BILATERAL ISSUES

EGYPT

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh to visit Egypt from September 19-20, 2022, New Delhi, 18 September 2022.

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh will pay an official visit to Egypt from September 19-20, 2022. During the visit, Shri Rajnath Singh will hold bilateral talks with Minister of Defence and Defence Production, General Mohamed Zaki. The two Ministers will review the bilateral defence ties, explore new initiatives to intensify military-to-military engagements and focus on deepening cooperation between the defence industries of the two countries. An MoU to provide further impetus to enhanced defence cooperation between India and Egypt will also be signed.

The Raksha Mantri will also call on President of Egypt Mr Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi. The visit by Shri Rajnath Singh aims to further consolidate defence cooperation and the special friendship between India and Egypt. Source: Embassy of India, Cairo

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh calls on President of Egypt Mr Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Cairo, Cairo, 20 September 2022.

1. Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh called on President of Egypt Mr Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Cairo on September 19, 2022. The Raksha Mantri was received very warmly by President El-Sisi, who pointed out that bilateral relations between India and Egypt are well-established through history. He expressed appreciation that military-to-military cooperation between both the countries has reached a new level and that signing of MoU on defence cooperation is a major achievement.

2. Both leaders agreed to further develop military cooperation and focus on joint training, defence coproduction and maintenance of equipment. They emphasised the need for coproduction and to discuss specific proposals in that regard. Shri Rajnath Singh expressed appreciation for the firm stand taken by Egypt against terrorism. President Sisi emphasised that there is need for India & Egypt to exchange expertise and best practices in countering the threat of terrorism.

3. The Raksha Mantri acknowledged that Egypt is among the most important trading partners of India in Africa and that bilateral trade has expanded significantly. He noted with satisfaction the close cooperation in multilateral forums between India and Egypt. Shri Rajnath Singh conveyed his best wishes for the successful hosting of COP27 in November 2022. Source: Embassy of India, Cairo.

OMAN

‘A Tapestry of Indian Dance and Weaves’, Muscat, 14 September 2022.

Mrs. Divya Narang, the spouse of H.E. Amit Narang, Ambassador of India to the Sultanate of Oman, hosted an exclusive event, ‘SUTRA,’ to showcase the vibrant dance and textile traditions of India. The event held on 14 September 2022 at the Embassy was attended by eminent women leaders from diverse backgrounds, including the Royal family, diplomatic corps, business community and social sector as well as other dignitaries.

The event featured a lecture-demonstration of Indian classical dance as well as an exposition of the rich textile legacy of India with a peek into the diverse handloom traditions representing the kaleidoscopic diversity of India.

An enchanting presentation of Indian classical dance was presented by Mrs. Aishwarya Hegde and her students from the Deepam Dance Academy. The audience was introduced to the deeper meanings and metaphysical representations behind the alluring and graceful movements that constitute Indian classical dance, delving into their story-telling aspects that have also helped preserve and nurture Indian culture over centuries.

The intricacies and wonders of Indian textiles were presented to the attendees by Ms. Mrunal Khimji along with a live display of weaving techniques practiced by artisans in India. Samples of textile designs and techniques on display took the audience on a veritable sensory dive into the world of Indian fabrics and textiles.

The event concluded with a sumptuous gastronomical delight of diverse Indian flavours of herbs and spices.

Speaking at the event, Mrs. Divya Narang spoke of how the time-honoured traditions of Indian dance and textiles have embodied the resplendent richness and diversity of Indian culture and how these traditions have also been kept alive by generations of Indians abroad. She also paid tributes to late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said and expressed her gratitude to His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik and the people of Oman for their friendship and warmth towards Indians and Indian culture. Source: Embassy of India, Muscat.

EAM concludes visit to Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, 12 September 2022.

External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, concluded today his first official visit to Saudi Arabia. He had arrived in Riyadh on September 10, 2022. During the visit he called on Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman on September 11 evening in Jeddah. EAM handed over a letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Crown Prince conveying greetings on the upcoming National Day of Saudi Arabia on September 23 and reiterating invitation to Crown Prince to visit India at an early date.

Earlier, on September 11 afternoon EAM met the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, HH Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud in Riyadh and reviewed all aspects of India-Saudi Arabia bilateral relations and discussed regional and global issues. The two Ministers co-chaired the inaugural meeting of the Committee on Political, Security, Social and Cultural Cooperation (PSSC), under the framework of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council.

