POLITICAL ISSUES
IRAN
1. India to make May-July oil payments to Iran – sources
New Delhi, Wednesday, 23 April 2014
India is set to pay Iran US$1.65 billion over the next three months for its oil payment in the light of the interim nuclear deal. This deal eases sanctions on Tehran and gives it access to US$4.2 billion in blocked funds.
Source Reuters, UK

IRAQ
2. Iraq will not sell crude to India at a special price: Shahristani
Mumbai, Tuesday, 8 April 2014
Iraq has ruled out offering any special price to India because its laws do not allow it. India imports about 20 million tons of crude oil from Iraq annually and the government is keen to increase this to meet demand from new refineries. After Saudi Arabia, Iraq is the second-largest oil supplier.
Source The Indian Express, Mumbai

3. India and Iraq consider local currencies as medium of exchange after rupee decline
New Delhi, Tuesday, 8 April 2014
Owing to the decline in the value of rupee and volatile exchange rate, India is looking for a possibility to trade with Iraq in domestic currencies, Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma said.
Source The Indian Express, Mumbai

SAUDI ARABIA
4. India to Discuss Domestic Workers’ Issue in Saudi Arabia
New Delhi, Wednesday, 30 April 2014
Indian officials meet Saudi Deputy Labour Minister for International Affairs Ahmed Al-Fahaid and discussed legal modalities of a framework mechanism to address disputes arising between domestic workers and their employers in Saudi Arabia.
Source The New Indian Express, Chennai

ECONOMIC ISSUES
OMAN
5. Oman keen to buy 20 per cent stake in Petronet's LNG terminal
New Delhi, Wednesday, 2 April 2014
Oman is keen to buy up to a 20 per cent stake in Petronet LNG Ltd's Rs 5,000 crore LNG import terminal on the east coast, Omani oil minister Mohammed bin Hamad Al Rumhy said.
Source The Economic Times, New Delhi

6. HSBC Holdings says HSBC Bank Oman to sell India business
Doha, Wednesday, 16 April 2014
HSBC Bank Oman is selling its business in India. All employees in business are expected to transfer to Doha bank as part of sale.
Source Reuters, UK

7. Doha Bank to purchase HSBC Bank Oman business in India
Dubai, Saturday, 19 April 2014
Qatar-based Doha Bank has entered into an agreement with HSBC Bank Oman to purchase the latter's banking business in India.
Source The Economic Times, New Delhi

8. JSPL invests US$800 million in Oman Steel Plant
Kolkata, Tuesday, 29 April 2014
Jindal Steel and Power Limited group (JSPL) has commissioned a two-million ton steel plant in Sohar, Oman at an investment of US$800 million. The Greenfield unit, which is part of Jindal Shaheed Iron & Steel, is one of the largest steel plants in the Gulf region.
Source The Economic Times, New Delhi

MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES
LIBYA
9. Over 100 Indian firms in Libya trade fair seeking business
Tripoli, Tuesday, 1 April 2014
Over 100 Indian companies are taking part in the Tripoli International Fair, looking for business in health, education, IT, training, infrastructure, oil and gas, power and renewable energy in the North Africa nation.
Source Business Standard, New Delhi

OMAN
10. India increases Omani student scholarships
Dubai, Tuesday, 1 April 2014
India has increased the number of scholarships offered to Omani students under a bilateral assistance programme to 150 seats.
Source The Hindu, Chennai

12. Oman-based Indian spreads awareness about global warming
Dubai, Wednesday, 2 April 2014
An Indian man in Oman took up the challenge to go on an expedition to Antarctica even though he did not have enough financial backing to spread awareness about Global warming.
Source Business Standard, New Delhi

COMPILED BY MANJARI SINGH

Manjari Singh is a doctoral candidate in School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Email

As part of its editorial policy, the MEI@ND standardizes spelling and date formats to make the text uniformly accessible and stylistically consistent. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views/positions of the MEI@ND. Editor, MEI@ND: P R Kumaraswamy