India Newsletter- October 2019

INDIA NEWSLETTER Embassy of India, Vienna Indian Embassy, Vienna

Published by the Embassy of India, Vienna Year 9 • Issue 85 • October 2019

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India Newsletter .1

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Digital Infrastructure as a Core Utility to Every Citizen

Governance and Services on Demand

Digital Empowerment of Citizens

Digital India programme is a flagship programme of the Government of India with a vision to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. Find out more under:

www.digitalindia.gov.in

Infrastructure Development

Accelarate Manufacturing Growth

Focus on Skill Development

Sustainable Energy Sufficiency

Improved Business Environment

The Government of India has prepared a five-pillar strategy to drive India’s growth, which offers multiple avenues of collaboration and investments. Find out more under:

www.makeinindia.com

India Newsletter .2

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India Newsletter .3

Embassy of India, Vienna

NEWS FLASH

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As a part of

Blue Revolution project, the Union government has planned to invest Rs. 25,000 crore (US$ 3.57 billion) in different segments of the fisheries sector in the next three to five years.

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The central government’s decision to merge 10 public sector banks (PSBs) to create four bigger entities is likely to create a huge outsourcing opportunity for both Indian and global players in information technology (IT) services in the coming quarters.

Including consultancy companies, around Rs 5,000 crore (US$ 7.15 billion) of business could be generated.

Online sale of auto insurance policies has more than doubled since the new motor vehicles law that imposes stricter penalties for traffic rule violation came into force “Under the from 1st September. visionary and dynamic leadership of the Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi ji, Tech giant Google has signed a India has announced a statement of intent with the contribution of US$ 22 million Ministry of Electronics and to the Global Fund for AIDS, IT (MeitY) for rolling out TB and Malaria (GFTAM) for 'Build for Digital India' the 6th replenishment cycle (2020-22), an increase of 10 programme. per cent over the amount contributed by us in the 5th The decision of cycle.

100 per cent FDI under automatic route for coal India's server mining activities including associated processing, market, says research firm infrastructure in the coal IDC, should see 20 per cent sector is the biggest reform growth in the current quarter with

by Modi Government which (July-September), Jio, Adani will help provide power to Reliance Enterprises, Hiranandani all 24x7.

Group, L&T and Shapoorji Pallonji announcing plans to India’s share in enter the space. the global software industry is US$ 8.1 billion and According to the aiming to take India to US survey done by FICCI, $80-90 billion by 2025.

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economic growth is likely to be 6 per cent in the first quarter of the current fiscal year, which would accelerate to 6.5 in the second quarter. For the entire year, the growth was pegged at 6.9 per cent.

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Exports from India is expected to grow at around 15 per cent FY 2019-20, as per Mr Sharad Kumar Saraf, President, Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO).

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Private Equity/ Venture Capital investments in August 2019 rose 13 per cent to US$ 4.4 billion and touched an all-time high of US$ 36.7 billion in first eight months of 2019.

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Delhi-NCR has over 7,000 start-ups, 10 Unicorns and a cumulative valuation of US$ 50 billion.

With appropriate interventions, it is expected to become one of the Top 5 Global Start-up hubs with 12,000 start-ups, 30 unicorns and cumulative valuation of about US$ 150 billion by 2025, according to a report by Zinnov and TiE Delhi-NCR.

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The total acreage under Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton jumped to 93.5 per cent this kharif sowing season after falling to 90 per cent three years ago.

India Newsletter .4

Embassy of India, Vienna

ANNOUNCEMENT FOR AUSTRIAN CITIZENS e-Tourist Visa (e-TV) for Austrian citizens The Government of India has extended e-Tourist Visa (e-TV) scheme to the citizens of Austria w.e.f. 26th February 2016. Under e-Tourist Visa scheme, citizens of Austria may now apply online (https:// indianvisaonline. gov.in/visa/ tvoa.html) to obtain the Electronic Travel Authorization for travelling to India. This facility is also available to the citizens of Montenegro.

Queries related to e-TV; for any assistance call 24x7 Visa support center at +91-11-24300666 or send email to indiatvoa@gov.in.

Instructions for e-Visa

1. e-Visa has 5sub-categories i.e. e-Tourist visa, e-Business visa, e-Medical visa, e-Medical Attendant visa and e-Conference visa.

2. Applicants of the eligible countries/territories may apply online minimum 4 days in advance of the date of arrival with a window of 120 days.

3. e-Visa fee is country/Territory specific.

4. Applicant should carry a copy of Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) along with him/her at the time of travel.

5. Biometric details of the applicant will be mandatorily captured at Immigration on arrival in India.

6. The validity of e-Visa (except e-Conference visa) will be 60 days from the date of arrival in India.

7. This facility is in addition to the existing Visa services.

8. e-Visa can be availed for maximum of three times in a calendar year i.e. between January to December.

9. e-Visa is non-extendable, non-convertible & not valid for visiting Protected/Restricted and Cantonment Areas.

NEWS ARTICLES Tamil Nadu unveils electric vehicle policy; aims to attract ₹50,000 crore investment: G Balachandar, BL ----------------------------------

Joining the bandwagon of states’ coming out with an electric vehicle policy, Tamil Nadu government unveiled its policy that has set out a vision to attract ₹50,000 crore investments in EV manufacturing and create 1.5 lakh new jobs.

Launched by the Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, the Tamil Nadu Electric Policy 2019 aims to create a comprehensive EV ecosystem in the State and make Tamil Nadu the preferred

destination for EVs and component manufacturing units including battery and charging infrastructure.

