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Month: October 2024
All Eyes On Accra As AfCFTA Gets Ready To Roll
Ghana has fulfilled all its obligations towards the establishment and the setting up of the AfCFTA Secretariat in Accra, following its selection by the AU Assembly. A flagship project of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the AfCFTAcreates a market of 1.2 billion people with a combined GDP of USD 3 trillion.
GHANA PRESIDENT Nana AddoDankwaAkufo-Addo officially commissioned and handed over the Secretariat building of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to the African Union Commission in Accra late last year.
At a symbolic ceremony at the African Trade House, the President handed the keys to the Secretariat to MoussaFaki, Chairperson of the AU.He also handed a scroll, the symbol of authority, to the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA, WamkeleKeabetweMene, kickstarting Africa’s push to create the world’s largest integrated market that would boost the continent’s growth and bring prosperity for its 1.27 billion people.
The Secretariat will house the offices of the AfCFTA Secretary- General and staff who would provide administrative support for the implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement brokered by the AU that requires member states that have signed unto the agreement to remove tariffs from 90% of goods to allow for free access to commodities, goods, and services across the continent.
Akufo-Addo, in his remarks, pointed out that the coming into being of the AfCFTA was one of the most important decisions taken by the AU considering the low intra-regional trade between African nations.He noted that increased intra-regional trade would contribute to the continent’s quest to end endemic poverty and ensure the desired economic growth for Africa and its people. “The last part of the growth and prosperity that we seek will come from us trading more amongst ourselves…We in Ghana believable increasing trade is the surest way to deepen Regional integration,” he stressed. Akufo-Addo was optimistic that Africa’s new sense of urgency for
GHANA PRESIDENT Nana AddoDankwaAkufo-Addo officially commissioned and handed over the Secretariat building of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to the African Union Commission in Accra late last year. At a symbolic ceremony at the African Trade House, the President handed the keys to the Secretariat to MoussaFaki, Chairperson of the AU.He also handed a scroll, the symbol of authority, to the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA, WamkeleKeabetweMene, kickstarting Africa’s push to create the world’s largest integrated market that would boost the continent’s growth and bring prosperity for its 1.27 billion people. The Secretariat will house the offices of the AfCFTA Secretary- General and staff who would provide administrative support for the implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement brokered by the AU that requires member states that have signed unto the agreement to remove tariffs from 90% of goods to allow for free access to commodities, goods, and services across the continent. Akufo-Addo, in his remarks, pointed out that the coming into being of the AfCFTA was one of the most important decisions taken by the AU considering the low intra-regional trade between African nations.He noted that increased intra-regional trade would contribute to the continent’s quest to end endemic poverty and ensure the desired economic growth for Africa and its people.
“The last part of the growth and prosperity that we seek will come from us trading more amongst ourselves…We in Ghana believable increasing trade is the surest way to deepen Regional integration,” he stressed.
Akufo-Addo was optimistic that Africa’s new sense of urgency for economic integration would lay the foundation for an ‘Africa Beyond Aid’, and make the continent truly self-reliant.And with it, will come a rapid increase in the exchange of agricultural, industrial, financial, scientific and technological products, which he said, “will significantly enhance our economic fortunes as a continent create profit and provided opportunities for employment for the broad masses of Africans, particularly the youth.”
“It will provide the vehicle for us to trade among ourselves in a more modern and sophisticated manner; it will offer a huge opportunity to exploit the abundant wealth and resources of our great continent for the benefit of all our people; and it will give us protection in how to deal with other trading blocks,” he added.
The President also indicated that the coronavirus pandemic and the attendant disruption in the global supply chain had heightened the importance of the AfCFTA and reinforced the necessity for closer integration amongst countries “so that we can boost our mutual self-sufficiency, strengthen our economies, and reduce our dependence on external sources.”
He appealed to member states who were yet to ratify the AfCFTA Agreement to do so before the AU’s next extraordinary Summit scheduled for December 2020 to pave way for the smooth commencement of trading from 2021 onwards.
“We are now the world’s largest free trade area since the formation of the World Trade Organisation, and we must make it count,” he stressed.
54 member states have signed unto the Agreement. But only 30 have so far approved its ratification.
Akufo-Addo urged the AfCFTA Secretary-General to work towards building a strong, efficient and effective Secretariat, with the capacity to implement the various trade rules, in line with the text of the Agreement, to help build credibility, and reduce trade policy uncertainty in the continent.
“The world is watching to see whether the Secretariat will, indeed, provide the springboard for Africa’s economic integration and rapid growth, and I am confident that, under your tenure, it will.Mr. Secretary-General, be rest assured of the firm support of the Government of Ghana for your work and activities,” he added.
Akufo-Addo also commended the Nigeriene leader, MahamadouIssoufou, who is also the current Chair of ECOWAS, for the work he has done in championing the African Continental Free Trade initiative.
He congratulated the South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, current Chair of the Authority of the Assembly of the AU, for the benign, progressive guidance and supervision he has offered to make the handing over ceremony possible.
A statement on behalf of South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is the Chairperson of the AU, was delivered on the occasion of the handover ceremony of the AfCFTA Secretariat. “On behalf of the African Union and the entire Continent, I express our profound gratitude to the Government and people of Ghana for generously offering the building and residences, which house the AfCFTA. This day is indeed a milestone and a strong affirmation of the vision of an integrated Africa, which was envisioned by the founding fathers of the OAU, including Kwame Nkrumah, 57 years ago. It is a fitting tribute that the AfCFTA Headquarters are being housed in Ghana.”
“When successfully implemented, the AfCFTA will be a huge milestone towards the realisation of Agenda 2063, the Africa we want.As AU Chair, I also wish to assure you of the AU’s commitment to the successful implementation of the AfCFTA, as a practical contribution to economic development of Africa,” he added.
AfCFTA Secretary-General WamkeleKeabetweMeme noted that Africa continued to be trapped in a colonial economic model, which required the aggressive implementation of the AfCFTA as a tool for effecting a fundamental structural transformation of Africa’s economy.
“The AfCFTA is therefore a critical response to Africa’s developmental challenges. It has the potential to enable Africa to significantly boost intra Africa trade and to improve economies of scale through an integrated market.It has the potential to be a catalyst for industrial development, placing Africa on a path to exporting value-added products and improving Africa’s competitiveness both in its own markets and globally.It also sends a strong signal to the international investor community that Africa is open for business, based on a single rule-book for trade and investment,” he said.
He thanked the government and the people of Ghana, for hosting the Secretariat and for providing world class facilities that will enable Africa to progress on the historic vision of achieving an integrated Africa.
African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
The AfCFTA aims to boost intra-African trade by providing a comprehensive and mutually beneficial trade agreement among the member states, covering trade in goods, services, investment, intellectual property rights and competition policy.
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a flagship project of Agenda 2063 of the African Union, Africa’s own development vision. It was approved by the 18th Ordinary Session of Assembly of Heads of State and Government, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in January 2012, which adopted the decision to establish a Continental Free Trade Area. This is an initiative whose immediate implementation would provide quick wins, create impact on socio-economic development, and enhance confidence and the commitment of Africans as the owners and drivers of Agenda 2063. The AfCFTA aims at accelerating intra-African trade and boosting Africa’s trading position in the global market by strengthening Africa’s common voice and policy space in global trade negotiations.At the time of writing, 36 countries have ratified the AfCFTA agreement.
