INDIA WATCH, JUNE 2018, ISSUE NO. 101

POLITICAL  

EGYPT

India-Egypt economic ties improving: outgoing Ambassador Sanjay Bhattacharya

Cairo, Thursday, 3 May 2018

India's economic relations have significantly improved over the years with Egypt, outgoing Ambassador to Cairo Sanjay Bhattacharya has said. Some of the landmark events in recent years included the high-level contacts between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Source: Business Standard

IRAN

India says it only follows U.N. sanctions, not U.S. sanctions on Iran

New Delhi, Monday, 28 May 2018

Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump withdrew the US from the Iran nuclear deal and ordered the re-imposition of sanctions suspended under the 2015 accord. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said India’s position was independent and that it “follows only UN sanctions and not unilateral sanctions by any country.” Source: Reuters

ISRAEL

India to Keep Off Events Marking Shift of US Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem

New Delhi, Saturday, 12 May 2018

India has decided not to attend any of the official events marking the shift of the United States embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. US President Donald Trump had announced last December that the embassy would be relocated to Jerusalem, in line with his recognition of the city as the capital of the Jewish state. Source: The Wire

MOROCCO

Cabinet approves India-Morocco MoU to boost cooperation in mining, geology

New Delhi, Wednesday, 16 May 2018

The government on Wednesday gave ex-post facto nod to an agreement with Morocco to boost cooperation in the field of mining and geology. The MoU was signed on April 11 in New Delhi between the Moroccan Ministry of Energy, Mines and Sustainable development and the Indian Ministry of Mines. Source: Business Line

TURKEY

Turkey joins hands with Bangladesh seeking OIC reforms for India's observer status 
New Delhi, Wednesday, 9 May 2018

Suggestions of India being included in the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) as an observer found support from Bangladesh and Turkey. The two countries have joined hands to seek reforms of the 57-nation group and include India. Source:  The Economic Times

India, Turkey to enhance bilateral ties

Kolkata, Monday, 21 May 2018

Ambassador-designate of India to Turkey Sanjay Bhattacharyya stressed on the importance of cultural ties between Kolkata and Turkey and emphasised on tourism promotion between the two countries. He was addressing a seminar in Kolkata. Source: Millennium Post

ECONOMIC

KUWAIT

CBDT notifies amendments to India-Kuwait tax treaty

New Delhi, Monday, 7 May 2018

The tax department has notified the amendments to Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) between India and Kuwait, which enables sharing of information with law enforcement agencies. Both countries signed DTAA on 15 June 2006 for the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income. They signed a protocol to amend the tax treaty on 15 January 2017. Source: New Indian Express

OMAN

India, Oman explore a wider maritime partnership

Mumbai, Wednesday, 23 May 2018

A group of about 30 young business leaders from Oman, who are part of the Oman-India Joint Business Council called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and shared their perspectives on the long shared history and maritime links between the two countries. The Council was visiting to follow up Modi's February trip to Muscat. The Indian Navy will now be able to use the facilities at Duqm port in Oman following the signing of a pact between the two countries during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit. Source: Economic Times

QATAR

India restricts travel of ECR passport holders to Qatar

Doha, Thursday, 31 May 2018

Authorities in India have restricted Emigration Clearance Required passport holders from availing the visa-on-arrival facility announced by Qatar last year. Qatar introduced the free visa-on-arrival facility for several nationalities, including Indians, last year. Source:  Gulf Times

SAUDI ARABIA

India to Saudi Arabia: We Need Stable and Moderate Oil Prices

Sunday, 20 May 2018

Major crude oil importer India is concerned that the rallying oil prices are hurting its economy and Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan reiterated the need for “stable and moderate” prices in a phone conversation with Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih. The latter Falih “assured Minister Pradhan that supporting global economic growth is one of the Kingdom’s key goals” and that “the Kingdom together with other producers will ensure availability of adequate supplies to offset any potential shortfalls and ensure that prices remain reasonable,” the official Indian statement said. Source: oilprice.com

TURKEY

Centre approves MoU between India, Turkey on trade in poppy seeds

New Delhi, Wednesday, 23 May 2018

The Union Cabinet approved the signing of a MoU with Turkey on the trade in poppy seeds to ensure quick and transparent processing for imports. Source: Free Press Journal

UAE

After Saudi Arabia, UAE Oil Giant to Buy Stakes in Indian Refinery

New Delhi, Monday, 14 May 2018

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) is considering picking up stakes of the planned Ratnagiri oil refinery in Maharashtra. It would purchase the stakes from Saudi Aramco, which last month signed an agreement with India to buy a 50 per cent stake in the joint venture. Aramco had clarified that it would dilute some of its 50 per cent equity stake in the oil refinery project in favour of another strategic investor. Source: Sputnik News

UAE announces 10-year visa plan for specialists, Indians to benefit

Dubai, Tuesday, 22 May 2018

In a move that could help Indians living there, UAE has announced radical changes to its visa regime and to grant 10-year visas for specialists working in fields such as medicine, science and research, among others. Source: Money Control

UAE bans fruit, vegetables from India’s Kerala over Nipah scare

Dubai, Tuesday, 29 May 2018

The UAE has banned the import of fresh fruit and vegetables from Kerala following the outbreak of the Nipah virus in the state. The Ministry of Climate Control and Environment said the decision was based on the information provided by the World Health Organisation. Source: Gulf Business

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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