Under the new policy, allelectric vehicles include two and three-wheelers, cars, buses and commercial vehicles will get 100 per cent road tax exemption till the end of 2022, according to a statement.

The policy will offer special incentives to the EVs and their components manufacturers. The project should have a minimum investment of over ₹50 crore, creating employment opportunity for 50 people to avail this offer.

There will be 100 per cent refund of SGST (state GST) for EVs made and sold in Tamil Nadu It will be effective until

2030. Capital subsidy of 15 per cent and 20 per cent will be offered for investments in EV manufacturing and battery production, respectively till 2025.

As dedicated infrastructure and developed vendor eco-system will be more attractive to EV investments, the state government will develop exclusive EV parks in major auto manufacturing hubs and also in areas that have the potential to attract investments.

Also, for an electric vehicle or parts production investments in the state’s industrial parks will attract 15 per cent subsidies on the cost of land. For projects started in southern districts, the investors will get 50 per cent subsidies until 2022.

India Newsletter .5

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For purchase of land to establish EV and EV part units, there will be a 100 per cent exemption from stamp duty.

The EV or parts production units in Tamil Nadu will also get 100 per cent exemption from electricity tax.

The state government will encourage projects that will set up charging infrastructure. Also, state power utility TANGEDCO will work on establishing charging infrastructure on its own or through public-private partnerships.

The government will also affect changes in the building and construction laws to ensure the incorporation of charging infrastructure in the planning stage itself for all new constructions and residential apartments in the cities.

FDI norms eased for single brand retail, digital media, manufacturing: Subhayan Chakraborty & Arup Roychoudhury; BS ----------------------------------The Union Cabinet relaxed the rules for single-brand retail, more than seven years after the foreign investment cap was removed for the segment to attract marquee foreign brands such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Ikea and others into the country.

The latest government move is in line with the recent Budget announcements on FDI changes.

While 30 per cent local sourcing

remains a mandatory condition for single-brand retail, the government has now agreed to a long-standing industry demand to make things easier for foreign retailers. With the change, foreign retailers’ India buy for exports will be factored in to meet the 30 per cent domestic sourcing norm.

Companies in the single-brand space can also start online retailing without opening brickand-mortar stores first, something that was not allowed earlier.

While 100 per cent FDI is allowed in single-brand retail, whenever the foreign investment exceeds 51 per cent, the mandatory local sourcing norm kicks in.

It was not immediately clear whether the new rules would enable Apple to open fully-owned stores in India or not. Most analysts were optimistic about the Tim Cookled American major making an entry after the latest rule change. But, others such as Arvind Singhal, chairman of Technopak Advisors, argued manufacturers like Foxconn, which make products for Apple, may not be able to comply with the sourcing norms even after the relaxation.

Foxconn’s sourcing from India is believed to be marginal for the export market unlike in the case of chains like Ikea and H&M. Foreign companies including Ikea, which brought the first big piece of FDI in single-brand retail, see the latest Cabinet decision as a positive.

Welcoming the move, Swedish furniture major Ikea, which had committed Euro 1.5 billion investment in the country in 2012, said in a statement

that the company was committed to increase local sourcing from India.

Besides single-brand retail, the Cabinet allowed 100 per cent FDI under automatic route in contract manufacturing and commercial coal mining and related processing infrastructure.

Sourcing for contract manufacturing will also be counted towards total sourcing commitments.

Also, for the first time, the government has set an FDI cap at 26 per cent for digital news media, which till now was not covered under any foreign investment rules. Digital media companies with more than 26 per cent FDI will now be required to bring down their foreign equity level.

Value of Indian brands rises 6 per cent to US$ 228.2 billion: BrandZ, IBEF -----------------------------------

HDFC Bank beat the crowds to top the list of 75 most valued brands in India, keeping its position intact from the previous year. At second and third spots, too, the old order held its grip.

Public sector insurer Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) and IT major Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) retained their second and third ranks in the list of most valued Indian brands.

The big change, however, has been in the overall growth of brand values in the BrandZ 2019 Most Valuable Indian Brands, a report by WPP and Kantar Millward Brown. The total value of the top 75 brands increased to India Newsletter .6

Embassy of India, Vienna

US$ 228.2 billion, growing at a moderate 6 per cent over 2018, far slower than 34 per cent recorded the previous year. The report calculates valuations and ranking by combining companies’ financial data with consumer insight and opinion.

Banking brands make up the largest share of the BrandZ Top 75, with 23 per cent of the total brand value tied up in that sector. However, in comparison to other countries, where one category dominates the brand ranking (such as France with luxury goods, US with technology, or Indonesia with banking), India’s top brands are much more evenly dispersed.

Retail brands have been best able to leverage their equity in the present scenario, creating omnichannel platforms and focusing on what the report labels 'middle India'. This is the growing number of people in second, third and fourth-tier towns that are changing India's traditional urban-rural divide.

Both Talwar and Reddy said the new band of consumers prefers brands that cater to local needs and improve their daily life. For brands keen to get on the list next year, the trick then is to go local and get personal.

with any conventional and unconventional threats to India’s maritime interests.

Shri Rajnath Singh was speaking at the launch of INS ‘Nilgiri’, the first of the Navy's seven new stealth frigates, at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited in Mumbai. He said, 70% of India’s trade by value and 95% by volume is taking place through the sea route and even a slight disruption of seaborne trade due to piracy, terrorism or conflict, could have serious repercussions on the economic growth and well-being of the nation. India is growing and its commercial interests are spreading far and beyond, yet there are challenges, including a hostile neighbourhood. “Statesponsored terrorism remains a challenge and the strong-willed Government will not hesitate to take tough decisions in the larger interest of the country.

