Consulate General of India, Vancouver www.cgivancouver.gov.in
Vol. 02, Issue No. 41 October 12, 2018.
India in Vancouver Weekly Newsletter
India Perspectives India Perspectives is the flagship publication of the Ministry of External Affairs. Richly illustrated, this magazine provides our readers with an insight into India’s culture and tradition along with elements of contemporary India. Click here to read more‌. Ministry of External Affairs, India
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Vol. 02, Issue 41, October 12, 2018.
Consulate News
Lunch Meeting with Business Community for the Promotion of INDUSFOOD-II A Lunch Meeting with Business Community was held on October 11, 2018. It was hosted by Mr. Siddharth Choudhary of Siddhartha’s Indian Kitchen, Vancouver with support of Consulate General of India, Vancouver and Canada India Global Forum for the promotion of Trade Promotion Council of India’s food and beverages trade fair called INDUSFOOD-II. Mr. Aditya Tawatia, President- Canada India Global Forum called the various companies for the round table meeting. Consul General Mrs. Abhilasha Joshi addressed the gathering and invited Canadian Companies to be part of INDUSFOOD-II. Mr. Suresh Kumar Makhijani, Joint Director General, Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI) made presentation on the success story of INDUSFOOD-I and invited Canadian delegations for upcoming INDUSFOOD-II. INDUSFOOD-II is scheduled to be held on 14th and 15th January, 2019 at the India Expo Mart, Greater Noida, India. About 450 top exporters from India’s food and beverage industry will be participating in INDUSFOOD-II. Over 650 pre-screened hosted buyers will be invited from across the world to take advantage of the excellent platform for doing business with Indian food and beverage businesses.
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Vol. 02, Issue 41, October 12, 2018.
INDUSFOOD 2019: The first edition of “INDUS FOOD” 2018, a Global Food & Beverage Reverse Buyer Seller Meet was held at India Exposition Mart, Greater Noida, India between 18-19 January, 2018. The event was organized by Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI) and supported by the Department of Commerce, Government of India, with the primary objective to create a global platform for Indian exporters from Food & Beverage sector and boost bilateral trade ties. This success was largely due to the participation of potential buyers. INDUSFOOD -I had successfully attracted 15-member business delegation from Canada. Some Highlights of INDUSFOOD – I •
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No. of visitors / foreign buyers:400 from over 43 countries. 75 global retail chains and Delegations from across the globe marked physical their presence in the event. The visitors includeFood and Beverages sectors Importers, Global Retail Chains, Supermarket Chains, and Government Bodies etc. No. of enquiries: 300++ Order booked: Approx. USD 2 Billion Total business generated: USD 650 Million
In light of this success TPCI has now been entrusted with organization of the second edition of “INDUS FOOD” Reverse Buyer-Seller Meet (RBSM). The event is scheduled to be held on 14th and 15th January, 2019 at the India Expo Mart, Greater Noida, and is aimed at promoting India as a competitive exporter of quality food and beverage products to the world. About 450 top exporters from India’s food and beverage industry will be participating. Over 650 pre-screened hosted buyers will be invited from across the world to take advantage of the excellent platform for doing business with Indian food and beverage businesses. For more information and registration : www.indusfood.co.in/
Important Trade Fairs in India – To know more, click on BHEL Tender for Supply of 156.75 mm Multi solar cells- 4.57 W BHEL Electronics division, Bangalore has invited tenders from reputed companies for supply of following materials. Sl. No.
Material
Ref No
Due Date
1.
156.75 mm Multi solar cells- 4.57 W
MDSSCPV039
15.10.2018
The tender details can be downloaded from www.bheledn.com and/or www.bhel.com . 2|P a g e
Vol. 02, Issue 41, October 12, 2018.
Global Investors Summit 2019 is the flagship investment promotion event of Government of Madhya Pradesh supported by DIPP, Government of India. It is scheduled to be held on 23 rd & 24th February 2019 at Brilliant Convection Centre., in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. The summit will have more than 15 thematic sessions to brainstorm on the leading practices of the focus areas and sectors and way ahead to tap the opportunities. A Global Trade Exhibition 2019 is also being organized as an integral part of the GIS 2019 and will provide the participants with an opportunity to showcase their products and services. 2. The Government of Madhya Pradesh is inviting representation from various countries through their business delegations and has extended invitation to 25 countries as ‘Partner Country’ and are seeking their confirmations. Associating with Government of Madhya Pradesh as a ‘Partner Country’ is a significant collaboration as it will firm up trade and business relationship for mutual benefits and prosperity. The benefits of participating in the event will be multiple including a platform for B-2-G/B-2-B interactions with dedicated meeting slots and countries can book dedicated space in our trade exhibition to exhibit their key strengths. Please visit www.investmp.com for more information and registration.
