Indian foreign aid and development assistance programs

[Indx TechStyle]

India offers $100 million for infrastructure fund to Papua New Guinea

President Pranab Mukherjee with Grand Chief Sir Michael Ogio, GCL, GCMG, KSt. J., Governor General of Papua New Guinea at Government House in Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea on Thursday. | PTI
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A deal for extending an Indian line of credit of $100 million for development of infrastructure in PNG was also signed.

Seeking to strengthen bilateral ties and ensuring energy security, India on Friday offered a $100 million line of credit for development of infrastructure in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and agreed to jointly develop new avenues of cooperation to explore and develop the Pacific nation’s vast oil and gas resources.

India, during a meeting between visiting President Pranab Mukherjee with his PNG counterpart Sir Michael Ogio, also offered a coastal surveillance radar system and Coast Guard patrol vessels to the country as part of its commitment for the mutual maritime security initiative.

After the completion of the maiden two-day visit to PNG by President Mukherjee, the two sides in a joint statement highlighted various international and regional issues including terrorism, India’s candidature for permanent membership of the UN Security Council and maritime security.

The two sides agreed to establish a mechanism for regular consultations between the foreign ministries of both countries aimed at diversifying bilateral cooperation in areas of shared interest.

“Keeping in view India’s desire to achieve energy security, PNG agreed to develop new avenues of cooperation with India in exploration and development of Papua New Guinea’s vast oil and gas resources through joint ventures and Indian public and private sector investment in new and existing projects,” the joint statement said.

A deal for extending an Indian line of credit of $100 million for development of infrastructure in PNG was also signed.

PNG announced a visa-on-arrival facility for Indian tourists travelling to the Pacific Island as a “gesture of reciprocity” as India has already approved a similar facility for the nationals of all Pacific Island countries since last year.

India also announced providing retro-viral drugs and equipment for the treatment of 20,000 HIV patients in PNG for a period of one year.

Both leaders also witnessed signing of the Memorandums of Understanding on agriculture research cooperation between University of Technology in Lae in PNG and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

The two sides finalised and signed a MOU for broad ranging cooperation in the health sector.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Looking for Intelligence Sharing with India, Economic Aid: Syria

NEW DELHI: Syria today said it received "positive response" from India to its requests on intelligence sharing and economic aid especially in terms of food grains and medicines as the war-torn country battles terrorism on one side and sanctions imposed by the West on the other.

Syrian Deputy Prime minister Walid Al Maoulem, who is on a three-day visit to India, also said the Syrian authorities have taken "four young Indians" into custody. He said he has also asked the Indian authorities to come and verify the details about the four youths, who had "crossed over from Jordan to Syria to join the ISIS".

He said if the 39 Indians, who were taken hostage by ISISmilitants from Iraqi city of Mosul in June 2014, were with Iraqi forces he will try to secure their release but "won't be able to do anything if they are still in the custody of ISIS".

"We have had very positive and productive discussion with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, and the National Security Advisor (Ajit Doval). We discussed a range of issues including sharing of intelligence. We have emphasised on security cooperation with India and our Point of Interest was convergent on fighting terrorism

"The US and other countries have imposed unilateral sanctions on Syria. We are not only facing the problem of drought (in some provinces), but are battling terrorism. We have asked India for economic aid, rice, wheat and medicines," Maoulem told reporters at a news conference here.

Yesterday, Swaraj had conveyed to Maoulem that India was sending medicines worth USD 1 million to Syria soon. Maoulem said Syria wanted to "revive" old economic ties with India.

Maoulem visited Russia and China before arriving here yesterday. Hit hard by economic sanctions and terrorism, he said around 4,00,000 barrels of oil is being "stolen" by ISIS per day.

When asked about what was Syria expecting from India in the Geneva Conference, Maoulem, who is also the Foreign Minister, said the country does not want any interference from any third party and expects only economic aid from India.