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will cover a market of 1.2 billion people and a gross domestic product (GDP) of USD 2.5 trillion, across all 55 member States of the African Union. In terms of numbers of participating countries, AfCFTA will be the world’s largest free trade area since the formation of the World Trade Organisation.It is also a highly dynamic market. The population of Africa is projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050, at which point it will comprise 26% of what is projected to be the world’s working age population, with an economy that is estimated to grow twice as rapidly as that of the developed world.With average tariffs of 6.1%, businesses currently face higher tariffs when they export within Africa than when they export outside it. AfCFTA will progressively eliminate tariffs on intra-African trade, making it easier for African businesses to trade within the continent and cater to and benefit from the growing African market.Consolidating this continent into one trade area provides great opportunities for trading enterprises, businesses and consumers across Africa and the chance to support sustainable development in the world’s least developed region. ECA estimates that AfCFTA has the potential both to boost intra-African trade by 52.3% by eliminating import duties, and to double this trade if non-tariff barriers are also reduced. Located in Accra, Ghana, the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat is the administrative organ to coordinate the implementation of the AfCFTA. The Secretariat is responsible for convening meetings, monitoring and evaluating the implementation process and other duties assigned to it by the Committee of Senior Officials, Council of Ministers, and the Assembly of the African Union (AU).
The Assembly of the AfCFTA is the highest decision-making organ of the AU, consisting of all AU Heads of State and Government. It has exclusive authority to adopt interpretations of this Agreement on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers, andprovides oversight and guidance on the AfCFTA. The Council of Ministers comprises Ministers for Trade of the State Parties. It will take decisions on all matters under the AfCFTA Agreement, and reports to the Assembly through the Executive Council of the AU. The AfCFTA Council of Minister is separate from the AU Ministers of Trade (AMOT). The Committee of Senior Trade Officials comprises Permanent Secretaries or other officials designated by State Parties. It is responsible for the development of programmes and action plans for the implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement.
The Protocols of the AfCFTA Agreement establish various technical committees to assist with the implementation of the Agreement. They include the Trade in Goods Committee and Trade in Services Committee.
India-Russia: Partnership for Peace, Progress and Prosperity
Amidst growing differences between India and Russia due to India’s growing closeness with the US and Russia’s congruence with China, India and Russia held the 21st India-Russia Annual Summit to discuss the entire gamut of bilateral relations, including regional and global issues. Recent events saw the distancing of Russia from India through the re-evaluation of its position as regards to AF-Pak region and the Indo-Pacific. Further Russia’s worsening relations with the West and lack of support for its position including from India saw the necessity to sit down and discuss the issues and reduce the trust deficit among the two. India and Russia focused on ways to boost bilateral cooperation in areas ranging from defence to energy and a coordinated approach to regional issues. N Chandra Shekar reports…
INDIAN PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasising the importance of strategic relations between the two nations. Referring to the Russian President as a “friend”, PM Modi said “our meeting today will strengthen our Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. The initiatives that we take today will further increase the scope of our cooperation to new areas’.
Modi also noted in his opening remarks that this was only Putin’s second foreign visit since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and reflects his personal commitment to bilateral relations. The year 2021 is important for bilateral ties as it marks five decades of the Indo-Soviet Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation of 1971 and two decades of the bilateral strategic partnership, he added.
In his opening remarks ahead of the bilateral meeting He said, “2021 is also special for our Strategic Partnership. Today was the inaugural meeting of the 2+2 dialogue between our Foreign and Defence Ministers. This has started a new mechanism to enhance our practical cooperation,”. India-Russia relations have been one of the success stories of global diplomacy and PM Modi’s warm relationship with President Putin has stood the test of the dynamic geopolitical situations and their congruence on global issues will influence regional and global politics.
President Putin said Russia perceives India as a “great power” with whom relations “are developing and are looking to the future”. Though trade turnover declined by more than 17% in 2020, the growth was more than 38% in the first nine months of 2021, he said. Total bilateral investments now stand at $38 billion, and this is roughly equally divided, with slightly more investments from the Russian side, Putin said, adding the two sides are also cooperating in areas such as energy, high technology and space. “We continue to work actively in the international arena, and… our positions on very many issues do coincide. We are undoubtedly concerned about everything related to terrorism and the fight against it, as well as drugs and organised crime,” he said. The two sides are also concerned about the developing situation in Afghanistan, he added.
India-Russia economic relations have been lopsided and marked by a steep imbalance favouring Russia. India-Russia annual trade in goods is about $10 billion. Whereas Russia’s trade with China is around $100 billion. In contrast India’s trade with US and China is around $100 billion. During the last 20 summits both sides have been repeatedly reiterating the need for enhancing trade and investment ties. One of the most visible glaring aspect of India Russia ties is its failure to boost trade. Trade between India and Russia has been one way with India becoming Russia’s largest armament buyer other than energy. This summit has dawned on both of them a new sense of realisation to leverage on the strong historical ties and lay new grounds for expansive economic cooperation.
The India-Russia Joint Statement called ‘Partnership for Peace, Progress and Prosperity’ said, “The completion of 5 decades of the 1971 Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation and 2 decades of Declaration on Strategic Partnership is symbolic of the long standing and time-tested India-Russia relations characterized by mutual trust, respect for each other’s core national interests and similarity of positions on various international and regional issues.” The meeting saw the signing of 28 agreements across sectors from defence to energy to space exploration, science and technology, heavy engineering, to trade and investment.
Agreements/MoUs signed during the 21st India-Russia Annual Summit in New Delhi
Roadmap for science, technology and innovation cooperation between the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Government of the Republic of India.
Memorandum of cooperation in the field of intellectual property between the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of the Republic of India and the Federal Service for Intellectual Property, Russian Federation.
Agreement on Program of the Military-Technical Cooperation from 2021-2031. [This 10-year defence cooperation programme outlines the ongoing defence cooperation and future possible cooperation between the two countries. Such agreements have been signed since 1994.]
A MoU between Joint Stock Company Rosgeologia (ROSGEO), a legal entity incorporated under the laws of the Russian Federation and Geological Survey of India (GSI), Ministry of Mines, Government of the Republic of India on cooperation in the field of geoscience. [It seeks cooperation in the field of earth sciences and geological study of subsoil, long-term cooperation in the area of geological onshore and offshore exploration works.]
Protocol on introduction of amendments to the Merchant Shipping Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Russian Federation. [It introduces an amendment leading to recognising the seafarer’s identity documents.]
A cultural exchange programme between the Ministry of Culture of the Government of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation for the years 2021-2024.
Protocol between the Department of State Support of the Art and Folk Creativity of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and Indian Council for Cultural Relations under the Ministry of External Affairs of the Republic of India on the organisation of culture festivals between the Russian Federation and the Republic of India for 2022-2023.
An agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Russian Federation on technology protection due to cooperation in the field of research and use of outer space for peaceful purposes and building and operation of launch vehicles and ground-based space infrastructure.
Protocol between Government of the Russian Federation and Government of the Republic of India on allotment of land plots for allocation of Consular offices of the Republic of India in the Russian Federation and terms of housing the Consulate General of the Republic of India in the city of Vladivostok.
Commercial and other Agreements/MoUs
A MoU between Opto-electronics Factory, Dehradun and JSC Rosoboronexport.
A cooperation agreement between Reserve Bank of India and the Bank of Russia in the field of responding to cyber attacks
A MoU on cooperation between ICAI (The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India) and IPAR (The Institute of Professional Accountants of Russia). [It seeks to establish collaboration through joint research, quality support, capability and capacity building.]