Both Ministers assessed the progress in bilateral relations positively across all domains including political, trade, energy, investments, defence, security and culture. Several areas were identified for further enhancing bilateral cooperation such as food security, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, defence industry and entertainment. The two Ministers endorsed the work of the four Joint Working Groups of the PSSC (Political and Consular; Defence; Legal and Security; and Social and Cultural) well as the Senior Officials Meetings. They also discussed greater coordination between the two countries in multilateral organisations especially the G-20.

EAM met the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), H.E. Dr. Nayef Falah Mubarak Al-Hajraf on September 10 and discussed India-GCC relations. EAM and GCC Secretary General also signed an MOU on Mechanism of Consultations between India and GCC. The MOU provides for institutionalization of annual dialogue between India and the GCC and setting up Working Groups on different areas of cooperation.

During the visit EAM also interacted with the Indian community in Saudi Arabia at an event organized at the Indian Embassy on September 10. Further, EAM also addressed senior Saudi officials, academics and future Saudi diplomats in an interactive session at the Prince Saud Al Faisal Institute of Diplomatic Studies on September 11. Source: Embassy of India, Riyadh.

SAUDI ARABIA

Visit of Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers, Government of India, to Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, 06 September 2022.

Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister for Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals and Fertilizers visited Riyadh on Thursday, August 25, 2022. His visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation with India in the fields of Chemicals and Fertilizers. He led a high-powered delegation which included Ms. Arti Ahuja, Secretary – Fertilisers, and heads of premier petrochemical and fertilizer companies in India. The ministerial delegation comprised of Mr. Mukesh Puri, Managing Director, Gujarat State Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd, Mr. Nirlep Singh Rai, Managing Director, National Fertilizers Limited, Mr. Rajan Chowdhry, Managing Director, KRIBHCO, Mr. Gaurav Mathur, Managing Director, CFCL, Mr. S. Sankarasubramanian, President, Nutrient Business, Coromandel International Limited and Dr. P.S. Gahlaut, Managing Director, IPL. The companies signed Joint Declaration of Importation and Projects Collaborations with SABIC and Maaden for long term supplies of fertilisers and petrochemicals.

2. During his visit, Dr. Mandaviya met the Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, His Excellency Mr. Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen A. AlFadley and discussed the ways to further Indo-Saudi partnership in the field of Environment, sustainable development and agriculture. India and Saudi Arabia are already working together, to counter climate change, under the institution of International Solar Alliance formed by India.

3. Dr. Mandaviya visited the Headquarters of SABIC where he was received by Mr. Yousef Abdullah Al-Benyan, Vice Chairman and CEO of SABIC. He congratulated SABIC and Indian companies for signing the Memorandum of Understandings and also discussed avenues to boost India-Saudi partnership in the fields of fertilizers and petrochemicals.

4. Dr. Mandaviya had discussions with the Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, His Excellency Mr. Bandar bin Ibrahim AlKhorayef on mechanisms to strengthen partnership in the industries of health-care, pharmaceutical, petrochemicals and fertilizers. The two Ministers also witnessed the signing of MoUs between Maaden and Indian companies- IPL, KRIBHCO, Coromandel and GSFC. His Excellency Mr.  AlKhorayef hosted a dinner in honour of Minister and accompanying delegation.

5. With these MoUs, Indian companies have secured a 2.5 million tonnes annual supply of key raw materials like ammonia & finished fertilizers like DAP, NPKs for the next 3 years. This will add even more energy to India-Saudi Arabia friendship & benefit Indian farmers.

Furthermore, a joint declaration was made between KRIBHCO and Maaden to commit for long term supply up to one million MT of DAP /NPKs per annum to India. The collaboration includes also joint development in agronomy logistics solutions and product development to support farmers in India and Saudi Arabia.

India is a key export destination for Saudi Arabia as it is one of the largest markets for Saudi fertilizers. Chemicals and Fertilizers also figure among the top trading commodities between India and Saudi Arabia. The visit holds immense significance as it comes in the aftermath of the current crises in Ukraine and will contribute towards further strengthening our bilateral ties. Source: Embassy of India, Riyadh.

Shri Piyush Goyal concludes fruitful visit to Saudi Arabia, New Delhi, 19 September 2022.

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal visited Saudi Arabia from 18th to 19th September 2022 to attend the Ministerial meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council. Along with Shri Goyal, Saudi Minister for Energy, His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud co-chaired the Ministerial meeting of the Committee on Economy and Investments of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council.