The repealing of the provisions under article 370 of the constitution is one such decision.

We are confident that this will usher a new era of development and prosperity in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh”, Raksha Mantri added.

Saying that “any credible defence of a country is based on the indigenous defence capability”, Shri Rajnath Singh emphasised on ‘Make in India’ and ‘Design and Make in India’ with regard to defence equipment.

Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh Launches Navy's First New Stealth Frigate, INS ‘Nilgiri’ Mergers and --------------------------------Acquisitions activity Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh said the Government is records 70% growth making concerted efforts to in 2018: Study, The modernise the Navy and equip it Hindu with the best platforms, weapons and sensors to deal

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Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) activities in India has been buoyant from 2015 to 2019, with a steady pipeline of more than 3,600 deals with an aggregate value of more than $310 billion, according to a study.

Large deals doubled in value between 2015 and 2016 to $23 billion and again doubled to $56 billion between 2017 and 2018. M&A activity recorded a 70 per cent growth in 2018, led by distressed deals enabled by the corporate insolvency resolution process under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), it according to a Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Bain & Co report.

The report - ‘India M&A Report 2019’ - focused on 60 largest transactions by strategic investors in India between 2015 and 2019, each valued at more than $250 million (referred as large deals).

Cumulative no of Houses Sanctioned Under PMAY(U) now more than 90 Lakhs: IBEF ----------------------------------

The 47th CSMC has approved 630 proposals from participating States for construction of 1.23 lakh houses with an overall investment of Rs. 4,988 crores (US$ 713.69 billion).

The commitment from the Government of India as Central assistance will be Rs. 1,805 crores (US$ 258.26 billion).

With the approval of these proposals, cumulative sanctions of houses under PMAY(U)mission has achieved milestone of more than 90 Lakh houses against the validated demand of 1.12 crore.

India Newsletter .7

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A total of ten states participated in the CSMC namely; West Bengal for 27,746 houses , Tamil Nadu for 26,709, Gujarat for 20,903, Punjab for 10,332, Chhattisgarh for 10,079, Jharkhand for 8,674, Madhya Pradesh for 8,314, Karnataka for 5,021, Rajasthan for 2,822 and Uttarakhand for 2,501 house.

So far, an overall investment of Rs. 5.54 lakh crore (US$ 79.26 billion) has been approved which includes Rs. 3.01 lakh crore (US$ 43 billion) from the Central and State Governments while Rs. 2.53 lakh crore (US$ 36.2 billion) as the private investment.

The Central Government has committed Rs. 1.43 lakh crore (US$ 20.46 billion) of which Rs. 57,758 crores (US$ 8.26 billion) have already been released. About 53.5 lakh houses have been grounded for construction of which construction of more than 27 lakh houses have been completed. Shri Durga Shanker Mishra, Secretary MoHUA, emphasized on efforts towards completion of projects to achieve "Housing for All" by 2022.

Growth of IT services firms to remain in 6-8 per cent range in FY20: ICRA, The Hindu -------------------------------

Rating agency ICRA has assessed the growth of IT services companies which is expected to remain in 6-8 per cent range in US dollar terms in 2019-20, even as their profitability declined in the first quarter on account of higher

employee expenses.

The profitability of IT services companies declined during Q1 2019-20, on account of higher employee expenses, especially onsite, led by fresh hiring, sub-contracting cost and cross currency movements, ICRA said in a statement.

Employee expense increased to 61.7 per cent during Q1 2019-20 from 59.8 per cent in the year-ago period for ICRA’s sample of 13 companies, it added.

“During Q1FY2020, ICRA sample companies grew by 10.3 per cent in INR terms while in US dollar terms, it grew by approximately 7.4 per cent.

During the quarter, rupee depreciated by 3.7 per cent year-on-year versus the US Dollar and appreciated 1.9 per cent and 2.1 per cent versus British Pounds and Euro, respectively,” it said.

The US and Europe collectively contribute 85 per cent of ICRA’s sample set revenues.

Commerce and Industry Minister Launches Common Digital Platform for Issuance of Electronic Certificates of Origin: PIB ---------------------------------

Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Railways, Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce & Industry, Hardeep Singh Puri, launched Common Digital Platform for Issuance of electronic Certificates of Origin (CoO) in New Delhi.

This platform will be a

single access point for all exporters, for all FTAs/PTAs and for all agencies concerned.

Certificate of Origin will be issued electronically which can be in paperless format if agreed to by the partner countries.

Authorities of partner countries will be able to verify the authenticity of certificates from the website.

Exporters may register on this platform and apply for CoOs to any of the designated agencies. EIC and its agencies are already on-boarded. Other agencies are in the process of registering on the platform. The on-boarding process is only for the purposes for payment integration so that the application fees may flow to the respective agencies.

The platform will be made live for FTAs in a phased manner as per the concurrence of the concerned partner countries.

Various territorial divisions have already informed their partner countries. We are scheduled to start with the IndiaChile PTA. Further, once the partner countries agree to an electronic data exchange, the CoOs will be electronically sent to the Customs of the partner countries. After this, there will not be any need for physical CoO copy, saving transaction cost and time for the Indian exporters.

At present preferential Certificate of Origin is issued from the various notified agencies around the country through manual processes. The platform has been designed and developed

by DGFT and Regional & Multilateral Trade Relations (RMTR) Division, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.