"We don't want interference from anyone outsider in the Geneva Conference. Let Syrians decide their future through the Constitution, Parliament and election process. There should be no pre-condition to the Geneva Conference," he said.

The Geneva II Conference on Syria is a United Nations- backed international peace conference on the future of Syria with the aim of ending the Syrian Civil War by bringing together the Syrian government and the Syrian opposition to discuss the clear steps towards a transitional government for Syria with full executive powers.

He also lauded Russia for its cooperation with the Syrians and said the work done by it in combating terrorism was much more than what has been done by the US-led coalition in 18 months.

Russia has been carrying out air strikes in Syria in support of President Bashar al-Assad since September, targeting the terror outfit ISIS which has seized vast swathes of land in that country.

"The work done by Russia in three months as compared to he work by the US-led coalition is ten times better and has acheived significant results. With Russian air strikes and coordination with the Syrians ground forces, we have been managed to gain control over 20 bastions," Moaulem said.

He said that the ongoing diplomatic crisis between Saudi Arabia and Iran will also effect Syria. He also alleged that blamed Saudi, a Sunni country, financed and gave military support to terrorists in Syria while Iran, a Shia country, was helping it to combat terrorism and has "never tried to exploit" the religious situation in the country. Syria too is a Shia-dominated country.

He also lashed out at Turkey and accused it of "backstabbing" Syria, saying it has "it organised terrorist camps and received mmoney from Saudi Arabia" to destabilise Syria.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Syrian Refugees: India offers financial aid to Jordan
Indian ambassador to Jordan Anil Trigunayat on Monday met Jordan’s Planning and International Cooperation Minister Imad Fakhoury and informed him about the Indian government’s decision.

As the Syrian refugee crisis deepens, India has stepped in with some financial help for Jordan — a country that has taken care of about a million refugees so far, government sources have said.

Indian ambassador to Jordan Anil Trigunayat on Monday met Jordan’s Planning and International Cooperation Minister Imad Fakhoury and informed him about the Indian government’s decision to extend, bilaterally, a cash assistance of US $0.5 million to the Jordanian government.

Trigunayat, who is based in Jordanian capital Amman, told The Indian Express, “India appreciates the excessive financial burden on Jordan in hosting a large number of Syrian refugees.

This is our first direct bilateral assistance to alleviate Jordan’s responsibility to some extent. Jordan is a friendly country and our economic engagement with them is noteworthy.” Officials said this aid is part of a pledge made at the 3rd Pledging Conference on Syria held in Kuwait in March.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Pan-African e-Network project - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Navnit Kundu]

This is a welcome move, we have always secured returns over and above what we had expected, whenever we have extended aid to any nation.

One small gripe though, we offered 100 million to PNG but extended a line of credit of just 1 million military aid to Vietnam, even that is contingent on them spending it on Indian weapons, specifically Brahmos, I think. How many Brahmos can one buy with 1 million? 1? Maybe we can sink one Chinese fishing ship with that. There needs to be a better sense of proportion.

We also recently made a breakthrough with Brunei, which has a very strategic location. We need to extend more funds to Vietnam and Cambodia and use our diplomatic clout to end the dispute between these to nations to holistically leverage our relations with PNG, Vietnam, Cambodia, Brunei against the common enemy China. Many seculars were suggesting that we should cultivate extensive ties with Philippines but I am glad we trashed the idea of befriending an American vassal state. The country keeps begging India to become an intermediary between Philippines-China conflict. They are welcome to pay full cash and buy Indian weapons if they like. With the addition of PNG, India has all the leverage it needs. No need for India to coddle them strategically.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

India may increase development aid to Sri Lanka

 

[Indx TechStyle]

India offers more military aid to Sri Lanka

 

[Indx TechStyle]

India assisting neighbours in science education, communication

 

[Indx TechStyle]

India to develop strategic assets in 2 Mauritius, Seychelles islands

 

[Indx TechStyle]

India extends USD 1-bn credit line to Mongolia
New Delhi, April 28 : Following delegation-level bilateral talks led by Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh and Mongolian Foreign Minister Lundeg Purevsuren here on Thursday, India extended a line of credit (LoC) of USD 1
billion to Mongolia.