The Strategic Partnership Council was instituted in October, 2019 during the visit of the Prime Minister of India to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and has two main pillars i.e. Political, Security, Social and Cultural Committee and the Committee on Economy and Investments.

The notable outcomes of the Ministerial Meeting are:

Streamlining efforts to realize the announcement made by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, during his visit to India in February 2019, of investments worth USD 100 Billion in India.

Endorsement of the 41 areas of cooperation identified by the technical teams under the 4 broad domains of Agriculture & Food Security; Energy; Technology & IT; and Industry & Infrastructure.

Agreement to undertake implementation of the priority projects in a time bound manner. Priority areas of cooperation include:

Collaboration in digital fintech sector through operationalization of UPI and Rupay Card in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Re-affirmation of continued cooperation in joint projects including the West coast refinery, LNG infrastructure investment and development of strategic petroleum storage facilities in India

During the visit, Hon’ble Minister met H.E. Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Kassabi, Minister of Commerce of Saudi Arabia, and held wide ranging discussions on the entire gamut of bilateral trade, commerce and investments linkages.

Diversification and expansion of trade and commerce, removal of trade barriers, including the outstanding issues related to sanitary and phytosanitary measures and trade remedies, automatic registration and marketing authorization of Indian pharma products in Saudi Arabia, feasibility of institutionalizing Rupee-Riyal trade, introduction of UPI and Rupay cards in Saudi Arabia; were amongst the key points of discussion.

“Had a fruitful meeting with H.E. Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Kassabi, Minister of Commerce, KSA.  Discussed ways to attract greater investment & further diversify bilateral trade to boost economic ties between India & Saudi Arabia”, the Minister tweeted after the meeting.

Hon’ble Minister also met H.E. Mr. Khalid Al-Salem, President of Royal Commission of Jubail and Yanbu, H.E. Eng. Saad Al-Khalb, CEO of Saudi EXIM Bank, and other senior officials of the Ministry of Industry, Saudi Arabia.

Discussions were held on a wide range of topics such as institutional tie-up of the EXIM banks of the two countries, joint projects in third countries, mutual recognition of standards, establishment of startup and innovation bridge, strengthening collaboration in infrastructure development, particularly in the domains of construction, railways, industrial and manufacturing collaboration in Pharmaceuticals, Automobiles, Petrochemicals, Specialty chemicals, Technical textiles, mining and increasing project exports from India.

“Had a productive meeting with H.E. Mr. Khalid Al-Salem , Chairman of the Royal Commission for Jubail & Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. Identified a range of mutually beneficial opportunities to further strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries”, Shri Goyal tweeted on his meeting with H.E. Mr. Khalid Al-Salem.

During the visit, Hon’ble Minister also participated in a CEO Roundtable with prominent businessmen in Saudi Arabia. Discussions focused on encouraging increasing exports from India, facilitating inward investments into India, innovative ways and means of deepening and broad basing bilateral economic linkages.

“Had an enriching interaction with CEOs of companies from different sectors in Saudi Arabia. Delighted to see their enthusiasm towards further strengthening trade & investment linkages between the two countries”, he tweeted about the interaction.

Shri Goyal also interacted with HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, Minister of Energy, Saudi Arabia.

“Discussed how energy security with climate change sensitivity can deliver economic growth & prosperity. Deliberated on stronger partnership in renewable energy between our two countries”, he tweeted about the meeting.

Shri Goyal also inaugurated "The India Week" in Riyadh as part of the ongoing efforts of Embassy of India in Riyadh to celebrate Indian products especially Food products like Millets, Textiles etc.

“Brand India shining bright in Saudi Arabia!” the Minister tweeted.

On his visit, the Minister was accompanied by a delegation comprising officials of the ranks of Additional Secretaries and Joint Secretaries from the Ministries of Agriculture, Commerce, Electronics and IT and from NITI Aayog. Source: Press Information Bureau (PIB).

SYRIA

Vice President flags off Jaipur Foot team to Syria to provide artificial limbs to amputees, New Delhi, 28 September 2022.

The Vice President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar today said that “there is nothing more religious than serving the people in need” and urged people to give back to society in their capacity.

The Vice President flagged off a team of eight persons from Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS) going to Syria to set up an on-the-spot artificial limb (Jaipur Foot) fitment camp. The team will be setting up a camp in Damascus, Syria to provide 600 artificial limbs to amputees in 42 ensuing days.