PUNJAB INTERNATIONAL TRADE EXPO (PITEX) 2018 (06 – 10 December, 2018 – Amritsar-India) PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) is one of the Premier Chambers in India to have been accredited with “Diamond Grade” by NABET(QCI), at national and international level. PHDCCI is a national apex Chamber having its international office at Bahrain for 6 GCC countries, with 1,30,000 companies as its members base, as total focus on the development of small and medium businesses. PHDCCI has co-opted National and International Industry Associations and Organisations through over 100 MoUs signed between the parties. 2. PHD Chamber’s annual International Trade Expo being held every year in December at Amritsar in Partnership with the Government of Punjab. This year, it is the 13th Edition of PITEX being organized from 06th – 10th December 2018. Food Processing & Agri Show is also being organized during PITEX 2018. It will showcase new and emerging agriculture equipment, technology & innovations. 3. PITEX has emerged as one of the most popular Expositions of North India and creates an annual platform where global and local enterprises showcase their products and promote their brands. Last year, the Expo received over 3 lakh visitors during the 5-day period. Exhibitors from various parts of India and Overseas including Thailand, Iran, Egypt, UAE, South Africa, Vietnam, Turkey, Afghanistan and Nepal participated in the Expo in the past. The mega event will have world-class infrastructure to accommodate a large number of Exhibitors, Media, Business and Government delegations from India and abroad. 4. PITEX 2018 will be an opportunity for companies to maximize their exposure in the region, deepen brand awareness and develop new connections as an exhibitor /sponsor. Separate Pavilions have been planned covering up all major sectors like Tourism, Handloom & Handicraft Auto, Health, Food, Agriculture, Home Interiors, FMCG & Consumer goods, Finance & Real Estate amongst others. 5. Canadian Agri companies are cordially invited to participate as an Exhibitor or a sponsor at “Food Processing & Agri Show” and showcase their products and services. Please feel free to contact Ms. Rimneet Kaur, Deputy Resident Director, PHD Chamber at + 91-8146002297 or visit http://www.phdcci.in for any further details. Click here to download E Brochure containing details of participation. 3|P a g e
Vol. 02, Issue 41, October 12, 2018.
Cultural Heritage - Festivals of India Durga Puja - West Bengal (Oct 15, 2018 to Oct 19, 2018) Durga Puja is one of the important Hindu festivals in India. The festival celebrates life, culture, traditions and customs. The festival is celebrated all over India and has different rituals and festivities especially in the eastern Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Tripura. It is also celebrated in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Kashmir, Karnataka and Kerala. The festival is commemorated by worshipping Goddess Durga. She is worshipped for killing Mahisasur, a powerful demon who was also known as the Buffalo Demon. It also marks her return every year in the Bengali month of Aswin, remembering Lord Ram as he summoned Goddess Durga for her blessings in order to save Sita from the clutches of Ravana. Durga Puja is one of the biggest festivals in Bengal and it is the most important socio-cultural event in the Bengali society. The legend behind the Durga Puja festival is that Mahishasur, the Buffalo Demon, received blessings from Lord Brahma, through years of praying, which made him invincible. Once gaining this power he started destroying the world, killing people and tried to kill the Gods too. In dismay, the Gods combined their powers to create a maiden, and each placed each of their most powerful weapons in one of her ten hands. Riding a lion, she killed the demon. Durga Puja celebrations are also called as Akalbodhon. It is called so because Lord Ram wanted the blessings of Goddess Durga to save his wife Sita from Ravana's clutches. Pleased with Ram's devotion, Goddess Durga appeared before Ram and gave her blessings. Since Ram summoned the Goddess during autumn it is thus known as 'Akalbodhon'. Other legends say that Lord Shiva allowed Goddess Durga to visit her mother only for nine days in a year. Therefore, this festival marks her visit to her mother's place. Durga Puja has transcended and reached every corner in India. As one of the biggest festivals in Bengal, Durga Puja is celebrated on a mass scale with Puja Pandals erected in almost every corner of West Bengal. Community Pujas are also organized in each locality. On the last day, the idols are taken in decorative processions to be immersed in the river or the pond. Big community Pujas are sponsored by multinational companies and commercial firms. The main Puja last for three days and expert priest are called in to do these Pujas. Durga Puja has generally materialized into a community festival. Kolkata takes on a completely different look during the festival, especially at night. Thousands of people line up at the pandals. Streets are decorated with different kinds of light shows. Restaurants are generally full and several temporary food stalls are opened in the city. Offices, schools and colleges remain closed during the festival. On Dashami, which is the last day, the idols are carried in a procession and finally immersed in a close by river or lake. Bengalis all over India and the world celebrate this great festival as it is a part of their culture. Apart from traditional rituals, many cultural activities like song and dance competitions, games and fetes are organized during the festival. Professional singers are invited to sing and praise Goddess Durga.
Source: https://www.mapsofindia.com/events/west-bengal/durga-puja.html Source: https://www.drikpanchang.com/navratri/durga-puja/mahashtami-date-time.html?year=2018
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Vol. 02, Issue 41, October 12, 2018.