A MoU for cooperation in the power sector between NTPC Ltd, Government of India Enterprise and Inter Rao-Export LLC.
A memorandum of cooperation between SAIL and Russian Company SSC FSUE TsNIIchermet im. I. P. Bardin. [It seeks to join efforts in carrying out research, technological and strategic work in the field of metallurgical technologies.]
A memorandum of cooperation between JSPL (Jindal Steel and Power Ltd) and Russian Company SSC FSUE TsNIIchermet im. I. P. Bardin. [It seeks to join efforts in carrying out research, technological and strategic work in the field of metallurgical technologies.]
A MoU between JSW Steel Ltd and Russian Company SSC FSUE TsNIIchermet im. I. P. Bardin. [It seeks to join efforts in carrying out research, technological and strategic work in the field of metallurgical technologies.]
A statement of intent of collaboration between IOCL and SIBUR. [It seeks to consider the possibility to explore the feasibility of setting up a Dual Feed Cracker Unit along with downstream units at Odisha.]
A MoU between National Sports University, Imphal and Russian International Olympic University (RIOU), Sochi, Russia.
A MoU between Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata (India) and A.V. Zhirmunsky National Scientific Centre of Marine Biology of the Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences (NSCMB FEB RAS) (Russian Federation). [It seeks to establish Centre for Excellence in Blue Economy for collaborative exchanges]
A MoU between Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, India and Southern Federal University, Russia. [It seeks to collaborate on academic and research activities, exchange of academic information, student and faculty exchange etc.]
An agreement for academic collaboration between University of Delhi and Skoltech University, Moscow. [It seeks to promote capacity-building and expertise in scientific areas and is aimed at developing programmes and exchanges for national technological development.]
An agreement between the Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education I.M.Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (Sechenov University) and University of Delhi. [It seeks to promote cooperation in life sciences in the fields of Nano-medicine, Regenerative Medicine, Molecular Medicine, Bio-medical Science, Translational Medicine, Pre-clinical and Clinical Research, New Drug Discovery, Industrial Technologies and Entrepreneurship.]
A MoU between Uttar Pradesh FICCI and BCCI, Russia. [It seeks to establish links, exchange experience in international cooperation, small and medium businesses.]
A MoU on manpower supplies between Magic Billion and Volshebny Milliard.
A statement of intent of collaboration between IOCL and Gazpromneft for VGO Hydrocracking Technology, Catalytic Iso-dewaxing for lobs and catalyst regeneration for fixed bed catalyst.
A MoU between Rosneft and OVLled Indian Consortium on Training Cooperation. [It seeks to provide education and training programs in the oil and gas sector.]
A MoU between Indian Trade Promotion Organisation and Roscongress Foundation for bilateral trade cooperation.
A crude oil supply agreement between Rosneft and Indian Oil Corp. Ltd. [It seeks to renew the previous contract between Rosneft and IOCL.]. FOCUS 28 Oct-Nov-Dec | 2021 OPEN TRADE African Continental
Partnership for Global Good
PRESIDENT JOSEPH R. BIDEN welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the White House today for their first in-person Leaders’ engagement, renewing their close relationship and charting a new course to advance the partnership between the world’s largest democracies.
The Leaders affirmed a clear vision that will guide the U.S.-India relationship forward: building a strategic partnership and working together with regional groupings, including ASEAN and Quad members, to promote shared interests in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond; developing a trade and investment partnership that increases prosperity for working families in both countries; finishing the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and other health challenges; galvanizing global efforts to scale up climate action; strengthening democratic values and institutions in support of our respective peoples; and enhancing people-to-people ties that have made both countries stronger.
President Biden and Prime Minister Modi expressed deep pride and appreciation about their nations’ close cooperation to fight the COVID-19 pandemic over the past year, as governments, civil society, businesses, and diaspora communities mobilized in unprecedented ways to share emergency relief supplies during each country’s times of need. Having administered hundreds of millions of doses of vaccine to protect their own citizens at home and abroad, they reiterated their commitment to lead the global effort to end this pandemic. President Biden welcomed India’s announcement that it will resume exports of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines including to COVAX. The Leaders also hailed the finalization of the overarching Memorandum of Understanding on Health and Biomedical Sciences to bolster cooperation on key areas affecting global health, including pandemic preparedness and biomedical research, to reduce the risk of future pandemics.
Prime Minister Modi welcomed President Biden’s initiative to convene the Global COVID-19 Summit on Ending the Pandemic and Building Back Better to Prepare for the Next, given our shared commitment to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.
Prime Minister Modi welcomed U.S. leadership on climate action, including the return of the United States to the Paris Agreement. President Biden expressed support for Prime Minister Modi’s intention to achieve a domestic goal of installing 450 GW of renewable power by 2030 and acknowledged the importance of mobilizing finance for investments in renewables, storage, and grid infrastructure that will guarantee clean, reliable power for millions of Indian households. Through the two main tracks of the Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP) and the Climate Action and Finance Mobilization Dialogue (CAFMD) under the U.S.-India Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 Partnership, the United States and India will accelerate clean energy development and deployment of critical technologies to advance a clean energy transition. India welcomed the United States joining the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT).
President Biden reaffirmed the strength of the defense relationship between the United States and India and the unwavering commitment to India as a Major Defense Partner through close defense engagements in information sharing, sharing of logistics and military-tomilitary interactions, strengthening cooperation in advanced military technologies, and expanding engagements in a multilateral framework including with regional partners. The Leaders welcomed the deepening of advanced industrial cooperation. In this context, they noted the recent project to co-develop air-launched unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) under the Defense Technology and Trade Initiative, and encouraged more such joint efforts. They called upon the government and private stakeholders to use the existing ecosystems of innovation and entrepreneurship in defense industries for co-development, coproduction and expanding mutual defense trade. They also looked forward to the inaugural meeting of the Industrial Security Agreement summit to facilitate high-end defense industrial collaboration.
The Leaders reaffirmed that the United States and India stand together in a shared fight against global terrorism, will take concerted action against all terrorist groups, including groups proscribed by the UNSCR 1267 Sanctions Committee, condemned cross-border terrorism, and called for the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks to be brought to justice. They denounced any use of terrorist proxies and emphasized the importance of denying any logistical, financial or military support to terrorist groups which could be used to launch or plan terror attacks. They noted that the upcoming U.S.-India Counterterrorism Joint Working Group, Designations Dialogue, and renewed U.S.-India Homeland Security Dialogue will further strengthen counterterrorism cooperation between India and the United States, including in the areas of intelligence sharing and law enforcement cooperation. They also welcomed opportunities to develop counterterrorism technologies. They commended the U.S.-India Counter Narcotics Working Group and are committed to finalizing a new Bilateral Framework which would facilitate joint efforts to combat drug trafficking, illicit narcotics production and precursor chemical supply chains.
