PM Modi visit to Belgium, USA and Saudi Arabia – An Overview
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on a 3 nation tour to Belgium, United States and Saudi Arabia from Aprch 30, 2016 to April 3, 21016.
VISIT TO BELGIUM
In the first part of tour he visited Brussels, the capital of Belgium to restart and expedite talks on a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty and an extradition treaty to fight terrorism.
Invitation to Belgian Companies -There he invited the Belgian
government and companiesto take part in India’s ambitious projects, including Digital
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India, Start Up India and Skill India.
EU-India Summit
The 13th Summit between the European Union and India took place in Brussels on 30 Aprch 2016.
Key Highlights of Summit:
• The summit has endorsed the “EU-India Agenda for Action 2020” as a common road map for the strategic partnership in the next five years.
• New resolve to work together to reduce tensions in the geographic neighbourhood through dialogue and coordination.
• A ministerial conference to be held in Brussels and Heart of Asia Conference to be held in New Delhi later this year will focus international efforts to bring peace and development.
VISIT TO USA
As a second part of his tour, he arrived Washington on Aprch 31st, to attend the two-day Nuclear Security Summit (NSS).
2016 Nuclear Security Summit
It was held in Washington, D.C. This was the fourth edition of the conference. It is an initiative of President Barack Obama to coordinate international efforts to prevent terror organizations from acquiring nuclear weapons or material.
• This is the last summit under President Barack Obama’s Presidency.
Participants – Leaders from more than 50 countries and 4 international organizations – European Union, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Interpol and UN.
• PM Modi presented the national progress report outlining the measures being taken by New Delhi for strengthening nuclear security and safety of nuclear technologies and devices.
NaMo announced n – security plans in the US as a part of the Summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced several key initiatives taken in the area of nuclear security and non-proliferation. It includes the following:
• Countering nuclear smuggling and deployment of technology to deter nuclear terrorism.
• Strengthening of national detection architecture for nuclear and radioactive material.
• Dedicated counter-nuclear smuggling team has been set up.
• India will support the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) by a further contribution of USD 1 million to the nuclear security fund.
• A workshop with IAEA experts on International Physical Protection Assessment Service (IPPAS) will be held in India.
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• India will host a meeting of the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism in2017.
Indo – US MoU for LIGO project
India and the US on inked MoU for setting up a new Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) in India that will act as catalyst in the research of various aspects ofgravitational wave astronomy.
VISIT TO SAUDI ARABIA
As a third part of his tour, he arrived in Saudi Arabia. This is the first prime ministerial visit to the oil-rich Gulf kingdom after former PM Manmohan Singh in 2010. He held talks on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest with the Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
• PM Modi interacted with Saudi women IT professionals at the first of its kind all women TCS training center in Riyadh. TCS established the first all women Business Process Services (BPS) centre in Riyadh in 2013.
5 MoUs were signed between India and Saudi Arabia
• Labour Co-operation – It was signed for Recruitment of General Category Workers.
• Technical Cooperation Program – It was signed between the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO).
• Executive Program for Cooperation in the Field of Handicrafts – Signed b/w Export Promotion Council for Handicraft (EPCH) of India and Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage.
• Cooperation in the Exchange of Intelligence – Signed between Financial Intelligence Unit of both nations to cooperate on concerns related to Money Laundering, Terrorism Financing and Related Crimes.
• Framework for Investment Promotion Cooperation – Signed between Invest India and the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA).
NaMo Conferred with Saudi Arabia’s highest Civilian order
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was bestowed with Saudi Arabia’s highest civilian order award dubbed King Abdulaziz Sash. The honour was named after Abdulaziz Al Saud, the founder of the modern Saudi state.
• The honour was presented by King Salman bin Abdulaziz at the Royal Court where they held extensive talks on a range of bilateral, regional and international issues.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley visit to US
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on a 10-day itinerary to the US to attend the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, a UN session on the drugs problem, and an interaction with American investors.
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• He was accompanied by Reserve Bank of India Governor RaghuramRajan and Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian and some Indian Delegations.
FM ArunJaitley addresses World Bank in Washington:
• In the 93rd meeting of Development Committee of the World Bank in Washington Finance Minister Arun Jaitley emphasized that India has shaped itself a favourable investment across all sectors which has resulted in an immense increase in FDI in the last couple of years.
Sixth Annual Ministerial Meeting of India- US Economic and Financial Partnership (EFP):
The meeting aims to form a Financial Action Task Force (FATF) must safeguard effective
implementation of legislation relating to terrorist financing and take solid action against countries sponsoring terrorism and hosting terrorist infrastructure.