Lauding the efforts of BMVSS, Shri Dhankhar said the organisation, by popularising the Jaipur Foot around the world and providing their services free of cost, has demonstrated India’s civilisational ethos of sharing and caring. He said that, as with their other initiatives, the latest effort will also generate enormous good-will for India

Shri Dhankhar complimented the team for their courage to take up the mission in Syria and wished them all success in their endeavours. He also interacted with the team from BMVSS, led by its founder, Shri D.R. Mehta and some of its beneficiaries using the Jaipur foot.

It is notable that the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi visited one such centre of BMVSS in Philippines in 2017, and the former Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated a fitment camp of BMVSS in Hanoi, Vietnam in 2019. Source: Press Information Bureau (PIB).

TURKEY

Prime Minister’s meeting with President of the Republic of Türkiye H.E. Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the side-lines of the SCO Summit, Samarkand, 16 September 2022.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met President of the Republic of Türkiye, H.E. Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on 16 September 2022 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on the side-lines of the SCO Summit.

2. Both leaders reviewed India - Türkiye relations. While noting the increase in recent years in economic relations, particularly bilateral trade, they acknowledged the potential for further enhancement of economic and commercial linkages.

3. The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and global developments. Both leaders agreed to maintain regular contacts not just on bilateral issues, but also for the benefit of the region. Source: Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

UAE

Centre in collaboration with Government of Manipur organizes in-store export promotion show in Dubai for pineapples, New Delhi, 04 September 2022.

In a move towards harnessing export potential of naturally grown, organic certified fresh pineapples of North-Eastern Region (NER), centre, through Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) organized an in-store export promotion programme in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) for Manipur’s pineapples among consumers.

The ‘in-store promotion show’ of organic certified fibre rich Kwe variety of pineapples from Manipur, was organized at the Lulu hyper market, Dubai’s largest supermarket in association with Manipur Organic Mission Agency (MOMA) of Government of Manipur. This event is part of government’s strategy to promote locally produced agricultural products in the international markets.

Manipur Organic Mission Agency (MOMA) has supported the sourcing of organic certified Kwe variety of pineapples directly from the farmers of Manipur.

The Manipur pineapple, which is showcased with the support from APEDA, is fibre-rich sweetener from North-eastern Region (NER). The showcased pineapples are procured from Thayong Organic Producer Company Ltd in Imphal East district, Manipur.

At the in-store export promotion show, consumers were offered Manipur pineapple to taste the sweetness of the fruit. Northeast pineapple is one of the most important tropical fruits grown in the NER and the fibre-rich fruit is cultivated in almost all the region.

With a production of 134.82 metric tonne (MT) in 2020-21, Manipur ranks sixth in pineapple production having a share of 7.46 per cent in total production in India.

The top ten importing countries of Indian pineapples are UAE, Nepal, Qatar, Maldives, USA, Bhutan, Belgium, Iran, Bahrain and Oman. A quantity of 7665.42 MT of pineapples valued at USD 4.45 million was exported in the year 2021-22.

With the intervention of APEDA, there has been a significant increase in the export of agricultural produce from NE states like Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Meghalaya in the last few years.

Besides pineapple, the APEDA has also decided to take forward the promotion of other locally grown unique horticultural products from Manipur to the international market. The other unique products from Manipur are tamenglong orange, kachai lemon, black rice, etc.

Tripura was the first North Eastern state to export its ‘queen’ variety of pineapple to Dubai and Doha in 2018. Tripura’s pineapple was also exported to Bangladesh in 2020. Assam also made a debut in pineapple export to Dubai in 2019.

The NE region witnessed an 85.34 percent growth in the export of agricultural products in the last six years as it increased from USD 2.52 million in 2016-17 to USD 17.2 million in 2021-22. The major destination of export has been Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Middle East, the UK and Europe.

In the last three years, APEDA organised 136 capacity building programmes on export awareness across the different parts of NER. Highest, 62 capacity building programmes were held in NER in 2019-20, while 21 in 2020-21 and 53 such programmes were organised by APEDA in the year 2021-22. Apart from capacity building initiatives, APEDA facilitated 22 International Buyer-Seller Meets as well as trade fairs in NER in the last three years.

APEDA also organized a conference on the Export Potential of Natural, Organic and Geographical Indications (GI) Agro Products in Guwahati on June 24, 2022 to tap the abundant export potential of organic agricultural products from Assam and neighbouring states of NER.