India Newsletter .8

Embassy of India, Vienna

FORUM FOR INDIAN SCIENCE DIPLOMACY IIT Madras Develops ‘GraspMan’ – A Robotequivalent of Human Hand --------------------------------

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-Madras) have developed a robot with grasping and locomotion abilities like a human hand that can be used for industrial purposes and in search and rescue operations.

The multimodal robotic system named ‘GraspMan’ comprises a pair of graspers (machineequivalent of human hands) that enable it to conform to the geometry of an object being grasped.

The motivation behind this research is to make a robot, with minimum design for specific tasks, capable of navigating and manipulating across different environments.

The combination of locomotion and manipulation gives it the ability to hold an object and walk, arm-swinging like baboons (brachiation).

In industrial use, it can climb on pipes, hold them and assemble. Besides, it can aid machines used in search-andrescue operations and locomotory applications.

NTPC Plans Ultra-Mega Solar Plant in Kutch --------------------------------

National energy major National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) is planning to set up an ultra-mega solar park in the Kutch region, Gujarat. This park is envisaged to produce up to 5,000 mega watts and involve an investment of Rs 20,000 crore (~ US $2.812

Billion) or more. NTPC is looking at two-three more locations in the Kutch and will invite others for investment; the company is also exploring Rajasthan for setting up an ultra mega solar park. NTPC plans to tie up with municipalities for producing electricity from solid waste, as a follow up on a pilot project in Banaras in UP, that converts bio-waste into electricity.

Learning, Visual Computing, Human Computer Interaction (HCI) and Vehicle-to-everything communication (V2X).

The insights from the research will be leveraged by Wipro for its customers and the industry ecosystem. The Institute will benefit from advancing its research goal and capacity building besides commercialization of the research outcomes.

Wipro-IISc collaborate in Autonomous Systems, Robotics and 5G ---------------------------------

Pune Scientists Develop Tech to Detect Early Spread of Cancer ---------------------------------

Wipro Limited, a leading global information technology company, today announced a strategic partnership with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), India’s premier public establishment for research and higher education in science and engineering, to conduct advanced applied research in autonomous systems, robotics and 5G space. The two organizations have jointly set up the Wipro IISc Research and Innovation Network (WIRIN), a hybrid industry academia collaboration unit, which will drive idea discovery, research and innovation in technology and product design.

A group of senior professors and research staff from IISc and engineers, developers, architects and researchers from the autonomous systems, robotics and 5G domains at Wipro will constitute the team at WIRIN. They will focus on the research and development of cutting-edge technologies in Artificial Intelligence, Machine

A group of Pune-based scientists have developed a 'liquid biopsy' technology to detect early spread of cancer and claim it is the fastest in the world. The 'OncoDiscover' technology has been approved by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, the national regulatory body for pharmaceuticals and medical devices, they said.This technology is expected to revolutionise the early diagnosis and management of cancer patients in India,and has been launched by Actorius Innovations and Research, a Pune-based start-up. OncoDiscover is the first-of-its-kind to be licensed to manufacture for sale under the new Medical Device Guidelines, 2017, for early detection of metastasis in epithelial origin cancers. The new technology has been patented internationally and "clinically validated" via multiple clinical trials. The new technology has been patented internationally and "clinically validated" via multiple clinical trials.

India Newsletter .9

Embassy of India, Vienna

MAKE IN INDIA HEALTHCARE on the health sector has grown to 1.4 per cent in FY18E from 1.2 per cent in FY14. The Government of India is planning to increase public health spending to 2.5 per cent of the country's GDP by 2025.

Investment

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development:

Healthcare has become one of India’s largest sectors - both in terms of revenue and employment.

Healthcare comprises hospitals, medical devices, clinical trials, outsourcing, telemedicine, medical tourism, health insurance and medical equipment.

The Indian healthcare sector is growing at a brisk pace due to its strengthening coverage, services and increasing expenditure by public as well private players.

Indian healthcare delivery system is categorised into two major components public and private.

The Government, i.e. public healthcare system comprises limited secondary and tertiary care institutions in key cities and focuses on providing basic healthcare facilities in the form of primary healthcare centres (PHCs) in rural areas. The private sector provides majority of secondary, tertiary and

quaternary care institutions with a major concentration in metros, tier I and tier II cities.

India's competitive advantage lies in its large pool of well-trained medical professionals. India is also cost competitive compared to its peers in Asia and Western countries. The cost of surgery in India is about one-tenth of that in the US or Western Europe.

Market Size: The healthcare market can increase three fold to Rs 8.6 trillion (US$ 133.44 billion) by 2022.

India is experiencing 22-25 per cent growth in medical tourism and the industry is expected to reach US$ 9 billion by 2020.

There is a significant scope for enhancing healthcare services considering that healthcare spending as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is rising. The government’s expenditure

The hospital and diagnostic centers attracted Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) worth US$ 6.09 billion between April 2000 and March 2019, according to data released by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP). Some of the recent investments in the Indian healthcare industry are as follows: Healthcare sector in India witnessed 23 deals worth US$ 679 million in H12018.

India and Cuba have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to increase cooperation in the areas of health and medicine, according to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

Fortis Healthcare has approved the de-merger of its hospital business with Manipal Hospital Enterprises. TPG and Dr. Ranjan Pal could invest Rs. 3,900 crore (US$ 602.41 million) in Manipal Hospital Enterprise.

