She attended the Diwali Mela organized by Omkar Group at the Congress Hall and inaugurated a well-attended concert in which the President of the Indian Friendship Group in Latvian Parliament was also present. She later attended a Diwali function for the Indian community, organized by the Indian Latvian Council for Commerce.
Latvia participates in 2nd India Central Europe Business Forum Mr. Margers Krams, Director General in the Latvian Foreign Ministry led a three-member delegation in addition to a Latvian company, Cleantech Latvia, to participate in the 2nd India-Central Europe Business Forum held in Bengaluru on October 5-6. Mr. Krams also had a meeting with Joint Secretary (Central Europe).
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MoS Gen V K Singh with Mr Edgars Rinkevics, Foreign Minister of Latvia Luxembourg, 5 November 2015
INDIA & THE WORLD
3rd India-Africa Forum Summit 2015 The third India-Africa Forum Summit took place in New Delhi from October 26 to 29. The Forum enabled consultations at the highest political level between the heads of government of 54 nations across Africa and the Indian government to give a new thrust to the age-old partnership between India and Africa. A strong thrust for UN Security Council reforms and "joint cooperation" against terrorism were among the highlights of the Forum. The Delhi Declaration 2015, a comprehensive document covering different aspects of India-Africa relations, was adopted. Among other initiatives, India pledged a concessional credit of $10 billion to Africa over the next five years and a grant of US$ 600 million. With nearly US$ 72 billion annual bilateral trade, India is the fourth largest trade partner of Africa.
Prime Minister attends the 13th ASEAN-India Summit and the 10th East Asia Summit Prime Minister Modi attended the 13th ASEAN-India Summit and the 10th East Asia Summit on November 21-22, 2015 in Kuala Lumpur. A new plan of Action (2016-2020) to further enhance ASEAN-India cooperation was adopted. ASEAN leaders welcomed India’s greater engagement with the ASEAN region under its ‘Act East’ policy. India announced its intention to create a project development fund to develop manufacturing hubs in least developed countries of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. Prime Minister Modi also announced the enhancement of ASEAN-India Science and Technology Development Fund from US$ 1 million to US$ 5 million. In addition, he offered capacity building opportunities for ASEAN countries in renewable energy and establishment of solar powered villages. The setting up of an ASEAN Studies Centre at Shillong in India for deepening India-ASEAN social and cultural connections was also announced.
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Visit of Prime Minister to United Kingdom Prime Minister Modi visited the United Kingdom from November 12 to 14. He met Prime Minister David Cameron. The two Prime Ministers endorsed a ‘Vision Statement’ setting out the fundamental principles of UK-India partnership and outlining a roadmap for deepening cooperation. They also agreed on a new Defence and International Security Partnership for cooperation in defence, security, cyber security, counter terrorism and maritime security. He became the first Indian Prime Minister who addressed the UK Parliament. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth hosted a lunch at Buckingham Palace in his honour. He also addressed a large gathering of Indian diaspora at Wembley stadium which the British Prime Minister also attended in a special gesture reflecting the warmth of the ties. He told the audience "Team India, team UK - together we are a winning combination,� and went on to say that it would not be long before there was a British Indian prime minister in Downing Street.
Prime Minister attends the G-20 Summit Prime Minister Modi led the Indian delegation to the tenth G-20 Summit in Turkey on November 15-16. He called for closer cooperation against terrorism financing and early adoption of a comprehensive convention on terrorism. He also stressed the need to involve religious leaders, thinkers and opinion makers for a social movement against extremism. He further called on G20 to accord priority to combat corruption. He also put forward the suggestion that G20 should build support systems focusing on maximum growth potential countries to help them facilitate their growth. He also stressed that Doha Round should achieve its goals and implementation of the Bali package. He emphasized the need to enhance R&D in clean and renewable energies and for a greater role for major emerging economies in the global energy structure.