APEDA aims at creating a platform in Manipur for the exporters to get the products directly from the producer group and the processors. The platform will link the producers and processors of Assam and exporters from other parts of the country that would expand the base of the export pockets in the North-Eastern states, including Manipur and increase the employment opportunities among the people of the state.

On the occasion, APEDA chairman Dr. M. Angamuthu stressed on promoting processed form of value-added pineapple to sustain in the global export market for a longer time period.

“We need to focus on promoting pineapple sourced from farmers in processed form in the Gulf countries through Lulu Group. It will help farmers in better price realization of their produce,” Dr Angamuthu said. Shri P Vaiphel, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Manipur also attended the meet. Source: Press Information Bureau (PIB).

4th India-UAE Joint Commission Meeting, Abu Dhabi, 09 September 2022.

The 14th India-UAE Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) was co-chaired by External Affairs Minister Hon’ble Dr. S. Jaishankar and Foreign Minister of UAE H.H. Sheikh Abdulla bin Zayed Al Nahyan today in Abu Dhabi. The two Ministers were joined by H.E. Reem Al Hashimy - UAE MOS for International Cooperation, H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi - UAE MOS for Foreign Trade, H.E. Mr. Vinay Kwatra -Foreign Secretary of India and Ambassadors and senior officials from both sides.

Both Ministers expressed their deep satisfaction at the continued high growth trajectory of bilateral relations between India and UAE. In this context, they noted the regular high level political interactions between both sides, especially the meeting between Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi and UAE President H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on June 28, 2022 in Abu Dhabi, their Virtual Summit on February 18, 2022 and their participation in the virtual I2U2 Summit in July 2022. Both Ministers also noted the cooperation between the two countries in various multilateral forums and international organizations, in particular in UN Security Council in 2022.

Both Ministers expressed happiness at the entry into force of the landmark Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on May 1, 2022, and organization of various activities and events for the effective implementation of the Agreement. Both Ministers reiterated commitment to achieving the goal of USD 100 billion of bilateral trade in the next five years. They also positively assessed the investment partnership between both countries and the growth of UAE investments in India in diverse sectors. It is expected that the next meeting of the High-Level Task Force between the two countries will be held shortly in India.

The progress in various elements of bilateral cooperation identified in Vision Statement adopted by the two leaders on February 18, 2022 was also reviewed. Both Ministers noted the commitment on either side to further strengthen their long-term energy partnership, including two-way investments. They also noted the progress in discussions on various aspects related to renewable energy and Green Hydrogen. An MOU on Climate Action was signed in May 2022.

Both Ministers reviewed the ongoing discussions between the two sides in the area of food security, including in the I2U2 framework. They expressed happiness at the forward movement in healthcare and education cooperation. A team consisting of both government and private sector representatives from India and UAE visited Kenya and Tanzania recently to identify opportunities for joint projects in the health sector. The discussions between both sides on establishment of an IIT in UAE have also moved forward with the establishment of a Joint Working Group between institutions on both sides.

Both Ministers emphasized the importance of promoting start-ups and entrepreneurship in different fields such as fintech, edutech, healthtech, agritech, logistics and supply chains. Both Ministers noted the possibility of linking instant payment platforms in either country, such as through the United Payment Interface (UPI) of India.

UAE Foreign Minister appreciated the contribution of the Indian community to UAE’s progress and development while External Affairs Minister of India thanked him and the entire UAE leadership for taking care of the Indian community. Both sides agreed to hold the meetings of various institutional dialogues on consular issues, skills and manpower in the coming months.

Two MOUs were signed between both sides in the presence of the Ministers. These are: MOU between Wildlife Institute of India and International Fund for Houbara Conservation for the Conservation of the Great Indian Bustard and the Lesser Florican and MOU between Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of UAE and Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) on the Establishment of the India-UAE Cultural Council Forum. Source: Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi.

India-UAE CEPA makes significant positive impact on India-UAE trade, New Delhi, 25 September 2022.

The India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) which came into effect on the 1st of May 2022 is already creating a significant positive impact on India-UAE trade. Indian exports to the UAE, excluding petroleum products grew from US$ 5.17 billion during June-August 2021 to US$ 5.92 billion during June-August 2022, which denotes an increase of 14%.