India Newsletter .10

Embassy of India, Vienna

Government Initiatives: Some of the major initiatives taken by the Government of India to promote Indian healthcare industry are as follows: On September 23, 2018, Government of India launched Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), to provide health insurance worth Rs 500,000 (US$ 7,124.54) to over 100 million families every year.

In August 2018, the Government of India has approved Ayushman BharatNational Health Protection Mission as a centrally Sponsored Scheme contributed by both center and state government at a ratio of 60:40 for all States, 90:10 for hilly North Eastern States and 60:40 for Union Territories with legislature. The center will contribute 100 per cent for Union Territories without legislature.

The Government of India has launched Mission Indradhanush with the aim of improving coverage of immunisation in the country. It aims to achieve atleast 90 per cent immunisation coverage by December 2018 which will cover unvaccinated and partially vaccinated children in rural and urban areas of India.

Road Ahead: India is a land full of opportunities for players in the medical devices industry.

India's healthcare industry is

one of the fastest growing sectors and it is expected to reach $280 billion by 2020.

The country has also become one of the leading destinations for high-end diagnostic services with tremendous capital investment for advanced diagnostic facilities, thus catering to a greater proportion of population.

Besides, Indian medical service consumers have become more conscious towards their healthcare upkeep.

Indian healthcare sector is much diversified and is full of opportunities in every segment which includes providers, payers and medical technology. With the increase in the competition, businesses are looking to explore for the latest dynamics and trends which will have positive impact on their business. The hospital industry in India is forecasted to increase to Rs 8.6 trillion (US$ 132.84 billion) by FY22 from Rs 4 trillion (US$ 61.79 billion) in FY17 at a CAGR of 16-17 per cent.

Healthcare India :

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India's competitive advantage also lies in the increased success rate of Indian companies in getting Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) approvals.

India also offers vast opportunities in R&D as well as medical tourism. To sum up, there are vast opportunities for investment in healthcare infrastructure in both urban and rural India.

Various Policies and Schemes under the Healthcare Industry: - Ayushman Bharat– National Health Protection Mission.

- Central Sector Scheme on Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plant.

- Central Sector Scheme for Promotion of Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) in AYUSH. - National Ayush Mission (NAM).

- National Health Policy 2017.

- National Health Portal (NHP).

- Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi.

- Scheme for Development of Ayush Clusters.

India Newsletter .11

Embassy of India, Vienna

HEALTHCARE - Latest News and Developments Biocon to set up R&D facility in India to boost biosimilars development: BS --------------------------------

In a bid to expand its research base, India’s largest biopharmaceutical company Biocon has acquired some assets from Pfizer Healthcare to set up its second R&D plant in India.

The assets have been acquired by Biocon Biologics, a subsidiary of the Bengalurubased company, for an undisclosed amount to set up a 60,000 square feet state-ofthe-art R&D facility in Chennai.

“The high-end integrated R&D facility in Chennai will enable Biocon Biologics to expand its R&D capability and accelerate its journey towards meeting its strategic long-term goal of addressing the needs of millions of patients worldwide,” said Christiane Hamacher, CEO, Biocon Biologics. The centre will be operational in a few months.

Currently, Biocon has a 200,000 square feet R&D centre at Bengaluru which has a product pipeline of 28 molecules, including 11 with Mylan, few with Sandoz and rest on its own.

Govt plans to set up body to regulate medical devices sector: IBEF -------------------------------The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) will frame guidelines which would be regulated by MDA. The

arrangement would be on the lines of food items, where BIS designs the standards, but these are enforced by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.

Currently, medical devices are the responsibility of the central drug regulator but are treated akin to.

As many as 22 medical devices have been categorised as drugs and are the only ones that are regulated. The rest are sold in the market without any particular standards governing these.

Imported medical devices are given approval in India if they have US FDA approval or from the European Union.

The Government is also working on rules for rationalising the trade margins for medical devices that have been categorised as drugs.

This includes intraocular lenses. The government has already capped the prices of cardiac stents and orthopaedic knee implants. NITI Aayog and the department of pharmaceuticals are together working on a formula to cap the prices of other medical devices that are considered drugs.

Apollo Hospitals in pact with US firm to launch healthcare drones: The Hindu --------------------------------Apollo Hospitals Group has tied up with US-based Zipline to launch Drone healthcare delivery solutions. The Hospital will explore and leverage drone technology to deliver emergency aids and organs, according to Sangita Reddy,

Joint Managing Director.

The Apollo Hospitals and Zipline formally introduced the concept at a recent international conference the former organised in Hyderabad. The Telangana State Secretary for Industries, Jayesh Ranjan, Sangitha Reddy and top executive of Zipline were present at the event. The idea of using drone in medical care has been under plan for the last couple of years.

India contributes 22mn USD to global fund for fighting AIDS, TB and Malaria: The Hindustan Times ----------------------------------India has announced its contribution of 22 million US$ to The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFTAM).The contribution is for the 6th replenishment cycle (2020-22), and an increase of 10% over the amount contributed by the country in the 5th cycle.

“India stands firm to its long-standing partnership with the Global Fund and its commitment to eliminate AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria”.

India’s pledge for the Global Fund strongly demonstrates its strong political leadership to achieve universal health for all and its equally strong commitment to work across borders to join hands in fighting the epidemics of these three diseases,” said Union health minister Harsh Vardhan, in a statement.

India was the first implementing country to host a replenishment milestone of the Global Fund and now has become the first among G20 BRICS and implementer countries.

