POLITICAL

EGYPT

India, Egypt decide to boost defence cooperation

New Delhi, Sunday, 23 September 2018

India and Egypt decided to deepenthe defence and security relationsincluding enhancing counter-terror cooperation and carrying out joint exercises. The decisions were taken during talks between Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her Egyptian counterpart General Mohamed Ahmed Zaki in Cairo. Indian Defence Minister was on a two-day visit to Egypt during 20-22 September.Source:Hindustan Times

IRAN

India, Iran and Afghanistan held first tripartite meeting

New Delhi, Tuesday, 11 September 2018

India, Iran and Afghanistan held their first tripartite meeting in Kabul during which implementation of the Chabahar port project and ways to deepen counter-terror cooperation were discussed. The Indian delegation was led by Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale while the Iranian team was headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai chaired the meeting. Source:Economic Times

ISRAEL

PM Benjamin Netanyahu nominated Ron Malka as New Envoy to India

New Delhi, Monday, 17 September 2018

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has nominated Dr. RonMalka as the country's next envoy to India. He has also served as a director and acting chairman of the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange and currently serving as the chairman of the investment committees of three investment funds as well as economic and financial adviser to various bodies in the country. Source:NDTV

Israel, India to commemorate Centenary of the Battle of Haifa

New Delhi, Friday, 21 September 2018

On 23 September 2018, Israel and India commemorated the 100 years of the Battle of Haifa.On this day in 1918, the Indian soldiers from the Mysore, Hyderabad and Jodhpur Lancers liberated the strategically important city of Haifa. Expressing her view on the occasion, Maya Kadosh, Chargé d’ Affaires of the Embassy of Israel, said that “The sacrifice made by the Indian soldiers is honoured and memorialised in seven cemeteries across Israel, from Jerusalem to Haifa. Close to 900 Indian soldiers are buried in these cemeteries, which acts as an immortal testimonial for their heroism.”Source:The Hindu Business line

OMAN

Oman, India defence ministers hold talks

New Delhi, Wednesday, 26 September 2018

Omani Minister Responsible for Defence AffairsSayyid Badr bin Saud bin Harib Al Busaidi,  had talks  withMinister of Defence Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi during which the possibility to enhance the existing cooperation between the two “defence ministries and means of enhancing areas of cooperation to serve the joint interests” were discussed.Source:Times of Oman

ECONOMIC

IRAQ

Iraq Replaces Saudi Arabia as India's Top Oil Supplier

New Delhi, Tuesday, 11 September 2018

In the month of August, Iraq replaced Saudi Arabia as the top oil supplier to India, “data from industry and shipping sources showed, as refiners turned to Iraqi barrels to compensate for a lower intake of Iranian oil ahead of US sanctions in November.”Source:NDTV

India will continue to purchase crude oil from Iran: Tehran

New Delhi, Thursday, 27 September 2018

Iran’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said after meeting Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in New York that India would continue to buy oil from Iran despite the US warnings and added, “our Indian friends have always been categorical in terms of their intention to continue economic cooperation and import of oil from Iran.” Zarif said, “We have comprehensive cooperation with India and that comprehensive cooperation also includes energy cooperation because Iran has always been a reliable source of energy for India.”Source:Scroll

MOROCCO

India, Morocco sign pact to deepen collaboration in MSME sector

New Delhi, Wednesday, 26 September 2018

India and Morocco have signed an agreement for deepening cooperation in the MSME sector which would simplify transfer of Indian technologies and products to the countries of North Africa.  The MoU was signed in Rabatby National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) CMD Ravindra Nath and Director General, Maroc PME, Rabri Barrazouka.Source:The Times of India

QATAR

India an important market for Qatar Airways, says al-Baker

Dubai, Tuesday, 4 September 2018

The Chief Executive of Qatar Airways group said that Qatar and India share 'substantive and strong relationship' and the airline is determined to deepen its presence in the country.  “India is on track to become the third largest global aviation market by 2025 and we are determined to further grow our presence in the Indian market by offering passengers the award-winning quality of service that they deserve,” al-Baker said at the International Aviation Summit in New Delhi. Source:Gulf Times

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