The two countries also agreed to exchange sentenced persons.
"On track for the future. India & Mongolia sign agreements for US$1 bn LoC & exchange of prisoners," external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.
This comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Mongolia in May last year during which he announced the LoC for economic expansion and infrastructure development and the two sides signed 14 agreements.

This was the first prime ministerial visit from India to Mongolia.
Modi said that Mongolia was an integral part of India's Act East policy.
Minister of State Singh participated in Thursday's talks on India's behalf as External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is indisposed.

According to a statement issued by the external affairs ministry, the visit of Purevsuren is part of the intensified bilateral exchanges following the upgrade of bilateral relations during Modi's visit.

"During that visit the relationship was upgraded to strategic partnership and a series of important agreements including in the defence and security fields were signed," the statement said.

It also said that as part of ongoing high level exchanges, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan visited Mongolia earlier this month.

"The visit helped to consolidate parliamentary exchanges and underscored the shared bonds of democracy which further strengthen bilateral relations based on age-old spiritual and cultural foundation connecting the peoples of India and Mongolia," it stated.

Earlier on Thursday, Purevsuren conferred Mongolia's highest civilian award, the Order of North Star, on Lokesh Chandra, president of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), and Mansura Haider, former academic adviser of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA).

Describing India as the "spiritual neighbour" of Mongolia, Purevsuren, speaking on the occasion, said: "President of Mongolia, Tsakhia Elbegdorj, bestowed the Order of North Star on these two eminent scholars and I am honoured to hand over these awards to them during my official visit to India."

India and Mongolia are marking 60 years of diplomatic relations this year with a series of
events.

-IANS

ab/bg

 

[HeinzGud]

India may increase development aid to Sri Lanka
But I know @HeinzGud will keep boasting over Lankan HDI even after fact that they didn't got it themselves.

We didn't got what in ourselves. Sri Lanka is way ahead of India in HDI. India should focus on it's own citizen rather than helping foreigners.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Sri Lanka is way ahead of India in HDI.

Compare Indian states who are comparable to Ceylon geograhically and demographically.
They are even ahead of SL in HDI.
Kerala
D&D
Lakshdweep
A&N
etc.
Almost all small Islands have generally high HDI. Because, they do not have handle a population of $1.3 billion.
They do not have invest on military, others do for their security.
They don't have to see indulge in wars.
They do not work on new technologies investing billions for mankind.
They aren't working on futuristic cities or space tech for launching satellites for communications.
They are dependent on others, biggies have to take responsibility for everyone.
Biggies will make technologies, and small Islands will jump high after taking advantage over their HDI.

India should focus on it's own citizen rather than helping foreigners.

India spends very low in percentage for such ventures.
Meanwhile, it works faster than any country in eradication of problems or growth of HDI.
Indian HDI grows 20-25 points per years (normally other countries grow 3-4 points at max).
So, don't worry about us.
We have overtaken most of Subcontinental nations in development and still growing fast. Who the damn is Sri Lanka then.? :biggrin2:
Sri Lankan HDI is higher than India (small Indian states have HDIs higher than Sri Lanka),
India has double+ urbanization, has more percentage of internet users, better institutions.
For a giant country like India, money given foreigners is a pinch of salt.
Population is 1.3 billions and aid given away is mere $1.6 billions. So, an average Indian taxpayer has to pay mere $1.23 per year for donations.

We didn't got what in ourselves.

That's why I quoted your first line in last.
It's not only about aid, what did you contributed in Research and Development for mankind or at least for own country.
Keep mind man, if there were no biggies like India, China, West, Japan or Russia in world, then, Cuba, Ceylon etc. who're boasting of high HDI would have washed away in Tsunamis, diseases and disasters.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Image Credit: Flickr/Eric Molina
India Steps Up Aid to Cambodia for Demining
Cambodia says New Delhi is set to boost its assistance for mine-clearing efforts.

