POLITICAL RELATIONS
EGYPT
1. Envoy hails India-Egypt bilateral, trade links
Cairo, Tuesday, 21 October 2014
Noting that the bilateral trade between the two countries has reached US$ 4.94 billion in 2013-2014, Indian ambassador to Egypt Navdeep Suri lauded the vibrant economic and political relationship between India and Egypt.
Source: Business Standard, New Delhi

IRAN
2. Indian government plans for first reverse SEZ in Iran
Mumbai, Friday, 10 October 2014
The first reverse Special economic zone (SEZ) project, a concept through which Indian chemical and petrochemical companies will be encouraged to set up plants in other countries to manufacture basic raw materials, is likely to come up in Iran.
Source: Business Standard, New Delhi

3. Cabinet approves Iran port project
New Delhi, Sunday, 19 October 2014
The Union cabinet gave its approval to India’s participation in the Chabahar port project in Iran.
Source: The Hindu, Chennai

4. India prepares to pay US$ 400 million under interim deal to Iran: Sources
New Delhi, Wednesday, 16 October 2014
Iran has sought payment of US$ 400 million from India under an interim deal with six world powers that allows it recover part of its overseas frozen oil revenues.
Source: Reuters, UK; See Also: Business Standard, New Delhi

5. Cabinet Okays setting up of JV firm for Iran port project
New Delhi, Saturday, 18 October 2014
The union cabinet paved the way for setting up a US$ 85.21-million joint venture firm for equipping two fully-constructed berths in Iran's Chabahar port. It also approved the framework of an inter-government MoU.
Source: Business Standard, New Delhi

6. Government sets up cell for Iran's Chabahar port project
New Delhi, Thursday, 23 October 2014
The Indian government has set up a cell to speed work and monitor the setting up of the Chabahar port in Iran within a deadline.
Source: Business Standard, New Delhi

ISRAEL
7. Rajnath visiting Israel next month
New Delhi, Monday, 27 October 2014
Home Minister Rajnath Singh would meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to Israel. Israel’s National Security Adviser Joseph Cohen met the Home Minister and his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval.
Source: The Hindu, Chennai

KUWAIT
8. Indian Embassy in Kuwait simplifies visa procedure
Dubai, Monday, 13 October 2014
Indian Embassy in Kuwait has simplified the visa procedure for Kuwaiti nationals as well as expatriates living in the country with an aim to enhance travel to India for business, tourism, medical treatment and study purposes.
Source: The Hindu, Chennai

LIBYA
9. Kerala CM seeks Centre's help to bring back nurses from Libya
Thiruvananthapuram, Friday, 24 October 2014
Kerala Chief Minister Oomen Chandy has asked the Centre to take urgent steps to secure the release of 18 Malayalee nurses stranded in Libya and also five Indian fishermen, including one from Kerala, held captive in Iran.
Source: Business standard, New Delhi

OMAN
10. Oman's commerce minister to visit India
Dubai, Friday, 10 October 2014
Oman's Commerce and Industry Minister Ali Bin Masoud Al Sunaidy led a high-level business delegation to India to attend the India-Oman joint commission meeting in New Delhi.
Source: Business Standard, New Delhi

11. President Pranab Mukherjee invites Oman to 'Make in India', seeks deeper trade ties
New Delhi, Tuesday, 28 October 2014
After a conversation with the Commerce and Industry Minister of the Sultanate of Oman Dr Ali Bin Masoud Al Sunaidy, Indian President Pranab Mukherjee extended an invitation to public and private companies from Oman to invest in the 'Make in India' programme.
Source: The Economic Times, New Delhi; See Also: Business Standard, New Delhi

PALESTINE
12. India pledges US$ 4 million for Gaza reconstruction
New Delhi, Tuesday, 14 October 2014
India has pledged US$ 4 million for the reconstruction of Gaza Strip necessitated by the recent Israel-Hamas war, the government announced at an International Conference in Cairo.
Source: Business Standard, New Delhi

ECONOMIC RELATIONS
IRAN
13. Cipla to invest Rs 225 crore for new facility in Iran
Mumbai, Monday, 6 October 2014
The Mumbai-based pharma major Cipla Ltd has signed an agreement with its existing Iranian distributor for setting up a manufacturing facility in Iran. The total contribution from the company over the next three years will include machinery, equipment, and technical know-how and is expected to be approximately Rs 225 crore for a 75 per cent stake.
Source: Business Standard, New Delhi

OMAN
14. Omani Commerce & Industry Minister invites Indian businesses to explore opportunities in the tax haven nation
New Delhi, Thursday, 30 October 2014
Highlighting the business-friendly investment incentives in Oman, Dr. Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidy, Minister of Commerce and Industry of Oman, invited Indian businessmen to his country.
Source: Business Standard, New Delhi

SAUDI ARABIA
15. India receives most remittance from Saudi Arabia
Dubai, Tuesday, 28 October 2014
According to the World Bank, India is the top remittance beneficiary from Saudi Arabia and received US$ 8.4 billion in 2012.
Source: The Economic Times, New Delhi

16. India invites Saudi Arabia to invest in strategic oil storages
New Delhi, Wednesday, 29 October 2014
To deepen energy ties, India invited Saudi Arabia to invest in strategic crude oil storages and downstream facilities. Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan met Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Niami in Riyadh and discussed ways to extend cooperation in oil and gas sectors.
Source: The Economic Times, New Delhi; See Also: Business Standard, New Delhi

CULTURAL RELATIONS
TURKEY
17. PM greets the people of Turkey on their National Day
New Delhi, Wednesday, 29 October 2014
Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the people of Turkey on the occasion of their National Day.
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