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22 Apr

Quad sends 2 lakh doses of India-made Covovax to Thailand

On Thursday Ministry of External Affairs announced that under the Quad’s flagship Vaccine Partnership, a consignment of COVID vaccines was handed to the Kingdom of Thailand. The consignment was comprised of 200,000 doses of Made in India, Covovax vaccines.

The consignment was presented to Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Health of Thailand on 21 April 2022 in Bangkok. The consignment was jointly handed over to Thailand by the Ambassador of India, Suchitra Durai, Ambassador of Australia, Allan McKinnon, Ambassador of Japan, Nashida Kazuya and the Chargé d’Affaires of the United States of America, James Wayman

This is the second consignment of vaccines delivered by India under the Quad Vaccine Partnership, after the inaugural delivery to Cambodia took place on 12 April 2022.

The Quad Vaccine Partnership was announced by the Quad Leaders at their first Summit on 12 March 2021 to leverage Quad’s collective strength to ensure equitable access to safe, effective and quality-assured vaccines.

Quad countries have so far provided Thailand four and a half million COVID-19 vaccine doses. Quad countries have also provided last mile delivery assistance and monetary support to ensure that vaccines are translated into vaccinations.

Australia is supporting Thailand to deliver vaccines safely and effectively to its population, including through strengthening data systems and developing communication strategies with a focus on migrant populations.

India extended support to Thailand in augmenting its capabilities to fight the pandemic by providing oxygen concentrators and essential medicines.

Japan has provided oxygen concentrators for the treatment of the disease and high-quality equipment for vaccine storage and transport through ‘Last One Mile Support’.

The US has provided assistance with surveillance and contact tracing, case investigation, training health care workers and data management.

The Government of the Kingdom of Thailand has conveyed its appreciation for the vaccines received from the Quad and for its collective assistance to Thailand. Quad countries have assured Thailand about their desire to extend all possible support to combat the pandemic.

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21 Apr

‘We don’t want to bulldoze,’ says Mamata on demolition drive in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri

On Thursday West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee while addressing the Bengal Global Business Summit 2022 slammed the demolition of buildings in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri conducted by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC).

“We don’t want to bulldoze. We don’t want to divide the people, we want to unite the people. Unity is our main strength, culturally you will be very sound if you are united. But, if you are divided, it will fall,” ANI quoted West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee as saying.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Thursday ordered a stay against the demolition drive in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri, thereby posting the hearing in the matter to a later date.

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21 Apr

Top Lashkar-E-Taiba Commander Kantroo Killed In Kashmir’s Baramulla

On Thursday morning top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Yousuf Kantroo was gunned down by security forces in Kashmir’s Baramulla. Police said that the militant killed BDC Chairman Late Sardar Bhupinder Singh on 23rd September, 2020. The militant was also involved in killings of civilians & SFs personnel including recent killing of JKP’s SPO & his brother.

“LeT terrorist Commander Yousuf Kantroo killed in Baramulla encounter. He was involved in several killings of civilians & SFs personnel including recent killing of JKP’s SPO & his brother, one Soldier and one civilian in Budgam district. A big success for us,” said Vijay Kumar, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir zone.

“LeT cmdr Yousuf Kantroo had killed BDC Chairman Late Sardar Bhupinder Singh on 23/9/20 in his own native place in Khag area. Case FIR No 79/20 was registered against terrorist Kantroo in PS Khag,” tweeted Kashmir Zone Police.

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21 Apr

UK PM Boris Johnson meets industrialist Gautam Adani in Ahmedabad

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson who is on a two-day tour of India, arrived in Ahmedabad on Thursday morning.

“It’s fantastic to be in India, the world’s largest democracy. I see vast possibilities for what our great nations can achieve together. Our powerhouse partnership is delivering jobs, growth and opportunity. I look forward to strengthening this partnership in the coming days,” PM Johnson tweeted after arriving in Ahmedabad.

On the first day of his tour, Johnson met Adani Group Chairman, Gautam Adani at the Adani headquarters at Shantigram on the outskirts of Ahmedabad.

“Honoured to host @BorisJohnson, the first UK PM to visit Gujarat, at Adani HQ. Delighted to support climate & sustainability agenda with focus on renewables, green H2 & new energy. Will also work with UK companies to co-create defence & aerospace technologies,” Adani wrote in his Twitter.

After the meeting, Johnson visited the Sabarmati Ashram, the place from where Gandhi led India’s freedom struggle from the British colonial rule.

“I was honoured to follow in the footsteps of millions in visiting the Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad today. As the world faces renewed conflict, Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings remind us of the power of peace in changing the course of history,” tweeted PM Johnson.