India will provide 15 mine sniffing dogs to Cambodia to help the Southeast Asian state with its demining efforts, the Cambodian foreign ministry reportedly confirmed yesterday.

On July 4, Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn met with Indian Ambassador to Cambodia Naveen Srivastava at the ministry. Following their meeting, Xinhuacited a Cambodian foreign ministry press release as saying that India had decided to provide 15 mine-sniffing dogs to Cambodia and to train 15 Cambodian employees to deal with the dogs.

“The minister highly valued the decision of the Indian government to provide 15 mine sniffing dogs (to Cambodia) and to train 15 Cambodian employees to control the dogs,” the press release reportedly said.

Cambodia is widely cited as one of the most landmine impacted countries in the world, with millions of mines laid during decades of conflict still uncleared and tens of thousands of casualties recorded since the 1980s. The Cambodian government, United Nations, as well as several individual countries and international and local organizations continue to make demining a key priority in their assistance to the country.

For India, its assistance in this respect is not new. India has made contributions to demining work in several countries, including Mozambique, Somalia, and Angola. And New Delhi was in fact one of the original contributors to United Nations demining operations in Cambodia, a point that foreign ministry officials repeatedly stress.

Demining assistance has also been part of a broadening of defense cooperation witnessed between India and Cambodia over the past few years, which has included more exchanges and visits, pacts, and training. India has provided demining equipment to Cambodia and Indian Army Engineers have been giving annual training to demining companies of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) for nearly a decade now.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

India gives 30 ambulances to KDF to support defence and security operations

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hands over the ambulances to President Uhuru,the ambulances were donated to Kenya Defence Forces at State House, Nairobi, on Monday.Photo PSCU

India has given Kenya 30 ambulances to be used by the KDF as part of the two countries’ defence cooperation. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented the ambulances to the Kenya Defence Forces at State House, Nairobi, on Monday.

Uhuru praised Modi for the “kind gift” and appreciated India’s support for Kenya’s defence and security sector. The Kenyan side noted India’s offer of an Line of Control for acquisition of defence equipment. Both sides agreed to continue cooperating and to share information and expertise to fight terrorism, cyber crime and to stop drugs and human trafficking. The two leaders condemned terrorism in all its forms and agreed to build a new global resolve and strategy, including expediting the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism at the United Nations.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

An old one from last week of December 2014 (nearly 2015).
Don't know if implemented or not.
India plans to construct a pharmaceutical plant in Crimea

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Afghan Army chief coming to India with revised wish list
The two countries will discuss stepping up defence cooperation when Afghanistan’s Army chief General Qadam Shah Shahim visits New Delhi in late August.

India and Afghanistan will discuss stepping up defence cooperation when Afghanistan’s Army chief General Qadam Shah Shahim visits New Delhi in late August, officials said, adding Afghanistan was likely to add to its wish list a request for more Mi-25 as well as Mi-35 attack helicopters.

Confirming the visit of General Shahim, Afghanistan’s Ambassador to India Shaida Abdali told The Hindu: “Obviously, the Army Chief will be here to discuss defence cooperation. India has agreed that it will help with some of the other defence equipment that we have requested. It has also agreed to give us more helicopters, so we are looking into other avenues as well, to help Afghanistan in the defence sector.” During the visit, the Afghan Army chief is expected to submit a list of arms and equipment revised from the one that had been handed over by the former Afghan President, Hamid Karzai, in May 2013.

However, at the time, India had apprehensions about transferring offensive weaponry and had held off those requests. That changed with the Narendra Modi government’s decision to supply four attack Mi25 helicopters in December last year ahead of Mr. Modi’s visit to Kabul.

“There is a perception [in Afghanistan] that India may not go that far when it comes to Afghanistan’s quest for certain things including defence,” Mr. Abdali said.