India Newsletter .12

Embassy of India, Vienna

INDIAN STATE ECONOMIC PROFILE GUJARAT Gujarat is located on the western coast of India and has the longest coastline of 1,600 km among all states in the country. The state shares its borders with Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and the Union Territories of Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli.

The Arabian Sea borders the state both to the west and the south-west.

Gujarat is one of the leading industrialised states in India. At current prices, Gujarat's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) was about Rs 11.62 trillion (US$ 173.24 billion) during 2016-17. Average annual GSDP growth rate from 2011-12 to 2016-17 was about 13.55 per cent. As of May 2019, Gujarat had a total installed power generation capacity of 32,374.04 megawatt (MW).

Power generation in the state in same duration reached 7,764.52 GWH. Gujarat is considered the petroleum capital of India due to presence of large refining

capacity set up by private and public sector companies. As of July 2018, Gujarat had four refineries with a combined capacity of 101.9 MMTPA. The state is the world’s largest producer of processed diamonds, accounting for 72 per cent of the world’s processed diamond share and 80 per cent of India’s diamond exports. With a contribution of 65 to 70 per cent to India’s denim production, Gujarat is the largest manufacturer of denim in the country and the third largest in the world. There are 42 ports, 18 domestic airports and one international airport. There are 106 product clusters and 60 notified special economic zones (SEZs). Large scale investment is expected in Gujarat as part of the US$ 90 billion Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC).

According to the DPIIT, FDI inflows to Gujarat totalled US$ 20.55 billion from April 2000 to March 2019. As of February 2019, 69 investment intentions worth Rs 20,840 crore (US$ 2.98 billion) were filed in Gujarat.

Major initiatives taken by the government to promote Gujarat as an investment destination are: ► The Gujarat Garment & Apparel policy was announced in October 2017 with the aim of creating 100,000 jobs in the state. ► As of March 2019, 79 Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs) are linked with the National Agriculture Market (eNAM). ► As per Budget 2018-19, the state government has made a provision of US$ 221 million for the port and transport department.

► Gujarat has well developed infrastructure has 42 ports, including one major port at Kandla and 41 minor ports, along a 1,600 km coastline. ► The Government of Gujarat has initiated several steps for the development of a worldclass port city at Mundra. The port has a cargo handling capacity of over 200 million tonnes per annum.

India Newsletter .13

Embassy of India, Vienna

INDIAN TRADE FAIRS INTERESTED IN VISITING A TRADE SHOW IN INDIA? In case your company is interested in visiting a tradeshow/B2B event in India, be it one listed here or another one that came to your attention, get in contact with us via comm1.vienna@mea.gov.in to get more information about possible assistance/subsidies.

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Embassy of India, Vienna

20-21 NOVEMBER 2019

India 3rd Largest Asian Economy

6th Largest World Economy Projecting GDP

Growth Rate of 7 Per Cent In 2019-20

11th Global FDI

Confidence Index 2018 Rank

Taj Diplomatic Enclave Hotel, New Delhi, India

USD 1.55 trillion Domestic Growing Young Consumer Market

3rd Largest Economy By GDP (PPP)

2nd largest

Emerging Market for FDI

Why Participate India’s Largest European Industry Platform Sectoral Roundtables Partner Focus: Indian States & E29 Countries Exposition / Interactive Tech Space Sectoral Field Visits B2B Meetings Start-up Connect / Hackathon

ORGANISED BY

www.ie29.in

Confederation of Indian Industry

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Embassy of India, Vienna

Speakers

E29 Countries

Indian Ministries and State Governments

Albania Austria Bosnia & Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland

E29 Heads of State / Ministers Diplomats Leading Industry representatives Young Entrepreneurs Media

Greece Hungary Iceland Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania North Macedonia Malta Moldova Montenegro

Norway Poland Romania Serbia Slovak Republic Slovenia Sweden Switzerland Turkey

Sectors of Collaboration Opportunities in India Artificial Intelligence • 3rd in Artificial Intelligence Research across the globe • 3rd highest early adoption of AI • Among top 20 countries in Artificial Intelligence readiness • USD 957 billion potential

Smart Cities • 100 Indian cities • US $ 650 billion infrastructure investments over next 20 years • 402 Projects already commissioned worth US$ 60+ billion

Renewable Energy • Leader of International Solar Alliance (ISA) • 5th largest installed renewable energy and 4th largest installed wind capacity in the world

IT & ITeS • Largest (56%) Global Outsourcing market in the world • 75% of global digital talent in India • World’s third largest tech start-up hub • US $ 350 billion by 2025

Pharma • 3rd largest in terms of volume, 13th largest in terms of value

• 6th Largest installed solar power capacity in the world

• Largest supplier of generic medicines: 50% of global demand

• 60 Solar Cities announced : 50 Solar Parks (40 GW) announced

• 4th largest medical device market in Asia • US $280 billion healthcare market by 2020

• 100% FDI allowed in Renewables sector

• US $8 billion Medical equipment opportunity for E29

• 392 investment projects worth US $ 25.3 billion For Participation, Branding and Sponsorship opportunities, please contact:

Ms Sanskriti Shukla Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) The Mantosh Sondhi Centre, 23, Institutional Area Lodi Road, New Delhi - 110003, India T: +91 11 2463 1343; 2462 9994-7 E: sanskriti.shukla@cii.in | W: www.cii.in India Newsletter .16

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GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES

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Embassy of India, Vienna

Global Housing Technology Challenge- India (GHTC-India) Global Housing Technology Challenge- India (GHTC-I) intends to get the best globally available innovative construction technologies through a challenge process. It aims to demonstrate and deliver ready to live-in houses in minimum time and minimum cost with high-quality of construction in a sustainable manner.

