February 2010
Note: Official materials relating to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Saudi Arabia from 27 February to 1 March 2010 were covered as a special issue of India Speaks.
Political Issues
Bahrain
Bahrain supports India-Pakistan talks
New Delhi, Tuesday, 16 February 2010
Bahrain which has friendly ties with India and Pakistan, welcomed their move to hold Foreign Secretary level talks on February 25. Minister of Foreign Affairs Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa observed that even if all issues were not covered, the two neighbours should ‘engage and warm up’ their relationship. He further stated that a serious commitment from both parties was essential and that terrorists and enemies of these countries were the beneficiaries of an impasse between India and Pakistan. The prospects of better bilateral relations between Bahrain and India had also been expressed by the Minister.
Israel
No Israelis hurt in India Blast
Saturday, 13 February 2010
At least nine people were killed and nearly 50 were injured in an explosion at the German Bakery in the western city of Pune. The café is located on the same street as the Pune Chabad House. The Chabad House director Rabbi Bezalel Kupchik said that no Israelis or Jews were in the bakery at the time of the blast and that there were no Jewish victims in the local hospitals.
‘We are not frightened, there is no anti-Semitism in India’
Monday, 15 February 2010
The terror bombing of German Bakery in the Indian city of Pune has rekindled concern for safety of Israelis and Jews in the subcontinent especially after the November 2008, Mumbai attacks. The bombing in Pune is believed to be the work of Pakistan based terrorist groups and it might have intended to include the Chabad House down the street from the bombed bakery. The Chabad House Director Rabbi Bezalel Kupchik believed that India was a country without any anti-Semitism and that a terrorist attack could happen anywhere. They also added that the bombing would not scare them away.
India, Israel vow to enhance cooperation in combating terror
Friday, 19 February 2010
India and Israel have vowed to enhance cooperation in combating terrorism. During his visit to Israel Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jyotiraditya Scindia expressed that India could benefit from advanced Israeli homeland security systems. During his meeting with the Indian leader President Shimon Peres offered his country’s cooperation in fighting terrorism.
Krishna to seek closer ties with Kuwait
Kuwait, Thursday, 04 February 2010
External Affairs Minister S M Krishna visited Kuwait to give an impetus to energy ties, foster closer relationship with the Gulf country and tap its surplus funds for India’s infrastructure sector. Kuwait has been one of India’s key energy suppliers. Krishna held talks with the Kuwaiti leaders to boost the ties and explored areas like joint production of fertilisers. Discussions also covered regional scenario in Pakistan and Afghanistan, developments in Iran, Iraq and Middle East Peace Process, reforms in UN Security Council.
Palestine
Manmohan, Abbas discuss fresh bid to open peace talks
New Delhi, Friday, 12 February 2010
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met the visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and discussed fresh efforts to initiate the Middle East peace process. The two sides exchanged views on Abbas’ meeting with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia late last year and the need for greater international effort to restart the Israeli-Palestinian talks.
Gilani likens Kashmir to Palestine
Islamabad, Saturday, 13 February 2010
Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani equated the Kashmir issue with the Palestine problem and claimed that peace would remain elusive in South Asia and the Middle East unless they are resolved. According to him, people of Palestine and Kashmir are fighting for their right of self determination. Gilani assured visiting Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas that Pakistan would continue to support the Palestinian people towards realizing their right of self-determination and sovereign state.
Turkey agrees to work closely with India on global terrorism
New Delhi, Wednesday, 10 February 2010
India and Turkey unveiled a joint declaration on terrorism, wherein Ankara has agreed to recognize the need for the conclusion of India-initiated Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT). Both countries agreed to work towards developing an action plan with timelines and specific measures in tandem with existing structures like Joint Working Group against Terrorism.
The acquiescence of Turkey on CCIT is considered significant by India, because of Turkey’s membership of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC). India feels that the CCIT once adopted and finalised would be an important contribution against terrorism. Besides this, bilateral issues between the two countries and possibilities of a free trade agreement were discussed in the meetings Turkish President Abdullah Gul had with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister S M Krishna.
Energy Issues
Can’t wait indefinitely on pipeline project: Iran
New Delhi, Wednesday, 10 February 2010
Iran hoped that India would join the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline project soon but pointed out that there should be time limits to arrive at a decision. Speaking to the journalists on the 31st anniversary of victory of Islamic Revolution Iran’s Ambassador to India Syed Mehdi Nabizadeh said that the negotiations on IPI are still alive. He further pointed out that the discussions on the pipeline had been on for fifteen years and that Iran could not wait indefinitely.
India stopped attending trilateral meetings since 2007 and has not engaged with Iran bilaterally for over a year. The requirements from the Indian side are an Iranian guarantee of uninterrupted supply of gas via Pakistan and a stable pricing mechanism. Further, Nabizadeh expressed that important role India and Iran could play in stabilizing Afghanistan.
OIL-IOC combine launches hydrocarbon hunt in Libya
Kolkata, Thursday, 4 February 2010
The consortium of Oil India Ltd and Indian Oil began drilling in five onshore blocks in Libya in January. They acquired the five exploratory blocks in Area 86 and 102 during bidding rounds in 2004 and 2005 respectively. Besides exploratory interests, the OIL-IOC duo has numerous non-operating interests in different places.
India’s BPCL buys Algeria, Libya crude oil sources
New Delhi/London, Tuesday, 16 February 2010
Bharat Petroleum Corporation bought one million barrels each of Algerian and Libyan crude for oil loading in April. BPCL being India’s second largest refiner, operating several crude processing units including Mumbai and Kerala bought nearly three million barrels of crude oil in March.