“To be frank, at times requests have been delayed for too long, and then ultimately some perception was created that India doesn’t do it [because of] neighbours like Pakistan, and I hope that this perception is addressed by the cooperation between our two governments in various fields, including defence cooperation,” he said.

The need for Afghanistan and India to cooperate despite Pakistan’s misgivings about the relationship is a key theme in a book authored by the Afghan Ambassador, Pakistan-Afghanistan-India: a paradigm shift, which was launched in Delhi recently.

Government sources said no announcement was likely during General Shahim’s visit on the nature of the cooperation, but discussions would be held on the basis of the requests from the Afghan defence forces, “in keeping with our decision to supply helicopters last year.” Diplomatic sources also confirmed that the “wish list” from Kabul would include attack helicopters, utility helicopters, tanks, artillery and ammunition, as well as training for more Afghan forces.

In particular, Kabul wants the Indian Army to send trainers to work with Afghan trainers and “build capacities” at military academies.

Sources said 600-700 of Afghan officers had been trained at Indian academies. “They are the best and doing very well. But we want to build capacities in our country,” the sources added.

Afghanistan is also keen on Indian help in restoring Soviet-era tank and ammunition factories as India operates similar equipment and has the expertise, the sources said. Finally, while arms and equipment are being supplied by various nations in small volumes, their maintenance is an issue. For instance, since 2002 India has supplied 1,000 buses and other vehicles, but most of them are out of use owing to lack of spares and support, an issue that will also be discussed during General Shahim’s visit.

@Kyubi @Akask kumar

 

[Indx TechStyle]

India & US kick start ''train-the-trainer' plan for African troops

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Mauritius to revive negotiations for CECPA with India

The island nation, a major source of foreign direct investments coming into India, is also eyeing a preferential trade agreement.

PORT LOUIS/NEW DELHI: Mauritius is looking to revive efforts to put in place a comprehensive economic cooperation pact with India, close on the heels of sorting out long-pending issues related to the bilateral tax treaty.

The island nation, a major source of foreign direct investments coming into India, is also eyeing a preferential trade agreement.

Minister of Finance and Economic Development Pravind Jugnauth has said that Mauritius would revive talks with India on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA).

"Now that the issue of DTA (Double Taxation Agreement) with India has been resolved, the government will revive and finalise the negotiations with New Delhi on the CECPA including a Preferential Trade Agreement," he said in his 2016-17 Budget speech recently.

India exports petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, cereals, cotton and electrical machinery, among others, to Mauritius. The island nation exports to India include iron and steel, pearls and precious/semi-precious stones.

In 2014-2015, India exported USD 1.9 billion worth goods to Mauritius while the imports during the same period were to the tune of USD 21.19 million, as per official figures.

According to the Indian High Commission in Mauritius, the island nation was the "single largest source of FDI into India during the financial year 2014-15, with FDI equity inflows amounting to USD 9.03 billion - 29 per cent of total inflows in 2014-15".

After long drawn negotiations, the amendment to the 1983 Double Taxation Avoidance Convention (DTAC) was signed by India and Mauritius in May. With the changes, India can impose capital gains tax on investments routed through Mauritius. For two years starting from April 1, 2017, capital gains tax would be levied at 50 per cent of the prevailing domestic rate and after that, full rate would be applicable.

The three-decade-old taxation treaty, which came into force from April 1, 1983, is said to have been misused by many Indian and multinational companies to avoid paying tax or to route illicit funds.

The island nation was the biggest single source of foreign direct investment into India in 2014-15, accounting for about 24 per cent of USD 24.7 billion FDI.

In his speech, Jugnauth also expressed his gratitude to the Indian government for the "exceptional financial support of USD 353 million, that is some Rs 12.7 billion", which the island nation would be receiving over a four-year period.

READ MORE:
Mauritius|CECPA

 

[HariPrasad-1]

@Navnit Kundu @HariPrasad-1 @gpawar @Illusive

It is nice to see India emerging from a donation receiver country to donation giver. If we have the money, we shall do a lots of charity without narrow interest.