 

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21 Apr

Rajnath Singh Invites US Companies To Carry Out Joint R&D, Manufacturing & Maintenance

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh invited US companies to carry out joint R&D, manufacturing and maintenance of defence equipment to achieve the vision of ‘Make in India, Make for the World’.

The Defence Minister was addressing the members of the American Chamber of Commerce in India (AMCHAM India) through video conferencing during its 30th Annual General Meeting on April 21, 2022. He invited the US companies for co-production, co-development, investment promotion and development of Maintenance Repair and Overhaul facilities in India.

“Of late, some US companies have expanded their local presence in partnership with Indian industry to achieve our aim of ‘Make in India, Make for the World’. We believe this is just a beginning. With increasing business, we aspire for increased investments by US companies in India. Making full use of the Industrial Security Agreement, we need to facilitate collaboration & indigenisation of defence technology and boost the participation of US and Indian companies in each other’s defence supply chains. American companies are welcome to establish manufacturing facilities in India,” said Rajnath Singh.

Rajnath Singh listed out a number of initiatives taken by the Government to facilitate partnerships between major Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEMs) and Indian companies.

“From increase in FDI limit to improving ease of doing business and from encouraging innovation through the iDEX platform to an enhanced positive list to give fillip to manufacture in India, the government is sharply focussed on enhancing the share of defence manufacturing, export by India-based companies and joint ventures,” he said.

Rajnath Singh pointed out that US companies have not only been a source of FDI & employment in India, but are also contributing to India’s defence exports, totalling around $2.5 billion to US in last five years, which is 35 per cent of total exports achieved during the period.

The Defence Minister termed the recently held India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in Washington as positive and fruitful, saying that the defence sector is a strong and growing pillar of the bilateral relationship. India and US are uniquely poised to leverage each other’s strengths for a mutually beneficial and bright future, he said.

“Both India and US share a common vision of a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region. The India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership is of critical importance for international peace, stability and prosperity,” Rajnath Singh added.

He termed the India-US economic relationship as one of the defining business relationships of the 21st century.

Rajnath Singh added that during the 2+2 Ministerial meeting, India and US confirmed their intent to advance cooperation in Critical and Emerging Technologies such as advanced communication technology, artificial intelligence, quantum science, STEM, semi-conductors and biotechnology.

AMCHAM-India is an association of American business organisations operating in India. Established in 1992, AMCHAM has over 400 US companies as members.

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21 Apr

PM Modi confers Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration on Civil Services Day

On the occasion of Civil Services Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conferred the Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on Thursday.

Modi underlined the significance of this year’s celebration as it is taking place in the year of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. He asked the administrators to call past district administrators in this special year to the district. This will infuse new energy in the district and will provide a welcome dynamism in perspective of district administration informed by the experience of the past.

The Prime Minister said that in our democratic set up we should be committed to three goals. The first goal is that there should be a change in the life of the common people in the country, their life should be easy and they should also be able to feel this ease. Secondly, given the growing stature and changing profile if India, it is imperative that whatever we do, that should be done in the global context. If we don’t follow the activities at the global level, it will be very difficult to ascertain our priorities and focus area. Thirdly, he said “Wherever we are in the system, our prime responsibility is the unity and integrity of the country, there cannot be any compromise. Even local decisions should be measured on this touchstone.”

He concluded by requesting the officers to adopt the key reforms in their personal lives. For example whether cleanliness, use of GeM or UPI is there in their own life or not.

Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration have been instituted with a view to recognize the extraordinary and innovative work done by Districts/implementing units and Central/State organisations for the welfare of common citizens. They are also conferred for effective implementation of identified priority programs and innovation.

Exemplary work done in the following five identified priority programmes will be given awards which is to be presented on Civil Services Day 2022: (i) Promoting “Jan Bhagidari” or People’s Participation in Poshan Abhiyan, (ii) Promoting excellence in sports and wellness through Khelo India scheme, (iii) Digital payments and Good Governance in PM SVANidhi Yojana, (iv) Holistic Development through One District One Product scheme, (v) Seamless, End-to-End Delivery of Services without Human Intervention.

A total of 16 awards for 5 identified Priority Programmes and for innovations in the sphere of public administration/delivery of services etc. will be given this year.

 

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21 Apr

Bengal means Blood: BJP`s Suvendu Adikhari slams Mamata Banerjee over business summit

On Wednesday BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari slammed Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government and said that Bengal cannot have industries because of the bad land policy. He further took a jibe at the TMC for failing to curb post-poll violence and told ANI that it’s not ‘Bengal for business’ but ‘Bengal for blood’.

“Can’t have industries in Bengal, land policy is bad. There is syndicate raj here, be it coal…This is not Bengal for business, but Bengal for blood, and Bengal for ‘Birbhum bomb’,” Suvendu Adhikari was quoted as saying by ANI.