Economic Issues
India-Arab trade to double by ’14: Sharma
New Delhi, Tuesday, 9 February 2010
India has expressed hope that bilateral trade and investment ties between India and the Gulf region would double from the current turnover of US$ 114 billion. Speaking at the Second India-Arab Investment Projects Conclave Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma exclaimed that based on India’s high domestic consumption and demand, the economy is expected to grow by 7.5 percent this fiscal year. An early conclusion of the India – Gulf Cooperation Council Free Trade Agreement was advocated for by Shashi Tharoor, Minister of State for External Affairs, to boost bilateral economic engagement.
Israel
India, Israel to hold free-trade talks
Friday, 26 February 2010
India and Israel feel that the time is ripe to formalise trade. The sides are beginning negotiations on a free trade agreement. A new agreement would expand bilateral trade to commodities, investments and services rather than focusing only on certain sectors. Jyotiraditya Scindia, India’s Minister of State for Commerce and Industry made these observations following his meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres in Jerusalem. Water technology, biotechnology and nanotechnology were identified as key areas in which collaboration could be expanded.
United Arab Emirates
UAE investment house sells 13% in Spicejet
New Delhi, Friday, 05 February 2010
The UAE-based investment house Istithmar PJSC has sold most of its entire 13.39 percent holding worth Rs 1.690 billion in India’s domestic carrier Spicejet. Istithmar still holds about $12 million worth of foreign currency convertible bonds (FCCBs). The Dubai liquidity crunch was the prime reason for the company to sell its stakes.
CIAL to join hands with UAE airports for business models
Nedumbassery, Sunday, 14 February 2010
Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) is set to join hands with two international airports in the UAE. CIAL is in consultations with the Ras-al-Khaimah and the Fujairah international airports with regard to infrastructure development and resource optimisation. Preliminary round of discussions with either airport managements were held in the Dubai Air Show. The CIAL team also had discussions with five other international carriers and corporate investor companies.
ITC plans to enter UAE food market through partnership: Report
Dubai, Wednesday, 24 February 2010
Based on a news report, ITC a multi business conglomerate is planning to enter the food market of the United Arab Emirates and Gulf Cooperation Council through a partnership with the Al Seer group. The products ITC plans to market include wheat biscuits, cookies, crackers, candies, etc. A range of confectionary products were displayed by ITC in the Dubai World Trade Centre.
India is top export market for Dubai for second year
Dubai, Wednesday, 24 February 2010
India had topped the list of export markets for Dubai for the second consecutive year with a share of 40.6 percent or 21.3 billion dirham with India begin the largest market for gold. Switzerland comes next to India, followed by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Iran
Indian banks’ exposure to Dubai World limited: RBI
Dubai, Wednesday, 24 February 2010
The exposure of Indian banks to crisis-hit Dubai is estimated to be around US$ 275-300 million and is said to not have any material impact on sector’s performance this year. K C Chakrabarty, Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India observed that effective measures have been taken by the Gulf country’s government and Central Bank to mitigate the impact of global crisis on UAE and Dubai. A reciprocal relationship is noticed between banks based in India and UAE to establish their respective branches.
Indian expats in UAE feel ignored and neglected
Abu Dhabi, Saturday, 27 February 2010
India’s federal budget for the fiscal year 2010 did not do much for the Non-Resident Indians. According to Sudhir Shetty, Chief Operating Officer of UAE exchange, the budget states that foreign investment norms would be simplified but gave no details. However, the budget of Reserve Bank of India mentioned about considering banking licenses to private operators. There was no mention of NRIs in the budget and that the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has neglected the NRI community, Shetty complained.
Miscellaneous
‘Khan’ is overseas king
Monday, 22 February 2010
Karan Johar’s latest film My Name is Khan starring Shah Rukh Khan has become a global phenomenon. It has broken the record for the biggest initial for a Bollywood movie in the UAE. It is also the first Hindi film to release in Egypt across eight theatres. Similar stories have been recorded across Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. More prints of the movie have been demanded in the Middle East – Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar following the overwhelming collections in the UAE
Two Iranian women get bail
Bangalore, Wednesday, 24 February 2010
A magistrate’s court ordered the conditional release of two Iranian women, arrested on charges of assaulting a traffic policeman and damaging equipment of a media crew after being stopped for driving under the influence of alcohol and without a valid driving license. The two women Azara Fasle Khode and Farima Fatima were granted bail on a surety of Rs 25,000 each by the court of the XI Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate.
Qatar Airways launches Doha-Bengaluru service
Mumbai, Wednesday, 24 February 2010
Qatar Airways launched a direct air service between Doha and Bengaluru to cater to travellers in the city. Following the introduction of this service, the airline has increased the frequency of it’s in and out of India flight to 71 a week spread across eleven destinations.
Husain has accepted Qatar citizenship, says son
Mumbai, Saturday, 27 February 2010
India’s celebrated artist Maqbool Fida Husain has accepted Qatar’s offer of an honorary citizenship, his son Owais Husain told media. M F Husain has been living abroad as a fugitive since 2006. He has dozens of lawsuits against him across the country for his paintings of goddesses that some Hindus find sacrilegious. He still faces threats from fringe groups in the Hindu right. After Qatar had extended the citizenship offer, several of his fans and noted artists demanded that the Indian Government must facilitate his return.
Note: Materials relating to M F Husain controversy is available in the 3 March 2010 issue of India Digest and can be accessed here.
Smruthi R is a Graduate Student at the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views/position of the MEI@ND. Editor, MEI@ND: P R Kumaraswamy