It is pertinent to note that India’s global non-petroleum exports during the same period (Jun-Aug 2022) grew by 3% on an annual basis. This implies the growth rate of India’s non-petroleum exports to the UAE is almost 5 times as that of India’s non-petroleum exports to the world.

Top 10 Products – On Absolute Change Basis, excluding petroleum products

Excluding petroleum related imports, Indian imports from the UAE during the same three-month period grew from US$ 5.56billion (June-August 2021) to US$ 5.61 billion (June-August 2022) or an increase of 1% in percentage terms.

It may be noted that India’s non-oil export growth of around 14% on year-on-year basis comes in the context of significant macroeconomic headwinds such as conflict in Ukraine, COVID-19 related lockdowns in China, rising inflationary pressures, expected Policy tightening in advanced economies, global growth slowdown and consequent reduced demand, reduction in global merchandize trade (growth slowed down to 3.2% in Q1 2022 vis-a-vis 5.7% in Q4 2021)etc.

WTO’s global trade growth forecast for the entire year 2022 was at 3% in April 2022. This forecast is expected to be revised downwards as the macroeconomic headwinds had worsened since April 2022.

Indian exports are likely to increase further in the coming months with increasing use of the CEPA by the exporters and with dedicated efforts from Department of Commerce, in association with Indian Mission in the UAE, through organization of a series of trade promotion events in the UAE during the current Financial Year.

The analysis of the India-UAE CEPA was carried out from the period of June-August 2022, excluding statistics of oil trade. The month of May has not been included for the purpose of the analysis as it is considered as a transitory period. Oil trade has not been considered as import increase in oil/petroleum products is largely on account of the rise in global prices and to a certain extent on an increase offtake in volumes. Further, it is pertinent to mention that bulk of the oil imports from the UAE are of Crude Petroleum, the demand for which is inelastic and the customs duty for which is very low. Source: Press Information Bureau (PIB).

Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change participates in the Ministerial Roundtable for Green Economy, World Green Economy Summit, UAE, New Delhi, 28 September 2022.

Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav attended the Ministerial Roundtable for Green Economy at the World Green Economy Summit at the World Trade Centre in Dubai, UAE today. While speaking at the Roundtable, Union Minister stressed the importance of addressing environmental and climate objectives alongside economic development and further stated that accelerating low carbon transition across different economic sectors is the need of the hour.

The Minister outlined achievements under various policies as well as partnerships steered by India under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He mentioned global initiatives like International Solar Alliance and other initiatives for strengthening the green economy across key sectors like energy, industry, transportation, agriculture, and forestry. He further mentioned about the measures taken by India on sustainable finance such as sovereign green bonds, blended finance as well as setting up the GIFT city and the ISA-Solar Risk Mitigation Initiative.

The Union Environment Minister stated that India is the first country with a cooling action plan based on energy efficiency and thermal comfort, and has launched important initiatives including UJALA Yojana and schemes for industrial energy efficiency. India’s ambitious renewable energy progress was also mentioned.

On climate finance, Shri Yadav stated that Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero estimates a requirement of USD 100 trillion of finance for global net zero by 2050. But, Developed countries have failed even in mobilizing the amount of USD 100 billion per annum by 2020, and India’s NDCs are thus largely financed by domestic investment.

After the Roundtable, The Union Minister also had a bilateral meeting with H.E Dr. ­Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade. In the meeting, they discussed issues relating to COP 27, COP 28, MoU on Climate Actions between India and UAE, and global initiatives spearheaded by UAE and India for combating climate change. Source: Press Information Bureau (PIB).

PERMANENT MISSION OF INDIA TO THE UN

UNSC briefing/consultations-Syria (political/humanitarian), Remarks by Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, Permanent Representative of India to the UN, New York, 14 September 2022.

I join others in thanking the new Deputy Special Envoy Ms. Najat Rochdi for her briefing and wish her all success for her new assignment. We also thank USG Martin Griffiths for his update on the humanitarian situation.

2.    The stalemate in the political process has become unsustainable. The Small Body of the Constitutional Committee has not met since last May, and as evident from today’s briefing, uncertainty over the ninth round continues. While Special Envoy’s efforts, in engaging with all stakeholders are commendable, any positive impact on the political track is yet to be seen. The reasons are obvious. 

3.    External factors are impending the political process in Syria. The stakeholders have not shown any indication of flexibility or compromise. We hope all sides will engage constructively and purposefully with Special Envoy in his pursuit to facilitate the political process, in line with the resolution 2254. We continue to believe that his efforts, particularly his step-by-step approach, needs to be supported by the Council.

