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Scorpio Hero Username: Scorpio Post Number: 12664 Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 174.61.228.127 Rating: |
Modi always does good job CBN is Good...Modi is Better...AK is the Best | ||
Teluguhero Comedian Username: Teluguhero Post Number: 1471 Registered: 04-2008 Posted From: 63.151.12.167 Rating: |
LOL. I saw that thread.Many members ready to abuse but they don't have time to read facts/ real news. | ||
Rajusk Legend Username: Rajusk Post Number: 38708 Registered: 02-2008 Posted From: 170.74.56.84 Rating: N/A |
http://www.chalanachithram.com/discus/messages/115/296338.ht ml?1437053543 | ||
Teluguhero Comedian Username: Teluguhero Post Number: 1470 Registered: 04-2008 Posted From: 63.151.12.167 Rating: |
http://www.niticentral.com/2015/07/14/pm-modis-central-asia- visit-key-takeaways-323561.html 5 succesful outcomes from NaMo’s Central Asia Trip Between July 6 and 13, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited all the five Central Asian Republics. He visited Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan before going to Ufa for the BRICS Summit and visited Turkmenistan, Kyrgyztan and Tajikistan on his way back. The five countries are resource rich countries and greater cooperation with them is essential for our economic progress. One of the major highlights of the NDA government’s foreign policy has been the degree of continuity in terms of some key dimensions. There is a conscious effort to synchronise the foreign policy with critical economic interests. The PM seems to be working on generating as much international cooperation as possible for his primary domestic agenda of generating jobs, Make in India, Skill India and starting the second green revolution. Media coverage of this trip remained largely limited to the BRICS Summit and the meeting with Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit. Here are some of the highlights and key takeaways from the joint statements and bilateral agreements between India and the Central Asian Republics. #1 – Securing India’s energy needs The Central Asian countries are resource rich and we must look at investing and building partnerships in the region for natural resources. Central Asia can be of immense help in fulfilling our rising demand for energy and the sector was an important focus of the PM’s visit to the region. Kazakhstan is one of the biggest Uranium producers in the world as it has a share of 38 percent in the total output of the mineral. The Prime Minister extended Nuclear cooperation with Kazakhstan and the two countries agreed on a new deal for the supply of Uranium. Between 2009 and 2014, Kazakhstan had provided India with 2100 metric tons of Uranium. In the current five year period (2015-19), India would get 5000 Metric tons of Uranium. This would allow us to start operations in many nuclear plants which are currently closed due to lack of fuel. The joint statement also made a mention of a feasibility study for “exploring the possibility of transportation of oil and gas either through pipeline or as LNG from Kazakhstan to Indiaâ€. In the coming years, the government should look at expanding engagement with Kazakhstan in the sector through ONGC Videsh Limited. The public sector firm recently started exploratory drilling in the Satpayev block and should look at gaining a stake in other oil fields in the oil rich country. A major landmark of India’s engagement with Central Asia is the TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India) Project – an ambitious pipeline for transporting natural gas from Central Asia to South Asia. The proposed pipeline project is a USD 10 Billion project with a total distance of more than 1700 Kilometres, passing through some of the worst conflict ridden areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Turkmensitan has the world’s fourth largest s of Natural Gas and would be a steady source of the resource for South Asia. The joint statement welcomed the establishment of the “TAPI Ltd†special purpose vehicle for the project and the “leaders reaffirmed their strong commitment towards timely implementation of this strategic projectâ€. Timely completion of the project is mutually beneficial for both India and Turkmenistan. The latter currently depends on oil exports to China for revenues and would find an alternate source after the completion of this project. Greater cooperation in the area of oil exploration between the two countries – India and Turkmenistan was also discussed and the leaders welcomed the establishment of a representative office of ONGC Videsh in Ashgabat. #2 Covering all dimensions of ‘Make in India’ PM’s main focus in Central Asia was slightly different from his earlier trips to USA, China and Europe where he was essentially looking at attracting foreign investment and convincing companies to increase production in India. For Make in India to succeed, India will have to improve its freight connectivity with other countries. The