The Leaders resolved that the Taliban must abide by UNSC Resolution 2593 (2021), which demands that Afghan territory must never again be used to threaten or attack any country or to shelter or train terrorists, or to plan or finance terrorist attacks, and underscored the importance of combating terrorism in Afghanistan. The Leaders called on the Taliban to adhere to these and all other commitments, including regarding the safe, secure, and orderly departure from Afghanistan of Afghans and all foreign nationals and to respect the human rights of all Afghans, including women, children, and members of minority groups. They emphasized the importance of efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, called on the Taliban to allow full, safe, direct and unhindered access for the United Nations, its specialized agencies and implementing partners, and all humanitarian actors engaged in humanitarian relief activity, including with respect to internally displaced persons. Reflecting their long-term commitment to promoting development and economic opportunity for the Afghan people, they determined to continue to closely coordinate and to work jointly with partners toward an inclusive and peaceful future for all Afghans. The Leaders called for an end of the use of violence, for release of all political detainees, and for a swift return to democracy in Myanmar. They further called for the urgent implementation of the ASEAN Five Point Consensus.
The Leaders welcomed increased cooperation under the Quad, including in the multilateral domain given their shared vision of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region with respect to territorial integrity and sovereignty, and international law. President Biden applauded India’s strong leadership during its UN Security Council Presidency in August 2021. In this context, President Biden also reiterated U.S. support for India’s permanent membership on a reformed UN Security Council and for other countries who are important champions of multilateral cooperation and aspire to permanent seats on the UN Security Council. He also reaffirmed U.S. support for India’s entry to the Nuclear Suppliers Group. They welcomed the extension of the Statement of Guiding Principles on Triangular Cooperation for Global Development to leverage the combined capacities of India and the United States to address global development challenges around the world, particularly in the Indo-Pacific and Africa. In addition, they looked forward to the launch of the U.S.- India Gandhi-King Development Foundation to advance cooperation on health, education, and the environment.
They looked forward to reconvening the India-U.S. Trade Policy Forum before the end of 2021, to enhance the bilateral trade relationship by addressing trade concerns, identifying specific areas for increased engagement and developing an ambitious, shared vision for the future of the trade relationship. The Leaders looked forward to convening the U.S.-India CEO Forum and the Commercial Dialogue in early 2022, leveraging the talents of the private sector. The Leaders noted ongoing negotiations on an Investment Incentive Agreement that facilitates investment in development projects and committed to an early conclusion. They further discussed how the United States and India will work together to set sustainable and transparent rules of the road that will lift economies throughout the Indo- Pacific. They welcomed increased collaboration through the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and the upcoming Indo-Pacific Business Forum.
The Leaders noted that the movement of highly skilled professionals, students, investors and business travelers between their countries enhances their economic and technological partnership. The Leaders highlighted the importance of resilient and secure supply chains between the two countries. They welcomed the involvement of the private sector in both countries in building stronger linkages in critical sectors such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, semiconductors, and information technology. The Leaders recognized the importance of critical and emerging technologies in delivering economic growth and achieving strategic priorities. They looked forward to reviving the High Technology Cooperation Group (HTCG) in early 2022, with the objective of accelerating high technology commerce in key areas. The Leaders decided that the United States and India must continue and expand their partnership in new domains and many areas of critical and emerging technology – space, cyber, health security, semiconductors, AI, 5G, 6G and future generation telecommunications technology, and Blockchain, that will define innovation processes, and the economic and security landscape of the next century. The Leaders recognized the foundational need to address vulnerabilities and threats in cyberspace, including to promote critical infrastructure resilience, and welcomed the increasing partnerships among governments to counter ransomware and other cyber-enabled crime, including efforts to combat cybercriminals that operate from within their borders. The Leaders reiterated the importance of sustainable capacity-building and noted that mutual technical assistance efforts to respond to cyber threats should be prioritized and increased, including through dialogues, joint meetings, training and sharing of best practices. They looked forward to the finalization of a Space Situational Awareness Memorandum of Understanding that will help in sharing of data and services towards ensuring the longterm sustainability of outer space activities by the end of the year.
As global partners, the United States and India resolved to further strengthen their collaboration in education, science and technology and people-to-people engagement. The Leaders welcomed close consultations through the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue of the Foreign and Defense Ministers of India and the United States to be held later this year. The Leaders celebrated the deep and vibrant ties between the people of both nations, which underpins the special bond between the United States and India, and has sustained their partnership for nearly 75 years. They reaffirmed, and encouraged others to embrace, their shared values of freedom, democracy, universal human rights, tolerance and pluralism, and equal opportunities for all citizens, and committed to pursue efforts towards sustainable development and global peace and security.
Prime Minister Modi conveyed his deep appreciation for the repatriation of antiquities to India by the United States. The Leaders committed to strengthen their efforts to combat the theft, illicit trade and trafficking of cultural objects.
Reflecting shared values and principles, and growing strategic convergence, President Biden and Prime Minister Modi resolved to advance the U.S.-India Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, and looked forward to what the United States and India will achieve together.
US-INDIA Relations Entering A New Chapter
The recent meeting between the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden evoked a lot of interest for watchers in the diplomatic sphere given the fact that Narendra Modi had been seen openly supporting the Republican Party’s incumbent Presidential candidate Donald Trump. It was indeed a pleasant surprise that Joe Biden put US-India relations ahead and lead the talks to build on existing relations and to strengthen US-India trade relations which were going down hill under the previous regime. N Chandra Shekar reports on some of the key takeaways from this visit…
THE INDIA-US TRADE RELATIONS have been much in the storm in the recent years. India’s trade surplus with the US had become a bone of contention for the erstwhile President Trump. Both India and US accused each other of unfair trade practices and were among the most active litigants at the World Trade Organisation. Not withstanding the bonhomie between President Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi both nations have not been able to arrive at common ground on the myriad of trade issues that plague the two. When US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met in Washington last month for the first time in Biden’s presidency, their talks on trade were limited and only briefly referenced in a joint statement. This cursory treatment suggests trade has been relegated to secondary importance. Instead, this should be an inflection point for growing the US-India trade relationship, ideally to eventually match the scale and importance of their strategic relationship.
While US President Joe Biden has begin to pursue his restorationist agenda on “rescuing US foreign policy” after Donald Trump’s presidency, his agenda on USIndia ties will differ. While US ties with partners across the Atlantic for instance, will warrant Biden’s mitigation efforts, the agenda with India will pertain to furthering Trump’s record. However, the domain of US-India trade, which peaked at $146.1 billion in 2019, will cause some trepidation owing to frictions witnessed in the Trump years. Given Trump’s focus on exacting “fair and reciprocal” trading arrangements, his administration vocalised apprehensions against nations that had amassed trade surpluses over the US. Even though India’s trade surplus is less than a tenth of the US-China trade imbalance, New Delhi did not escape Trump’s action against nations “cheating” the US. It all started with the imposition of import tariffs on steel and aluminium from twelve countries including India. This later developed into a full-fledged bilateral trade war with China. The US also rolled back export incentives for Indian Exporters under its Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) programme affecting India’s exports worth USD 6billion dollars to US under the scheme. In retaliation, India imposed high customs duties on twenty-eight US products, including almonds. The US administration has also started targeting nations who are having a trade surplus with the US including India. With either side not giving in a whole lot of issues have become a bone of contention.
For India one of the key issues has been the withdrawal of the concessions offered to Indian Exporters under the US Generalised System of Preferences which allowed tariff free import of selected commodities (around 3500) from 129 countries for failure to provide equitable and reasonable market access. GSP provides nonreciprocal, duty-free tariff treatment to certain products imported from qualifying developing countries. India has given a representation with the US trade officials for the extension of the GSP.
One of the important issues for the US is its export of farm and poultry products. Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) barriers in India limit U.S. agricultural exports. The United States has been raising questions on the scientific and risk-based justifications of such barriers. India had banned chicken imports from US citing avian infuenza risks. But in 2015, the US obtained a favourable verdict from the WTO’s DSB. The WTO ruled that India’s measure was disproportionate to the threat and constituted a non-tariff barrier. In the context of the WTO verdict, the government made changes in the health certification requirement for imported poultry items from the US.