4.    We hope the regional players will continue to play an important role supplementing the efforts of Special Envoy. In this context, continuing normalization of Syria’s relations with its Arab neighbours, is a reassuring development. At the same time, we are concerned over acts of external players compromising Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. This cannot be conducive for the political process.

5.    On the security front, we remain concerned with the overall situation in Syria. There is an urgent need for serious attempts towards comprehensive nationwide ceasefire in Syria. We believe that withdrawal of all foreign forces is essential toward realizing this objective.

6.    India has been consistently cautioning against the looming threat posed by resurgence of terrorist groups in Syria. UN designated terrorist groups such as ISIL and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham continue to gain in strength in Syria. The global fight against terrorism cannot and should not be compromised for narrow political gains. The credibility of the international community’s collective fight against terrorism can be strengthened only by ensuring accountability of terrorists and terrorist groups.

7.    India continues to call for enhanced and effective humanitarian assistance to all Syrians throughout the country without discrimination, politicization and preconditions. While cross-border operations are predictable and important, they cannot be operating in perpetuity. Concrete steps need to be taken to address the hurdles that are obstructing the functioning of cross line operations.

8.     Humanitarian assistance cannot be a matter of political expediency. Linking humanitarian and developmental assistance with the progress in the political process will only exacerbate the humanitarian sufferings. Syria is undergoing acute fuel and power shortage. International community also needs to constructively look at promoting projects, which will bring much needed jobs and economic opportunities for the Syrian people.

9.    In conclusion, let me underline India’s sustained commitment to extending developmental assistance and human resource development support to Syria. Our continued support to the people of Syria in their endeavour for seeking lasting peace and stability remains steadfast and unwavering.

I thank you. Source: Permanent Mission of India to the UN.

Ministerial meeting of the NAM Committee on Palestine, India Statement, New York, 24 September 2022.

Mr. Chairman,

Thank you for convening the Ministerial meeting of the NAM Committee on Palestine.

2.    As a NAM Security Council Caucus member, India consistently underscores the need for direct peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine to achieve a two-State solution. We have also urged the UN and the international community to prioritize the early resumption of these negotiations. The absence of such direct negotiations is not conducive to securing long-term peace and will only increase the risk of recurrence and escalation of violence. Therefore, an early return to the political dialogue is an immediate necessity.

Mr. Chairman,

3.    It is the international community’s collective responsibility to send a strong signal against any steps preventing the viability of a two-State solution. The historical and legal status-quo at Jerusalem’s holy places must be respected and upheld. Unfortunately, unilateral actions that the UN has identified are continuing and are incrementally eroding the prospects of a two-state solution based on the internationally agreed parameters.

4.    We also reiterate our call for a complete cessation of violence and accountability for any act of violence committed against civilians. We have consistently advocated against violence, especially against women and children, for which there is no justification.

Mr. Chairman,

5.     Palestinians continue to face severe economic and humanitarian hardships. We must prioritize the unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian civilian population. The fiscal situation of the Palestinian Authority is also a matter of concern. On our part, India continues to support Palestinian nation-building efforts under the India-Palestine developmental partnership, which covers wide-ranging sectors like health, education, women empowerment, technology etc. We are also supporting grass-root Palestinian institutions in their developmental initiatives.

6.    Our support also extends to UNRWA, whose financial challenges have been compounding over the years. There is a significant risk of curtailment of UNRWA’s services if adequate funds are unavailable soon. The Agency’s services to millions of Palestinian refugees are crucial from the humanitarian and development perspective and contribute to overall regional stability. India responded to UNRWA’s funding crisis by increasing our annual financial contribution to the Agency. Since 2018, we have contributed US$ 20 million to the Agency’s program budget. We have also pledged US$ 5 million for this year, half of which has already been released. We are also looking at an early disbursement of the remaining contribution to help the Agency overcome its liquidity crunch. We encourage other donor countries to consider stepping-up their contribution to the Agency. The Palestine refugees need our solidarity and support.

Mr. Chairman,

7.    The recent developments in Palestine have reaffirmed that a lasting solution to the Question of Palestine is long-overdue. Therefore, there is an urgent need for immediate resumption of direct negotiations between Israel and Palestine to establishing a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine living within secure and recognized borders, side by side at peace with Israel, taking into account Israel’s legitimate security needs. There is no other alternative to a negotiated two-State solution. India stands ready to support all diplomatic efforts aimed at strengthening the collective commitment of the international community to resume these negotiations and facilitate the peace process.