International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is a ship, rail and road connectivity project for moving freight between India, Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia. The route greatly reduces the time taken for moving freight between India and Central Asia. Expansion of the corridor is a key objective of the Prime Minister as it could greatly improve India’s trade connectivity with Central Asia. There were discussions over Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan joining the INSTC. The PM also proposed that the Kazakhstan – Turkmenistan – Iran Rail Link could become a linked corridor to the INSTC. Discussions have also been initiated with Kazakhstan on a dedicated freight terminal. The Ashgabat Agreement is a transit pact established in 2011 between Uzbekistan, Iran, Turkmenistan and Oman. The Prime Minister sought Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan’s support for India joining the agreement as it would massively improve connectivity with Central Asia. This is another example of continuity in the country’s foreign policy. Last month, Cabinet Minister Nitin Gadkari had visited Iran and there was a pact on developing the Chabahar port. Through the Iran route, the time taken for transporting goods between India and Central Asia would reduce immensely. For this, efforts need to continue for improving linkage between Central Asia and Iran. In Tajikistan, he discussed the proposed Pakistan Afghanistan Tajikistan Trilateral Transit Trade Agreement (PATTTTA). It was decided that further consultations would start on inclusion of India into this pact as it would further strengthen trade between South Asia and Tajikistan. There were also discussions on building an alternate surface route along with other countries. # 3 – International Cooperation for Agriculture Agriculture was a topic discussion not only just at the BRICS Summit where the PM had proposed the establishment of an Agricultural Research Centre. In Turkmenistan, an important agreement was signed between the Turkmenhimiya and Indian PSU Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited for long-term sourcing of urea from Turkmenistan. India has proposed to set up a Urea production facility in Turkmenistan. In the agriculture dependent, Kyrgyz Republic, there were discussions over knowledge sharing and joint efforts in agricultural research. A plan of Action has been signed between the KazAgroInnovation and Indian Council of Agricultural Research for cooperation in the field of agriculture. #4 – Support for UNSC Reforms and Permanent Seat for India The Narendra Modi government seems to be working towards building global support for its push for reforms in the structure of the United Nations. There has been an effort to get as many countries as possible to endorse India’s claim for a permanent seat in the UNSC. It is expected that these endorsements would help in at least initiating a larger multilateral dialogues on the agenda of UNSC reforms and could help in paving the way for India’s entry in the future. The Central Asian countries stated their support for a permanent seat for India. #5 – Countering the Chinese Influence A key focus of the PM’s trips in the last one year has been to counter the growing influence of China in Asian and African economies. It is indeed quite disappointing that despite having strong cultural ties with many Central Asian economies, we have been unable to upstage China in economic and energy cooperation. One is hopeful that the Prime Minister’s visit would help in advancing our strategic interests and enable Indian firms to expand operations in Central Asia. The signs are positive as Uzbekistan has agreed to create favourable conditions for investments by Indian companies. A joint Business Council has been formed between India and Kazakhstan. There would be annual military exercises between India and Kyrgyz Republic. Tajikistan has sought India’s engagement in hydro power generation. But the government must remember that building stable partnerships with countries requires a follow up on bilateral discussions with solid action. A meeting between heads of state merely initiates the process. This is something that the Chinese have been able to do with great success through private investments and intergovernmental deals. The PM’s trip to Central Asia can be considered to be a success and there are numerous positive takeaways. Improved connectivity between India and Central Asia through the INSTC and possibly India’s entry to the Ashgabat Agreement and PATTTA Timely completion of the TAPI Gas Pipeline and exploring possibility of gas imports from Kazakhstan Greater Supply of Uranium from Kazakhstan till 2019 Increasing crude oil imports from Central Asia by promoting ONGC Videsh to acquire oil fields in the region Countering Chinese influence in Central Asia through partnerships in the energy sector Expanding business opportunities for Indian companies in the region Generating support for a Permanent Seat in the UN Security Council |