• Arun Jaitley participated in the Sixth Annual Ministerial Meeting of India and US Economic & Financial Partnership.
• The two sides pledged resolve bilateral tax disputes between the United States and India.
India joins G20 in fighting tax evasion, terror funding
• India has joined the G20 leadership in fighting money laundering, tax evasion and terror financing.
• It intend with all the tax havens to become transparent in this regard and share information.
• To improve transparency in the global financial system and also to prevent the misuse of such entities for illegal acts such as corruption, tax evasion, terror financing and money laundering.
• All countries including India’s jurisdictions must become members of the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering that was established at the 1989-G7 Summit in Paris.
India’s Black Money:
With no official data about the quantum of black money stashed away by its nationals abroad, but unofficial estimates are between $466 billion and $1.4 trillion.
Sushma Swaraj on 4-day visit to Iran, Moscow
External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on a line of travel of two-nation (Moscow, Iran) visit, during which she will be present at the annual foreign ministers meeting of Russia, India and China.
Iran’s Visit:
The Foreign Minister’s Iran visit is aimed at stepping up commitment in a range of areas
including oil and trade as the strategically important Persian Gulf nation is now ready to resume business as usual after lifting of sanctions under a historic nuclear deal.
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• After P5 nations sanctions against Iran, India has been eying deeper energy ties with that country and has already lined up 20 billion US dollar as investment in oil and gas also in petrochemical and fertilizer projects in Iran.
• In the Iranian Capital Tehran she will hold extensive talks with her counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif.
• She also met Iran President Rouhani who has assured that his country can be areliable partner for India’s energy needs. Improving energy support was the centerpiece of her visit to the powerful Persian Gulf nation.
Moscow’s Visit:
After Iran she will leave for a two-day trip to Moscow to attend the annual Foreign Ministers’
meeting of Russia, India and China.On the sidelines of event Swaraj is expected to meet her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi during which she is likely to raise the issue of China blocking India’s bid to ban Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar by the UN.
Finalisation of Trilateral Chabahar Agreement
In the second meeting from India, Afghanistan and Iran was held in New Delhi to make a call on the text of the Trilateral Agreement among the three countries on Transport and Transit Corridors (Chabahar Agreement).
Chabahar Agreement:
• The agreement emphasizes a trilateral cooperation for providing alternative access to seas to Afghanistan, inter alia for Afghanistan’s trade with India.
• It will considerably improve utilization of Chabahar Port, back to economic growth of Afghanistan, and facilitate better regional connectivity, including between India and connections to Afghanistan and Central Asia.
President embarks on two nation tour to Papua New Guinea and New Zealand President Pranab Mukherjee boards 5 day visit on two nation-tour to Papua New Guinea and New Zealand accompanies by Minister of State for Agriculture Sanjeev KuApr Balyan and Parliamentary Delegates
Visit to Papua New Guinea
First ever state visit of the President of India to Papua New Guinea and New Zealand which is expected to sign bilateral relations of India
• President Pranab Mukherjee arrives in Papua New Guinea and meet the Governor General and Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea
Events:
• Discourse a business event and an Indian community event
• Speech at Papua New Guinea University
Purpose of Visit: Part of India’s growing engagement with Pacific Island countries
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In 2015, Prime Minister of the Papua New Guinea visited India following the visit of the speaker of the Papua New Guinea Parliament in 2013.
MoU between India and Papua New Guinea and approved by Cabinet Minister Cabinet approves MoU between India and Papua New Guinea on cooperation in the field of health area and medical science
• Cooperation between the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare of India and the Ministry of Health and HIV/AIDS of the Papua New Guinea
• Enhance bilateral ties between India and Papua New Guinea
Singed four MoUs in myriad sectors to boost ties in following Sectors
• Agriculture, Health, Information Technology and Infrastructure India offers $100 million for infrastructure fund
India awarded $100 million line of credit for development of infrastructureand acceded to jointly develop new avenues of cooperation to explore and develop the Pacific nation’s vast oil and gas resources.
Visit to New Zealand:
President Pranab Mukherjee arrives New Zealand and meets Government General, Prime Minister and leader of the opposition.
Events:
• Addressing the gathering of top business men, Students
• Meeting the Indian Community
India inks agreements and MoUs with New Zealand
• Air Connectivity and Education
• Bilateral relation
Most of the India’s energy trade occurs through the sea lanes of Indian as well as Pacific Ocean.