Further the US accused India that it is under reporting subsidies given under Minimum Support Price (MSP) This is the first ever Committee on Agriculture notification by a country under The Agreement on Agriculture (AoA). The US also raised obstructions on India’s food security programme at the Buenos Aires Ministerial Conference (MC). Because of this US stand, WTO failed to reach consensus to provide a permanent solution to the Public Stock Holding of Food Grains on food security ground. As a reply, India and China asked the developed world to reduce their exorbitant levels of farm subsidies. At the Buenos Aires Ministerial Conference of the WTO, the US argued that countries like China and India doesn’t qualify for the Special and Differential Treatment benefits given for developing countries. India strongly objected to the US version
Bilateral tensions have increased over each side’s tariff policies. India has relatively high average tariff rates. The US increased tariff on Steel and Aluminium imports from twelve countries including India. The Indian government approached the WTO’s Dispute Settlement Body against the US move. The government’s stand is that use of the tariff against selected countries is a violation of the Most Favoured Nation clause of the WTO.
As a response to the US tariff on Steel and Aluminium, Commerce Ministry on June 20th notified tariff hike on twenty-nine US products, including almonds, apples and phosphoric acid etc. (worth $10 bn) in retaliation to the steel and aluminium tariff hikes by the US. At the same time, India reduced tariff on selected imports from India including that on few categories of bikes to defuse the trade tension. Perhaps the most devastating step by the Trump administration has been to put a curb on H1 B visas. A key issue for India is U.S. temporary visa policies, which affect Indian nationals working in the United States. India is challenging U.S. fees for worker visas in the WTO and monitoring potential U.S. action to revise the H-1B (specialized worker) visa program. Under its visa restrictions policies, the number of visas to be issued under H1B was reduced; Visa fees were doubled for H1B; Visa eligibility in terms of annual income raised; thereby reducing opportunities for India’s skilled Labour. It also stated that H1 B visas will be issued for single projects. After the completion of the project, the person would have to return without looking for any other job in the US. Further the qualification requirement was also changed such that a two-year degree/diploma was invalidated, and a four-year degree qualification was necessitated for the issue of H1B visas. All these steps hurting the operations of Indian IT firms in the US.
The United States continues to press India to address its “forced” localization practices, such as incountry data storage, domestic content, and domestic testing requirements—viewed by the United States as presenting barriers to trade with India. Adding to U.S. concerns are India’s new restrictive localization rules for certain financial data flows, which affect companies such as Visa and MasterCard. At the same time, India has moved to ease some local sourcing rules for singlebrand retailers, which would affect companies such as Apple. The US had taken India to the WTO’s Dispute Settlement Body against the limited
local sourcing requirement under the National Solar Mission and secured a favourable verdict. Later, the US alleged that India is not following the verdict and sought WTO’s permission for taking retaliatory measures.
India is continuously listed under the priority watch list in the US Intellectual Property documents that is prepared under the infamous Special 301 law. India is placed along with China and ten other countries. According to the US, countries in the list will be the subject of particularly intense bilateral engagement in future.
A surprising development is US policy on currency management. Here, the US included India under currency practices and macroeconomic policies monitoring list along with China, South Korea, Japan etc.
The US also raised objections at the WTO to the export incentives given by India arguing that India doesn’t qualify to provide export incentives allowable for low income developing countries. It stated that India’s GNI per capita income crossed $1000 for three consecutive years and hence the country is not eligible to provide export subsidies. The US objected to five export incentives given by India.
The United States and India trade on WTO terms, as they do not have a bilateral FTA. The United States and India often have opposing stances in the WTO, whose future direction is unclear amid debate over institutional reforms and future negotiations. India objected to the US stand of vetoing the appointment of judges to the WTO’s Dispute Settlement Body. India demanded that US should not block the running of the DSB and this is needed to protect the multilateralism-based governance of global trade. India and 37 other countries made a formal proposal for the appointment of the judges that has been blocked by the US. The US demanded changes in the functioning of the Appellate Body and demanded an amendment to the existing rule which allows judges to continue cases assigned to them before their terms ended.
Currently the United States and India are holding negotiations to address bilateral trade frictions. They reportedly are discussing a deal for U.S. reinstatement of GSP for India in exchange for certain market access commitments from India. Both are understood to have resolved most of the important trade issues, thus paving the way for an ‘initial trade package’ wherein the two countries are looking for an equitable market access.
However it would be unrealistic to hope that the United States and India might suddenly work together multilaterally on trade, which makes the bilateral trade relationship even more essential for resolving specific trade problems and generating productive dialogue going forward. Yes, the value of US-India bilateral trade and cross-border investments continues to grow—but this part of the relationship between the US and India remains unstable. It’s threatened by a range of risks, including regulatory trends that restrict economic integration and the threat of economic sanctions over India’s defense trade with Russia.
To shift toward stability, Washington and New Delhi will need to articulate a joint vision for a deeper, broader, and more integrated economic relationship
‘Red Tape Must Go’- Ramaphosa
As per a government statement released by the South African Department of Home Affairs, 75 countries on the African continent and abroad have been granted visa-free status, including the US, Canada, Cuba, and Qatar, but citizens of China, India, and Nigeria – three of the most populous countries in the world – still complete the visa process via mail, from the paper applications to the printed visa stickers.
Incidentally, that documentation needed to be obtained ahead of time too. These are not issued at South African ports of entry, and airline officials are obliged to insist on visas before allowing passengers to board,” the country’s official tourism site reads. If you arrive without a visa, immigration officials are obliged to put you onto a flight back to your home country. Other entry requirements include proof of funds to pay for your daily expenses, a valid yellow fever certificate if you’ve been travelling from or through an infected area, and at least two consecutive blank visa pages in your passport.
Last year, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasised the importance of luring visitors – both domestic and international – to the continent. “We have to marshal all the means at our disposal to show that we have what it takes to be that destination and to offer that experience that tourists want,” he said. “We must reduce the onerous and often unnecessary bureaucratic red tape that tourists who want to visit our countries face. South Africa is in the process of radically overhauling our visa dispensation for the rest of the world and introducing a world-class e-Visa system. The challenges are going to be ironed out.” FACT FILE South Africa e-Visa Soutth Affrriican Prressiidentt Cyrriill Ramaphossa COVER STORY
Online Visa Facility for Indians will Ease Travel to South Africa
Between long haul flights and the hardships of obtaining the requisite visas, getting to South Africa was a tricky proposition for tourists. However, it’s about to get a bit easier – for Indians, at least – with an online visa facility made operative last month. Ivor Vaz reports…
In an endeavour to stimulate the India tourism market and achieve its new milestone of doubling numbers by 2030, South African government announced an electronic visa application system (e-Visa) regime for the India market on a pilot basis. It has since begun processing visa applications online for Indian passengers from the third week of January.
Earlier in December 2019, the South African Department of Home Affairs (DHA) announced that it had officially begun testing its fledgling e-Visa system on an international scale with trials with visitors from Kenya.
According to South African Tourism Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi- Ngubane, who was in Mumbai as part of a road show to promote South African tourism in India, if the pilot project in India goes through without any glitch, a full rollout will take place from April 1, 2020.