I thank you. Source: Permanent Mission of India to the UN.

UNSC Meeting on Palestine Question, India Statement, New York, 28 September 2022.

Thank you, Mr. President. I thank UN Special Coordinator Tor Wennesland for his briefing on the implementation of resolution 2334.

2.    India is concerned by the unfortunate loss of civilian lives and reiterate its call for a complete cessation of violence and attacks on civilians, especially those against women and children. Likewise, we are concerned about the recent acts of terror and incidents of violence in Israel and the West Bank. We are also aware of the tensions around Jerusalem’s holy sites due to provocative action and rhetoric. The historical and legal status-quo at Jerusalem’s holy places needs to be respected and upheld.  Various actions that the Special Coordinator has identified in his presentation are also continuing.  These need to stop.

Mr. President,

3.     Palestinians continue to face severe economic and humanitarian hardships. Unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian civilian population must be prioritized.

4.    On our part, India continues to support the Palestinian people through our bilateral development partnership, which covers wide-ranging sectors such as health, education, women’s empowerment, entrepreneurship, and information technology. Palestinian students and officials of the Palestine Authority are provided scholarships every year to undergo education and training in premier educational institutions. The scholarships are also open to the Palestinian Refugees under UNRWA. We are also supporting grass-root Palestinian institutions in their developmental initiatives. Our support also extends to UNRWA for its humanitarian services. Recognising the current financial situation of UNRWA, we have advanced the disbursement of our 2022 contribution of US$ 5 million to the Agency.

Mr. President,

5.    I will conclude by stating that the developments in Palestine only reaffirm the urgent need for political dialogue between Israel and Palestine through the resumption of direct negotiations towards establishing a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine living within secure and recognized borders, side by side at peace with Israel. We believe there is no other alternative to a negotiated two-State solution, and in this context, we welcome the statement by Israel’s Prime Minister at the General Assembly last week supporting a two-State solution. Therefore, India stands ready to support all diplomatic efforts to strengthen the international community’s collective commitment to resume these negotiations and facilitate the peace process for achieving a two-State solution.

I thank you. Source: Permanent Mission of India to the UN.

UNSC briefing on Syria (Chemical Weapons), India Remarks, New York, 29 September 2022.

Thank you, Mr. President. I will be brief in my remarks.

At the outset, I would like to thank Under Secretary General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu for the update.

2.    We note the consistent lack of progress on this track of discussions on Syria in the Council.

3.    We continue to encourage sustained engagement between Syria and the OPCW Technical Secretariat to resolve all outstanding issues.

4.    India attaches high importance to the Chemical Weapons Convention and stands for its full, effective, and non-discriminatory implementation.

5.    India is against the use of chemical weapons by anybody, anywhere, at any time and under any circumstances. India has consistently maintained that any investigation into the use of chemical weapons must be impartial, credible and objective.

6.    We have repeatedly cautioned against the possibility of terrorist entities and individuals gaining access to chemical weapons, including in the region. Therefore, any allegation of use of chemical weapons needs to be dealt with utmost attention.

7.    India continues to believe that progress on other tracks would also help in facilitating overall political peace process in Syria, as advocated in UNSCR 2254. I thank you, Mr. President. Source: Permanent Mission of India to the UN.

MULTILATERAL ISSUES

OIC

Secretary General Renews Call to International Community for Concrete Steps to Solve Jammu and Kashmir Conflict, Jeddah, 21 September 2022.

The OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir held a ministerial meeting chaired by the OIC Secretary-General, Mr Hissein Brahim Taha, in New York on 21 September 2022, on the margins of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Reviewing the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir, the Secretary-General recalled that the OIC has collectively supported the Kashmir people in the past four decades in their struggle to exercise their right to self –determination. He highlighted that this meeting was being held on the third anniversary of the implementation of the unilateral and illegal measures in the India-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

The Secretary General renewed the OIC’s call to the international community to take concrete steps to end the conflict in Jammu and Kashmir, in line with relevant Security Council resolutions. He called for Pakistan and India to engage one another in serious dialogue with constructive participation of the international community as an essential step towards resolving the Jammu md Kashmir conflict. Source: Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

As part of the policy, the MEI@ND standardizes spellings and date format 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