When asked on whether he received the invitation to Bengal global business summit, Adhikari told ANI that the leader of opposition has no recognition in Bengal.

“No question of invitation…LoP in Bengal has no recognition. The system is such that it’s for the family, by the family, & of the ‘Kalighat Banerjee family,” Suvendu Adhikari told ANI.

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21 Apr

Oil India Limited commissions India’s first 99% pure green hydrogen plant

Oil India Limited (OIL) has taken the first significant step towards the Green Hydrogen Economy in India with the commissioning of India’s First 99.999% pure Green Hydrogen pilot plant, with an installed capacity of 10 kg per day at its Jorhat Pump Station in Assam on Wednesday. The plant was commissioned in a record time of 3 months.

The plant produces Green Hydrogen from the electricity generated by the existing 500kW Solar plant using a 100 kW Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) Electrolyser array. The use of AEM technology is being used for the first time in India.

Chairman & Managing Director, Sushil Chandra Mishra said that the plant is expected to increase its production of green hydrogen from 10 kg per day to 30 kg per day in future. He further said the company has initiated a detailed study in collaboration with IIT Guwahati on blending of Green Hydrogen with Natural Gas and its effect on the existing infrastructure of OIL.

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21 Apr

India’s Non-basmati rice exports grow by 109% since 2013-14 to USD 6115 million

India’s non-basmati rice exports witnessed an astounding growth of 109 % from USD 2925 million in FY 2013-14 to USD 6115 million in FY 2021-22.

India is the world’s second-largest rice producer after China. The record exports would enable the rice producers to reduce their stocks and would also benefit the farmers as the increased demand for Indian Rice is likely to improve their realizations.

As per DGCIS data, India exported rice to over 150 countries across the globe in 2021-22. India exported more than USD one million to 76 countries out of the 150 countries reported in 2021-22, It indicates the diversification of India’s rice export over the years.

Highlighting the historic achievement in a tweet, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal tweeted, “India’s rice exports takes an astounding growth of 109%. Modi Govt. policies help farmers get access to the global market and also ensure food security.”

According to the DGCIS data, India had exported non-basmati rice worth USD 2015 million in 2019-20, which rose to USD 4799 million in 2020-21 and USD 6115 million in 2021-22.

Registering a growth of 27% in 2021-22, export of non-basmati rice was the top forex earner among all agri-commodities, at USD 6115 million.

West African country Benin is one of the major importers of non-basmati rice from India. Other destination countries are Nepal, Bangladesh, China, Cote D’ Ivoire, Togo, Senegal, Guinea, Vietnam, Djibouti, Madagascar, Cameroon Somalia,  Malaysia, Liberia U.A.E., etc.

In 2020-21, India shipped non-basmati rice to nine countries – Timor-Leste, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Papua New Guinea, Zimbabwe, Burundi, Eswatini, Myanmar and Nicaragua, where exports were carried out for the first time or earlier the shipment was smaller in volume.

The major rice producing states are West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Assam, and Haryana.

As per Second Advance Estimates for 2021-22, the total production of Rice during 2021-22 is estimated at record 127.93 million tonnes, which is higher by 11.49 million tonnes than the last five years’ average production of 116.44 million tonnes.

However, as per second Advance Estimates for 2021-22, total food grains production in the country is estimated at record 316.06 million tonnes which is higher by 5.32 million tonnes than the production of food grain during 2020-21. Further, the production during 2021-22 is higher by 25.35 million tonnes than the previous five years’ (2016-17 to 2020-21) average production of food grains.

 

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21 Apr

BGBS 2022: War Of Words Continues Between Mamata Banerjee And Governor

On Wednesday West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee once again exchanged veiled barbs. And this time in front of a global audience at the 6th Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS).

While addressing the Summit, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged the governor to ensure that industrialists are “not disturbed by some agencies”.

“Your excellency, I have a word for you on behalf of all the industry…. I want you to tell centre that we will seek all support from the central government. But please tell Delhi that industrialists should not be disturbed through agencies,” Mamata said.

While, the Governor in his half an hour speech made suggestions like catalyse “development bonhomie”.

“It will be appropriate for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to proactively catalyse and I say so with lot of hope and expectation, the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to catalyse development bonhomie with all concerned as it is imperative to distance development from a partisan stance. A greater reflection of political spectrum of the State in participation in such ventures would surely be motivationally wholesome,” said Governor.

Governor also highlighted the need for governance based on rule of law, he said, “I am sure the Government that elsewhere in the world is alive to the need of investment friendly wholesome eco system in governance, this days all over the world it has become necessity because investors invariably look for political stability, democratic governance, transparent, accountable mechanism and systemic working, coupled with peaceful environment and rule of law.”

 

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