“As soon as the e-Visa to South Africa will be approved, the traveller will be allowed to stay in South Africa for tourism purposes for a maximum period of 30 days for a single entry,” she informed. The online application process, said to take about 20 minutes, is aimed at
reducing administrative burdens. It will also save prospective travellers the stress of going to the South African embassy or consulate to obtain a visa.
“We are continuously monitoring this pilot process to ensure that user experience is not compromised. In early 2020, we’ll include India, China and Nigeria to the pilot, which will run until March 2020,” she added.
While emphasising the number of measures taken by her government to provide ease of access to Indian tourists, including bringing changes in the visa regime, Kubayi-Ngubane also said that the South African government was exploring the possibility of a third country air transport carrier being allowed to operate a direct flight to Mumbai from South Africa. The proposal in this regard is likely to be discussed with the Indian government soon. As things stand, currently, there is no direct flight service between India and South Africa. South African Airways had operated flights between Johannesburg and Mumbai.
As per South African Tourism Board estimates about 81,316 Indian visited the country as of October 2019. “There is a positive outlook for the Indian market,” the South African Tourism minister said. As of September 2019, total expenditure by Indian travellers in South Africa touched a four-year high. In the first half of 2019, average length of stay of travellers from India rose 8% on a year-on-year basis.
The African country is expecting the number of Indian arrivals to grow to one lakh in 2020. South Africa is also in talks with India for granting ‘multiple-entry visa’, the minister said.
The country is also looking to fast track the visa process of the Indian travellers who hold a US or Schengen visa by sharing data. While spelling out the new tourism policy, the African minister said that her country is looking to project South Africa as an favourite travel destination for Indians. “Our country has witnessed a 30.2% growth in tourists arrivals from India on a yearon- year basis and it could increase to 50% over a period of time,” the minister informed.
According to her, segments such as MICE and sports tourism would drive the growth, and that South Africa has also emerged as a wedding destination.
32 travel agents from the travel-trade industry and the media attended the session, wherein they discussed ideas on how they can push numbers from India.
‘Bilateral Trade is the Backbone of our Relationship with India’
In a no-holds-barred interview, Milan Hovorka, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to India, tells Ivor Vaz about the many factors that play a key role in strengthening the bonds between the two countries…
Relations between India and the Czech Republic date back to even before diplomatic relations were established in 1947. Could you describe how the partnership between both countries was formed?
I want to underline the point that you just made – the Czech Republic shares a traditional and longstanding partnership with India, dating back to decades ago. In fact, Czechoslovakia (as we were known back then, before the country split) was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with India in 1947. But foreign relations between the Czech Republic and India were established even earlier, with the opening of a Czech consulate in Mumbai in 1921.
‘Indology’ as a subject was founded in Czechoslovakia and the first Indo- Czech Association was founded by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose in 1934, even before WWII. Indian first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru has visited Czechoslovakia many times. When India got its independence, Czechoslovakia was one of the first countries to officially recognise the Republic of India and establish diplomatic relations. In 1964, an economic treaty was signed between the two governments on providing a loan to India for huge investment boost. In 1972, Prague hosted the visit of the Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Bilateral trade was growing and many Indian Presidents also visited Prague.
The beginning of the ‘90s saw some important milestones with India’s policy of opening up the economy to the outside world. At the same time in Czechoslovakia, we embarked upon the process of fundamental, social and economic changes. Even after the country split in two in 1993, high level visits between the Czech Republic and India have been maintained on a regular basis. Then came our membership in the European Union (2004), which represented another important impetus to strengthening our relations.
Thus, our bonds with India run deep, both in time and substance. As Ambassador of the Czech Republic to India, I am committed to strengthening our relations. I am very passionate in doing my utmost to take this relationship to a higher level.
How would you describe Indo-Czech relations today?
The partnership between Czech Republic and India is based on commonly shared devotion to the ideals of democracy, liberty and human rights – and is further cemented by mutual commitment to work together for common prosperity alongside joining hands with the international community to face global challenges of today’s world, such as climate change, terrorism, nuclear security, cyber security, migration and poverty. As Ambassador of the Czech Republic to India, I am very passionate in strengthening our relations. In general, we can say that Indo-Czech relations are entering a new phase of cooperation, and going from strength to strength, which is visible with increased strategic interaction and cultural diplomacy.
The Czech Republic one of the leading trading partners of India among the new member states of the European Union. How do you view the economic relationship between our countries?
Trade relations are the backbone of any strategic relationship in the modern world. Our economic and commercial ties date back to the beginning of the 20th century. For decades both India and the Czech Republic have continued efforts for strengthening these relations through frequent exchange of trade and business delegations. After the foundation of the Czech Republic, the economic relations between both the nations continue to flourish. Czech companies such as Skoda and Bata built more and more factories and are appreciated by Indians for their quality. In 2018, bilateral trade stood at US$ 1.5 billion, and it has been growing every year. Also I would like to point that the Czech Government ranks India among the 12 priority countries for promotion of mutual commercial investment. And that’s because we can perfectly relate to and understand each other very well. The Czech economy is doing extremely well, and with the combination of its investor-friendly policies, it is creating trade and investment opportunities, not only for domestic companies but for our foreign investors. The growth of the Indian economy is the reason why Czech exporters are finding a vast market in India to sell their goods. I am happy to see that on both sides we have companies that are ever so keen to strengthen existing ties and establish new businesses. It is a twoway avenue.
Can you elaborate?
Indian companies are doing
extremely well in the Czech Republic. I am pleased that a number of Indian companies have taken the decision to enter the Czech market and develop their business activities in various sectors, be it automobiles, textiles, food processing, pharmaceuticals or IT.
At the same time, we are following closely what is going on in India. We are considering ways and means how to be part of India’s vision here. Czech firms have participated in the development of India’s industrial potential, mainly by deliveries of equipment for the power industry, engineering and other sectors. Given the competence of Czech companies, we are seeking to establish to what extent can they fit the initiatives that have been put in place here – whether it is ‘Make in India’, ‘Smart Cities’, ‘Digital India’, ‘Green India’, start-ups, etc. These are all areas where we believe we can be very good partners to India. Importantly, Czech companies realise that India is a price sensitive country. And since Czech companies are price competitive, they have been able to strike a proper balance between quality and price.
There is one area of concern for me though. Quite often we import your products via intermediaries in European countries. The point I am making is: Why don’t we streamline bilateral relations? Why don’t we develop direct partners for India in the Czech Republic and vice versa? In today’s areas of global value chains, this is a critical factor.
Among the member states of the EU, your country has one of the lowest unemployment rates. Why is that?
We have a low unemployment rate because the Czech Republic belongs to the fastest growing economies in Europe today. It is one of the most industrialised countries, with the highest industry-to-GDP ratio (about 30%). And I believe that we have reached this level because we have been able to learn lessons from our past, which was not necessarily positive. But even in that period of transformation, we have been deploying tremendous efforts to encourage dialogue between different segments of the society, with employers on one side and employees on the other. Today, the Czech Republic has developed an advanced high-income social market economy and social policies that support a welfare state. Since the 1990s, the country has become the most stable and prosperous of the post-Communist states of Europe.
There is one more element which might be of interest to you. With ‘Make in India’, you are also making efforts to transform this country into a manufacturing hub. That is a good sign. If you have strong industrial fundamentals, you will be able to weather the consequences of any global economic crisis.
Despite having some world class universities, the number of overseas students is relatively low, especially Indian students. How are you planning to address this?