This challenge seeks to promote future potential technologies through Incubation support and accelerator workshops, in order to foster an environment of research and development in the country. The process flow chart of GHTC- India is summarized as below:

www.ghtc-india.gov.in India Newsletter .22

Embassy of India, Vienna

The office of Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to Government of India in partnership with East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) invites proposals from technology partners for recovery of land at Ghazipur open dump site in New Delhi by demonstration/ implementation of technology for amelioration of the landfill waste.

Multiple technologies may be selected for implementation at the Ghazipur Landfill site, operating in parallel to address the landfill challenge in a multi-pronged fashion.

Pilot demonstration units will be set up in the land adjacent to the landfill and the waste from the landfill will be provided to each pilot project. The implementation of the pilot demonstration project provides an opportunity for companies across the world to validate technologies in real-time conditions.

The RFP is in a partnership mode; the advantage of partnering with the Government of India for technology deployment would allow access and exposure to the Indian market and conditions.

Link to the Request for Proposal http://psa.gov.in/rfp/ For any further information please contact the following person under intimation to this Embassy: Ms. Shailja Vaidya Gupta Adviser (Scientist 'G') Department of Biotechnology Ministry of Science and Technology Block-2, CGO Complex, Lodi Road New Delhi - 110 003, India.

Ph: +9111 24363748 email: shailja@dbt.nic.in

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Embassy of India, Vienna

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Embassy of India, Vienna

TOURISM

Rajasthan Mehrangarh has a landscape dominating a rocky ridge with the eight gates leading out of the fortress. The new city is located outside the structure. Jodhpur is also known for the rare breed of horses known as Marwari or Malani, which are only found here.

NAGAUR-

Jal Mahal, Jaipur, Rajasthan

Rajasthan, the Land of Kings is synonymous to heroism, royalty and honour. Historic tales of battles fought and romance of the riches adorn the walls of the state. Established in the era marked with wartime ballads yet living in the modern period, this beautiful region is a travellers' destination. Those looking out for the remnants of the past should not pass up a trip to Rajasthan. For wanderers interested in adventures at the various landscapes should definitely get a glimpse of this venturesome state. And for the ones who plan to have a quiet sojourn gazing at the beauty of the golden sand dunes, Rajasthan tops your list. This land is a colourful melange of massive forts, stunning palaces, diverse cultures, delectable cuisines and warm people, set amidst a rugged yet inviting landscape. Come, explore the miscellany of the old and the new in Rajasthan, a glittering jewel of India.

Places to visit in Rajasthan: JODHPURJodhpur, the second largest city in Rajasthan is popularly known as the Blue City. The name is clearly befitting as most of the architecture – forts, palaces, temples, havelis and even houses are built in vivid shades of blue. The strapping forts that tower this magnificent city sum up to a spectacle you would not want to miss. The mammoth, imposing fortress of

Nagaur is located in the north western Marwar region of Rajasthan. It is an area with a forest belt of thorn scrubs that circles the Thar Desert.

It’s surrounded by Churu District in the north, Bikaner District from the northwest andSikar District in the northeast. Pali lies in the south and Jodhpur District to the southwest and west.

Jaipur is located on its east, while Ajmer is in the southeast. In the south eastern stretch of this district lies the magnificent Aravalli Range while India’s largest salt lake, ‘Sambhar Lake’ lies at the southwestern corner of the district.

UDAIPUROften referred to as the 'Venice of the East', the city of lakes Udaipur is located around azure water lakes and is hemmed in by lush green hills of Aravallis. The famous Lake Palace, located in the middle of Lake Pichola is one of the most beautiful sights of Udaipur. It is also home to Jaisamand Lake, claimed to be the second largest man-made sweet water lake in Asia. The beautiful City Palace and Sajjangarh (Monsoon Palace) add to the architectural beauty and grandeur of the city. The city is also known for its profusion of zinc and marble.

JAIPURPlanned by Vidyadhar Bhattacharya, Jaipur holds the distinction of being the first planned city of India. Renowned globally for its coloured gems, the capital city of Rajasthan combines the allure of its ancient history with all the advantages of a metropolis. The bustling modern city is one of the three corners of the golden triangle that includes Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Jaipur rises up majestically against the backdrop of the forts Nahargarh, Jaigarh and Garh Ganesh Temple.

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Embassy of India, Vienna

CHITTORGARHChittorgarh resonates with stories of Rajputana bravery, pride and passion. The bards of Rajasthan sing tales of courage and sacrifice recounting stories that are known to every child and adult in the city. Chittorgarh is named after its most imposing structure, the Chittorgarh Fort which stands atop a 180 metre high hill and is spread across 700 acres.

BIKANERBikaner is home to one of the only two models of the biplane used by the British during World War I. They were presented by the British to Maharaja Ganga Singh, then ruler of the city. Another unique aspect about Bikaner are the sand dunes that are scattered throughout the district, especially from the north-east down to the southern area. Bikaner is situated in the northern region of Rajasthan.

JAISALMERJaisalmer is where the forts are still alive. The Wood Fossil Park or Aakal is located about 15 kilometres away from the city. Here, one can discover and trace geologic tragedies that occurred in the Thar Desert 180 million years

ago. The city of Jaisalmer also acts as the guard to western Rajasthan (and India’s) frontier. This 'Golden City’ is located close to the Pakistan border and in close proximity to the Thar Desert.