News from/of India 1. Indian IT sector set to grow to billion this FY; robotics, Internet of Things boosting profits Revenues of India’s Information Technology and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) sector is all set to hit billion for the ongoing financial year 2018-19, an increase of about 8% from billion in the last financial year 2017-18, said industry body NASSCOM. IT-BPM industry has about a 37% share in the global outsourcing market. While speaking at ‘BPM Strategy Summit 2018 in Bengaluru’, NASSCOM vice chairman Keshav R Murugesh said that the sector is capitalising on re-skilling and emerging technologies, and is increasingly innovating to emerge as the hub for digital solutions. During the summit, NASSCOM highlighted how the newer technologies like digital communications, Internet of Things, cognitive computing, robotic process automation (RPA) are helping the industry to boost its profitability and competitiveness. Read more… (Financial Express, Fri, 05 Oct, 05:23pm)
2. India's success in 2030 UN SDGs can change face of the world: UNGA President India's success in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals can change the face of the world, UN General Assembly President Maria Fernanda Espinosa has said, describing the country as a "very important player" of the multilateral system. Espinosa said she is very much looking forward to engaging and working together with India under her presidency of the 193member UN General Assembly. "India is indeed a very important player of the multilateral system. It is a friendly country to the United Nations. If India succeeds in the achievement of the 2030 Agenda - we are talking about 1.3 billion people - this really can change the face of the world,” she told PTI here. Read more… (Money Control, Tue, 09 Oct, 04:09pm)
3. Women launch India’s First Global Solar Products At Barefoot College in Rajasthan, there are many illiterate, untrained women from the rural areas who proudly call themselves ‘Solar Mamas’ and learn to be solar engineers. These solar mamas have launched the ‘Bindi Solar’, the first universal line of solar home lighting products, which is exclusively fabricated, distributed, sold, maintained, installed and repaired by them. Bindi Solar products include low-cost solar home lighting systems, portable lanterns, microgrids, DC TVs and fans as well as a range of handheld solar lighting devices critical to areas with no or unstable grid power. Bindi Solar is the natural extension of this long-standing focus, says Meagan Fallone, CEO of Barefoot College International. Read more… (Krishi Jagran, Mon, 08 Oct, 03:39pm)
4. IIT scientists develop material that can harvest water from fog Taking a leaf from nature’s book, a team from IIT Mandi has developed a material that can harvest water from fog. Researchers worldwide are working towards developing techniques that can harvest water from unexpected sources, such as fog and mist, to meet the burgeoning demand for water. “There are several plants in arid and semi-arid regions of the world whose leaves can harvest water from dew and fog. If they can do it, so can we,” said Venkata Krishnan, an associate professor at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi, Himachal Pradesh. Read more… (Business Line, Tue, 09 Oct, 04:13pm)
5. Google chronicles the people and places behind Indian Railways’ 165-year journey On April 16, 1853, India’s very first passenger train set out on a 34 kilometre journey from Bombay (now Mumbai) to Thane, carrying 400 people. In the 165 years since then, the railway network in India has grown to become one of the world’s largest, covering over 151,000 km of tracks and ferrying about 24 million people every day. These days, however, Indian Railways is more likely to make the news for a lack of hygiene and delays, besides terrible accidents. But the system itself is inextricably connected to the story of India. So now, an online project on Google Arts & Culture is celebrating this rich history and heritage with over 100 exhibitions. Besides featuring scenic routes and historic events, this project, designed in partnership with the Indian ministry of railways, tells the lesser-known stories of the people who keep the trains running. These range from the trackmen and keymen to the pioneering women who’ve become signal engineers and rail managers in an overwhelmingly male-dominated industry. Read more… (Maria Thomas, Quartz, Thu, 04 Oct, 03:16pm)
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Vol. 02, Issue 41, October 12, 2018. 6. Scripting a Saga of its own: How Chhattisgarh is blazing a trail with innovative policies! The identity that Chhattisgarh today proudly associates itself with is that of a ‘startup state’, and it has all the right reasons to do so. For when the state was founded in 2000—after decades of vociferous persistence—it had almost nothing, to begin with. Right from a deplorable state of affairs in areas like healthcare and literacy to the glaring developmental disconnect with its marginalised tribal communities, everything had to be started from the scratch. How Chhattisgarh emerged from a state with nothing to one with the highest recorded economic growth in recent years isn’t a miracle that happened overnight. It is the result of careful thought and innovative policy making process through a long-drawn period of 15 years with average annual growth rate and per capita income standing at 10 and 12 per cent, respectively. Read more… (Lekshmi Priya, The Better India, Sat, 06 Oct, 03:36pm)
7. Technology is changing the face of the Indian workplace Ganesh Papad, a three-decade old company in India which manufactures papads, or papadums, has long relied on teams of workers to make its snack products – but it is increasingly turning to machines to do the job. “To make 1,000 kilograms of handmade papads, we require 300 women,” says Harshal Chheda, the director at Ganesh Papad. “The new generation is not interested to make papads. Hence, we're bringing in modern machines with capacity of 3,000kg per day and this is helping to save labour costs by up to 30 per cent and increasing profits.” More and more companies in India are replacing people with machines in their factories. The implementation of industrial automation, which includes the use of artificial intelligence and robotics, is expected to double in India in the next three years, according to a survey by Willis Towers Watson, a global advisory company. Its findings reveal that the extent of automation in India is set to outpace the global and Asia Pacific averages. Read more… (Rebecca Bundhun, The National, Sun, 07 Oct, 03:24pm)
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