Today, the Czech Republic is an increasingly popular destination for international study, with over 42,000 foreign students currently enrolled at its universities. EU statistics released last year list our country as the one of the most popular study destination for students in Europe. There are certainly many perks for those choosing to study in the Czech Republic: well-esteemed universities, affordable tuition fees and living costs, and last but not least, a vibrant and colourful cultural life.
As Ambassador, I am taking important strides to promote Czech education. Only recently we organised a Higher Education Fair in New Delhi wherein seven Czech universities participated. The objective was to promote direct interaction with prospective Indian students. I am truly happy to see that many Indians are willing to make Czechia their study destination. This is the result of active promotion of university-to-university cooperation and mutual student exchanges. At this point I would like to mention that young Czechs can study Hindi, Sanskrit and Tamil in Prague at Charles University, the oldest university in the Central Europe, and that their Indian counterparts can learn the Czech language at the Department of Slavonic and Finno- Ugrian Studies at the University of Delhi.
On our webpage, we have a section dedicated to studying in the Czech Republic. It is very user-friendly. Interested students can easily identity the areas of their interest and explore possibilities. All in all, I believe we have a lot to offer. And I believe in the years to come we will have more students from India.
How about tourism? Are there plans to increase in footfalls of Indian tourists to the Czech Republic?
I can tell you that the numbers are growing. But first and foremost, we have to build the brand of the Czech Republic. How many people know that we have 12 UNESCO-listed World Heritage sites, often referred to as the 12 Czech Wonders of the World?
On its part, the Embassy actively promotes the Czech Republic as an ideal tourism destination for Indian tourists. Since my arrival, I opened several new Visa Application Centres. Earlier we had none. The decision to open new Visa Application Centres was taken in order to ensure a bigger comfort for visa applicants who had to travel all the way to the Embassy in Delhi. Today, we have Visa Application Centres in Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Kolkata. We plan to have a few more in the coming months. Also, I have established the practice of regular contact with local tour operators. We invite them to join us from time to time, to hear from them and get their feedback.
My one regret is there is no dedicated agency for Czech tourism in India today. But it is my endeavour to restore our tourism department to promote tourism on a day-to-day basis. Also, we don’t have direct flights between the two countries (though we did until the early ‘90s). But given the regular traffic comprising students, tourists, businesses, workforce and air cargo, I believe sooner than later the situation will correct itself.
Isn’t Bollywood tourism playing its part in upping the Czech impression?
Let me bring to your attention that we’ve had over 150 Hollywood films shot in the Czech Republic, including ‘Mission Impossible’.
However, I am Ambassador to India, and I would like to see more films from India shot in my country. Pease understand, I am talking not just about Bollywood, but also regional cinema. Indian cinema presents us a unique opportunity to showcase our country to a billion people. For us, it is not just about economic value, but it also benefits those who live in the areas where films are being shot.
Big ticket films like Rockstar, Bang Bang and Jab Harry Met Sejal have already been shot in Prague, and hopefully many more will be picturised there as well. We’ve had Bollywood superstars like Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka Sharma and Ranbir Kapoor visit our country to shoot. What better brand ambassadors can we ask for? These films and several others have played a very important role in showcasing the Czech Republic to Indian audiences, which, in turn, is a big driver for tourism.
I can’t let you go without you telling us something about your charismatic first President Václav Havel. He is, after all, one of the rare recipients of two prestigious Indian awards – the Mahatma Gandhi Peace Prize and the Indira Gandhi Peace Prize…
President Václav Havel was a Czech writer, philosopher and statesman, and is considered to be one of the most important intellectuals of the 20th century. From 1989 to 1992, he served as the last President of Czechoslovakia. He then served as the first President of the Czech Republic (1993–2003). He visited India twice – in 1994 and 2004. On the last occasion, he was awarded the Mahatma Gandhi Peace Prize by the Government of India for his outstanding contribution towards world peace and upholding human rights, and for keeping alive the flame of democracy when his country was under communist rule. Upon his death, the international airport in Prague was renamed to Václav Havel Airport in 2012. If you look at the Embassy’s Facebook profile, you will see a beautiful picture of President Havel with India’s then President, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who was an inspirational leader as well. Even so, I believe, in his lifetime, President Havel did a lot for our country and for the community of democratic states to which both India and the Czech Republic definitely belong.
Ireland The New Hotspot For Indian Students
Education isn’t a preparation for your life – it’s an indistinguishable part of life itself. And nowhere is this truer than in Ireland, where time spent in the classroom is just the starting point of a journey towards a fuller, rounder, more interested and more interesting individual, finds Ivor Vaz
A RECENT SURVEY has indicated that the number of international students travelling to Ireland for higher education has grown exponentially, with China the most popular country of origin, and with India, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Canada and the USA also among other significant contributors to inbound student traffic.
Irish universities have dedicated more resources to promoting themselves abroad as a destination for international students in recent years. Non-European Economic Area (EEA) students pay higher fees, generally of between €9,000 and €25,000, but for some courses such as medicine as much as €54,000 a year. The number of international students coming to Ireland increased by 45 per cent between in the last five years, according to the new report, which was conducted by the European Migration Network, which is part of the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) think tank.
The Irish Government invests over 782 million annually in research in Ireland’s higher education institutions. The impact of this funding is that Ireland’s higher education institutions now lead the world in an increasing number of fields.
Irish universities are in the top 1% of research institutions in the world in terms of research impact in 19 fields, spanning natural sciences, social sciences and the humanities. This creates a unique opportunity for you at undergraduate and postgraduate level to join research programmes that are driving innovation and changing lives worldwide.
Ireland is emerging as a top destination for Indian students going to study abroad. There are already over 2,000 Indian students in Ireland and the figures are going up every year. The biggest advantage Ireland has is that it’s an English speaking nation. It lies in the heart of the Eurozone. Ireland also has a large number of top globally recognised institutions that offer courses in different disciplines including science, technology, engineering, medicine, business and finance, which are a big draw for Indians.
Most importantly, despite being very high quality, education in Ireland is value for money. Average tuition fee for undergraduate and postgraduate courses for non-European students range from €8,000- 30,000 while cost of living varies between €6,000-10,000 per year. While cost of education is lower for Indian students in Ireland than many other international destinations, another advantage is that they can choose to stay back for one year after completing their course. This gives them a chance to look for jobs. Further, Indian students in Ireland can work up to 20 hours a week
A PLETHORA OF STUDY OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM
Regardless of what you’re looking to study, from Humanities to Engineering, there’s an Irish institution that can match your curriculum to perfection. So, no matter what your chosen subject may be, studying in Ireland increases your options of where you’d like to write the next chapter of your learning story.
A real strength of the system in Ireland lies in the fact that its higher education institutes (HEIs) are not only dedicated to academic excellence but are highly innovative. Continuous innovation in higher education has been an important driver of Ireland’s knowledge based economy, which has led Ireland to being the fastest growing economy in Europe. Recently the UN’s Global Innovation Index named Ireland as one of the most innovative economies in the world. Ireland’s rapid rise in world rankings for Research and Development is notable. In 19 fields of research, Irish universities are in the top 1% in the world. For example, Ireland is ranked second in the world for nanotechnology, second for immunology, second for chemistry, third for agricultural sciences and fourth in the world for mathematics.A network of applied research centres within Ireland’s higher education system, as well as a robust PhD framework play important roles in fostering continuous innovation.