MOUNT ABUServing as a source of comfort from the sultry dessert climate of Rajasthan, Mount Abu, the state’s only hill station stands at a height of 1722 metres above sea level, and is embraced by lush green hills of the Aravalli range.

Studded with a colourful mix of rustic abodes of tribal communities and posh houses inclusive of British style bungalows and royal holiday lodges, Mount Abu appears to be no less than a wonder in this dessert state. Covered in vast stretches of green forests, serene lakes, and effusive waterfalls, this region allows you to revel amidst panoramic vistas, all year round.

DAUSADausa is a small ancient town named after a Sanskrit word Dhau-sa meaning Beautiful like Heaven. Also referred as Deva Nagri, located around 55 km from Jaipur, on National Highway 11.The city was the first headquarter of the former Kachhawaha Dynasty and has much history and archaeological importance linked to it. Situated away from the bustling cities, the town of Dausa offers an authentic rural experience in Rajasthan.

INDIA PERSPECTIVES MAGAZINE ONLINE

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ndia Perspectives, the flagship magazine of the Ministry of External Affairs. The magazine is printed in 16 languages and goes to 170 countries, disseminating interesting information about India’s rich culture and tradition.

For a copy of the magazine, mail us at: poip@mea.gov.in

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GUIDE FOR TRAVELLERS - BAGGAGE RULES

Printed at: Viba Press P. , 9810049515

APP

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INDIA-AUSTRIA BY AIR

TOURIST HELPLINE

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Embassy of India, Vienna

INDIAN MOVIE EVENING AT THE EMBASSY 25th October 2019, 17:30

TERI MERI KAHAANI Due to limited capacity, seats will be given on a first come, first served basis. Therefore, you are highly encouraged to reserve your seats. For reservation kindly write an email on info.vienna@mea.gov.in.

For Further information please visit: www.eoivienna.gov.in

Embassy of India - Cultural Centre Kärntner Ring 2, 1. Stock, 1010 Wien.

INDIAN EVENTS IN AUSTRIA

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Embassy of India, Vienna

YOGA, BOLLYWOOD DANCE AND HINDI CLASSES AT THE EMBASSY

■ The Embassy of India invites Yoga enthusiast for free yoga classes at the Embassy. The classes are organized in various categories and are conducted by Ms. Neelam Vats, Yoga Teacher at the Culture Center, Kaerntner Ring 2, Vienna.

■ Free Hindi learning class are held every Monday, 18.30 hrs. at the Culture Center of the Embassy at Kaerntner Ring 2, Vienna.

■ Free Bollywood dance classes are held every Tuesday from 18.00-19.00 hrs. at the Culture Center of the Embassy at Kaerntner Ring 2, Vienna.

■ For further information regarding the Yoga class timings and Hindi learning classes kindly visit Embassy's website or write an e-mail to : tic.vienna@mea.gov.in

■ For more information on Bollywood classes kindly send an e- mail to ccl.vienna@mea.gov.in

INDIAN EMBASSY LIBRARY ■■ The Embassy’s library is opened daily from 10 am to 1 pm without appointment.

■■ Our collection contains more than 3000 titles in dozens of categories.

■■ For appointments outside the opening hours or other inquiries, please contact us under info.vienna@mea.gov. in or 015058666 - 44 ■■ Download our latest catalog of books under indianembassy.at/pdf/EmbassyLibrary.pdf

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Embassy of India, Vienna

NOTICE BOARD EMBASSY’S LIBRARY ■■ The EMBASSY’S library is open DAILY from 10am to 1pm without appointment.

■■ For a complete list of books available in our library, visit our website www.eoivienna.gov.in .

■■ For scheduling an appointment outside the opening hours, please contact the information assistant under info.vienna@mea.gov.in or 01 505 8666 - 44

BUSINESS CENTRE ■■ The EMBASSY’S Business Centre is opened DAILY from 10am to 1pm.

■■ For scheduling an appointment outside the opening hours, please contact the commercial wing under the contact given below.

■■ Marketing Assistant: comm1.vienna@mea.gov.in or 01 505 8666 - 31

STUDENTS WELFARE OFFICER ■■ Mr. Aniket Govind Mandavgane, First Secretary in this Embassy has been designated as Officer to look after welfare of Indian Students in Austria and Montenegro.

■■ His contact details are: 0043 1 505 866 and comm.vienna@mea.gov.in

MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS GOES MOBILE ■■ Avail services : passport, visa, consular assistance ■■ Ask your Minister : on the go, anytime, anywhere ■■ Follow your PM : on his visits abroad ■■ Find the nearest Indian Mission/Post : for emergency consular assistance ■■ Be informed : about India’s Foreign Relations on the move and form your own opinions ■■ Know more : about how to undertake Kailash Manasarovar Yatra and Haj Pilgrimage ■■ Download and watch : pictures & documentaries on India ■■ Play and Personalize : what you need, when you need ■■ Share and contribute : your views, pics & suggestions Ministry of External Affairs proudly presents “MEAIndia” – an integrated smart app for mobile and other hand held devices ‘MEAIndia’ is now available for download on App Store and Google Play Store.

FACEBOOK & TWITTER ■■ Our Facebook and Twitter pages target the India-Austria community and covers subjects such as Business, Culture, Embassy News, India-related events and programmes in Austria, and much more.

■■ We have reached the 17500 followers mark on Facebook!

■■ 'Like' our facebook page and be the first to know!

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Disclaimer: Most of the Information collected in our Newsletter is through secondary research and Embassy of India, Vienna is not responsible for any errors in the same.

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