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Presidential visit to Jordan, Palestine and Israel President Pranab Mukherjee visited Jordan, Palestine and Israel from October 10 to 5, 2015. The Presidential delegation included the Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment Mr. Thaawar Chand Gehlot, six Members of Parliament, and academic personalities. These were first ever visits by an Indian President to these countries.
Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and Jordan King Abdullah II
Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas
Indian President Pranab Mukherjee is inaugurating the India-Palestine Centre for Excellence in ICT
In Jordan, the President met His Majesty King Abdullah II and Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour. Sixteen MoUs and Agreements were signed. Jordan expressed support for the ongoing UN reform process and India’s candidature for permanent membership of an expanded UN Security Council and. The President along with King Abdullah II inaugurated a US$ 860 million project of Jordan-India Fertilizer Company, a joint venture between Indian Farmers’ Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO) and the Jordan Phosphate Mines Company to produce phosphoric acid for export to India. India announced a Line of Credit of US $ 100 million to Jordan as Project Assistance. In Palestine, the President met President Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Dr. Rami Hamdallah and the leaders of the major political parties. India reiterated its principled support to the Palestinian cause and called for a negotiated solution. India enhanced its capacity building support to Palestine by increasing various scholarships. India also gave US$ 5 million as a budgetary support to the Palestinian authority. The President inaugurated the India-Palestine Centre for Excellence in ICT (Information & Communication Technology) in the Al Quds University and announced India’s decision to build one more India-Palestine Centre for Excellence in ICT in Gaza at an estimated cost of US$ 1 million. The President also announced Government of India’s decision to set up an IT park in Ramallah at an estimated cost of US$ 12 million and a Palestinian Institute of Diplomacy at an estimated cost of US$ 4.5 million. Six MOUs and Agreements were signed during the visit.
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In Israel, the President met President Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Speaker of the Knesset Yuli-Yoel Edelstein. The two sides discussed enhancing cooperation in solar energy, dairy development, water management, horticulture, animal husbandry and agriculture. Cooperation between Indian Space Research Organization and the Israeli Space Agency was also discussed. The President informed the Israeli leadership about various initiatives taken by the Government of India to transform the economy like ‘Make in India’, ‘Digital India’, ‘Clean Ganga’, ‘Smart Cities’, ‘Start-up India’, etc. and invited investment as well as participation by Israeli companies. Eight MoUs were signed between the educational institutions of India and Israel which would give a boost to cooperation in the field of higher education.
Indian President Pranab Mukherjee with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Prime Minister Modi in Paris for CoP 21 & launch of International Solar Alliance Prime Minister Modi visited Paris for the CoP 21 Summit on November 29-30. Prime Minister Modi outlined India’s ambitious targets to tackle climate change. India will reduce emissions by 35 of 2005 levels and 40% of its installed capacity will be from non-fossil fuel. While underlining the need for national will and a genuine global partnership he called on the developed countries to mobilize US$100 billion annually by 2020 for mitigation and adaptation so that there are no economic barriers in the fight against climate change. He along with President of France Francois Hollande jointly launched the International Solar Alliance. India pledged US$ 30 million to this initiative which brings together developed and developing countries in the fight against climate change.
Prime Minister Modi with President of France Francois Hollande
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Prime Minister Modi giving speech at CoP 21 Summit
Japanese Prime Minister visits India
Prime Minister Modi with Prime Minister of Japan Mr. Shinzo Abe
Prime Minister of Japan Mr. Shinzo Abe visited India from December 11 to 13. He called on the President of India and had a summit meeting with Prime Minister Modi on December 12. A Joint Statement was issued which set out the vision to further advance their cooperation in defence, security, agriculture, science & technology, railway, ICT, etc. Sixteen agreements and Memorandums were exchanged including a memorandum on civilian nuclear energy cooperation, high-speed railways, two defence agreements, and 12 other agreements. Both the Prime Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to continue annual summit meetings to give strategic directions and broad and diverse bilateral agenda.
Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister of Japan Mr. Shinzo Abe, the Ganga Arati
Prime Minister Modi visits Russia for the Annual Summit
Prime Minister Modi with the Russian President Mr. Vladimir Putin
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Moscow from December 23 to 24, 2015 for the 16th India-Russia Annual Summit, his first official visit to Russia. He and the Russian President Mr. Vladimir Putin reviewed the progress in bilateral relations. They jointly addressed a forum of CEOs of leading Russian and Indian companies and emphasized the need for enhancement of bilateral economic and commercial relations. During the visit, sixteen agreements were signed relating to cooperation in diverse fields including energy, space, science & technology, railways, heavy engineering and advanced computing.
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Prime Minister Modi visits Afghanistan Prime Minister Modi visited Afghanistan on December 25, 2015. He met President of Afghanistan Mohammad Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Dr. Abdullah Abdullah. Prime Minister Modi and President Ghani jointly dedicated the National Assembly building constructed under India-Afghanistan development cooperation. The Prime Minister also addressed the members of the Afghan Parliament. He expressed strong support for the Afghan government-led reconciliation process. He conveyed India’s continued strong support for a united, democratic, sovereign, secure and prosperous Afghanistan. He also reiterated India’s full support to Afghanistan for strengthening its defensive capabilities for preserving Afghanistan’s unity and territorial integrity and ensuring its security. President Ghani accepted the invitation of Prime Minister Modi to visit India.
Prime Minister Modi with President of Afghanistan Mohammad Ashraf Ghani
Prime Minister Modi pays a surprise visit to Pakistan On his way back to India from Afghanistan, Prime Minister Modi paid a visit to Pakistan on December 25, 2015 to wish Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on his birthday. It was the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Pakistan after 12 years. On his arrival at Lahore airport, he was received by Prime Minister Sharif. The two Prime Ministers proceeded to the official residence of Sharif family in Raiwind town of Punjab. Prime Minister Modi later tweeted that he spent a warm evening with Shariff family at their family house. Both the leaders expressed their desire to carry forward the dialogue process for the larger good of the people of two countries. Subsequently, it was announced that the Foreign Secretaries of the two countries would meet in Islamabad in January 2016. Earlier, the External Affairs Minister of India Mrs. Sushma Swaraj had visited Islamabad on December 8-9, 2015 for the fifth Ministerial Conference of the Heart of Asia Istanbul Process. On the sidelines of the meeting, she had called on the Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Nawaz Sharif and held discussions with her Pakistani counterpart Mr. Sartaj Aziz. A decision to begin a Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue between India and Pakistan was announced on December 9 in a joint statement issued after these meetings.
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Prime Minister Modi with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
India’s Department of Information and Technology plans to create a separate online portal for inviting ideas from technology innovators, with the objective to provide them with assistance including finance, and thus help to boost initiatives like StartupIndia and Digital India.
India added the highest number of net mobile phone subscriptions of 13 million during the third quarter of 2015, which was equal to the additions of China (7 million) and US (6 million) combined, as per a report by Ericsson.
Global credit rating agency Fitch Ratings has considered the government’s recent easing of foreign direct investment (FDI) norms in 15 sectors as a ‘significant structural macroeconomic reform’, which along with the earlier reform measures with respect to power distribution sector, indicates continued momentum in the government’s reform agenda.
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US-based carmaker Ford Motor Company plans to completely design a new vehicle in India, thereby becoming the first global automobile major to do so, compared to the current practice of manufacturing existing models and exporting from India.
Amazon India is set to launch its ‘Crafted in India’ online store and expand its designer wear store in anticipation of the Amazon Fashion Week this month, as part of its strategy to customise offering for individual users and boost sales.
The World Bank has maintained India’s growth forecast at 7.5 per cent for the current fiscal amidst the unfavourable global economic scenario.
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