Creativity and innovation is part of the Irish culture. The Irish entrepreneurial spirit has been an important driver in Ireland’s transformation into a high tech, knowledge based economy. Ireland has the fastest growing economy in the European Union. Its world class education institutions have shown the ability to deliver ‘employment-ready’ skills so students can transition smoothly into the workplace.
ADVANTAGE OF TWO-YEAR STAY-BACK OPTION
A key advantage of studying in Ireland is that students at post-graduate level can avail of a two-year ‘stayback’ option after completing their course. At a time when other countries are tightening their visa rules for international students and graduates, Ireland has taken the opposite approach. Last month the Irish government announced an extension to its Third Level Graduate Scheme, for non-EU/EEA students at post graduate level.
This new permission is expected to double the ‘stay back option’ for Masters and PhD students from 12 months to 24 months. It will also allow eligible graduates to remain in Ireland for a further two years to seek employment. This is a very welcome development and a key element of Ireland’s international education strategy. Highly skilled international graduates can make a significant contribution to Ireland’s talent pool and Ireland can provide international students with a highly desirable start for their own careers.
The stay-back option guarantees post graduate students the opportunity to remain in Ireland, after their studies, for a period of two years to seek employment in dynamic sectors such as ICT, bio-pharma, engineering, medical devices, food science and financial services. The possibility of gaining valuable post-study work experience makes Ireland a very compelling option for the Indian students.With over 1,000 multinationals based in Ireland, the country offers exciting career opportunities for talented graduates.
ROOTED IN THE PAST, FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
The romantic image of Ireland is still very much alive and well. But side-by-side with it sits a modern European nation that is a magnet for both financial services and IT, with most of the biggest companies/brands in the world, from Google, Facebook, Pfizer, Genzyme, PayPal, Apple, Intel, Hewlett Packard, LinkedIn and Twitter, having their European HQ here. With one of the youngest and best-educated workforces in the world, Ireland is also a major innovation hub and a breeding ground for new start-ups and for Research & Development.
Ireland’s young and multicultural population revels in living in one of the most dynamic and forward-looking counties in Europe. The new, modern Ireland vibrates with a sense of curiosity that powers its economy and shapes its society, giving rise to one of the most dynamic of European countries in the arts, music, culture, and emerging technologies.
It’s a huge understatement to say that travel broadens the mind. Studying and living in a foreign environment will challenge your worldview, and introduce you to new people, a new culture, and a whole new world of diverse sights and spectacles. No matter how short your stay in Ireland may be, you’re guaranteed to leave Irish shores with stories, experiences and memories that will last you a lifetime.
Long Tradition in Education Excellence
Ireland’s longstanding reputation for high quality education is built on a solid foundation of commitment to excellence. Today we have one of the best education systems in the world and an internationally renowned reputation for academic quality.
34 higher education institutions in Ireland offer an extensive range of over 5000 programmes leading to internationally recognised, quality assured qualifications. International students can choose to meet their education needs in highly respected business schools, centres of scientific and technology excellence as well as renowned language, humanities and arts faculties during their courses and 40 hours during vacation.
Ireland is also home to a fairly large population of Indian professionals and overseas Indians. There is an Indian community in Ireland which is over 25,000-strong. Many Indians have done very well as doctors and medical professionals, and there is a growing number of successful Indian IT professionals as well. Indian professionals receive among the largest number of work permits issued by the Irish government. Besides, there is a policy of encouraging Indian entrepreneurs to set up shop in Ireland.
Not only does Ireland have a large number of world-class colleges and universities, there are also various niche institutes and courses which have become very popular among Indians including those in cloud computing, data analytics and different specialisations in finance. Graduate and postgraduate courses in Ireland are well connected to industry, and students get a lot of opportunities to join top global companies and startups for internships and jobs. Educational institutions in Ireland have strong industry linkages for research and business collaborations. These are a big support for students in their career and future path. A number of leading international companies have set up operations in Ireland, providing employment opportunities to several international students on completion of their courses.
Besides, many scholarships are available for international students. Among some of the prominent scholarships, Trinity College Dublin offers €5,000 to undergraduates, University College Dublin is providing 100% tuition fee for masters programmes and 50% tuition fee for one-year master programmes, National University
of Ireland, Galway, is offering €2,750 for undergraduate and postgraduate merit scholarships each, and National College of Ireland is offering €2,950 for master programmes and €2,000 for undergraduates applicants.
Ireland is also where some of the world’s biggest and best companies have located key strategic research facilities. And in Ireland, you’ll find a unique ecosystem that sees academic researchers working hand-inhand with small home-grown and start-up companies in partnership with some of the most powerful multinationals on the planet through a programme for shared research projects developed by Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland.
One thing is for sure, students and parents who are looking at study abroad options should certainly consider Ireland as a destination. Students will experience one of the friendliest and most welcoming countries in the world. It’s an experience that is truly life-changing. In the words of Ireland’s own most famous poet, W.B. Yeats, education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire. Truer words were seldom spoken!
Global Economic Situation Offers Huge Opportunities To India: USIBC
President of US-India Business Council (USIBC) Nisha Desai Biswal has said India should present its growth vision and why businesses should look to invest in the country at a time when the global economy is beset with challenges.Citing media reports of challenges facing the Indian as well as the global economy, Biswal said the same challenges could be seen as opportunities. She lauded the recent reforms announced by Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, saying they would address concerns about flagging FDI and make the country attractive for investments.”The recent economic reforms announced (in India) have assured global investors that the Modi government is very seized with managing this economy and bringing India back into a more robust growth scenario,” she said.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit the US later this month. Biswal, 55, said the USIBC members are eager to hear from him.”There’s a great deal of hope and expectation that Prime Minister (Modi) with the robust mandate that he has and with his track record for being able to make bold, decisive moves – which we’ve seen on a number of different fronts – India will be able to come out of this in a much stronger position,” said Biswal.
She further added “The (next) six to 12 months are going to be really critical. You have a UK that right now is very focused on Brexit. What the impact of Brexit is going to be on the UK economy… There is some economic uncertainty in other major markets as well,” Though India can benefit from the changing global markets, Biswal noted, it can do so with major reforms.”India has an opportunity to take the broader challenges that are besetting the global economy and say, ‘here’s what we are doing’ and articulate a very clear and compelling vision to attract investment,” she added. Biswal said some of the protectionist elements in Indian policies could be looked into.
She lauded the recent reforms announced by Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, saying they would address concerns about flagging FDI and make the country attractive for investments.”But what investors are looking for is a certainty and stability of economic policies that project the vision for India’s economy over the next five years and beyond. In this more volatile global climate, investors are looking for a safe harbour for their investment,” Biswal said.
India, she asserted, needs to project a strong and consistent policy direction that will guide it over the next five years.It needs to create policy and regulatory coherence.Biswal said government reforms should be implemented with great coherence to ensure separate policies are not clashing with each other.” That policy stability and coherence will reassure investors and attract for investment,” she said. She observed more topdown direction and coordination across the board would reassure the global investor community that India is the bet for the long-term that they should be making right now.” While we’re still not quite there, I think some really important positive steps have been announced over the past two weeks,” Biswal said.
Observing that the Indian economy is driven by domestic consumption, Biswal said now was the time for the country to foster export-oriented growth”India would benefit from a more open and liberalised trade policy that allows companies to make in India and export globally that eases restrictions on local content. I think India is taking some steps on that. I know that they announced 100 per cent FDI in contract manufacturing. I think that’s a big step,” Biswal said.