BELGIUM AND INDIA
INDIA, BELGIUM CONCLUDE AGREEMENT ON SOCIAL SECURITY |
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| Belgian Indians get a little more elbow room |
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 India and Belgium have concluded a landmark agreement on social security which will not only benefit Indians working in this country but eventually serve as a prototype for similar agreements with other nations. “This is the first agreement ever India has concluded with another country in social security,” G. Gurucharan, joint secretary, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA), told INEP agency.
Gurucharan, who represented India at the talks, said: “This agreement is significant as it will form the basis for our negotiating agreements with other countries in the European Union.”
India’s ambassador to Brussels Dipak Chatterjee described the agreement as “historic”, noting that this was the first deal of its kind in the social security sector that India has with any other country. “It is a historical agreement and I am happy it has seen the light of day,” commented Sunil Prasad, secretary general of the Europe India Chamber of Commerce) and president of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), Belgium. For all Indians who come and work in Belgium for five years, the agreement will provide exemption from contributing to the Belgium social security system. Secondly, for those Indians who live and work in Belgium on a long term basis the agreement ensures repatriation of benefits. |
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SPAIN AND INDIA
ZAPATERO FINDS INDIA AN EXCITING DESTINATION |
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Spanish arrive in strength in India to wrap up big-ticket deals |
 Several key agreements were signed last month between India and Spain after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held talks with his Spanish counterpart Jose Luis Rodriguez
Zapatero.
With an eye on boosting Spanish investment, Zapatero arrived in India accompanied by Foreign Minister Miguel Angel
Moratinos, a 50-member delegation of businesspersons and a large media contingent. Marking the 50th year of establishment of Indo-Spanish ties, Zapatero’s visit is also the first of a head of state from either side in 13 years.
India and Spain signed agreements on providing legal assistance in criminal matters and on institutionalizing their political dialogue. A memorandum of understanding was signed between Spain’s Technology Board (TDB) and India’s Center for Development of Industrial Technology
(CDIT).
The primary purpose of Zapatero’s visit is to boost economic relations. Signalling this, Indian officials said that India’s economic linkages with Spain are growing: Bilateral trade has increased from around $900 million in 2000 to $2.7 billion in 2005. There is a growing trend of setting up of Indo-Spanish joint ventures in India. Some major Indian companies in automotive, pharma and IT sectors are present in Spain. |
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ARGENTINA AND INDIA
DOING BUSINESS WITH BUENOS AIRES |
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Trade with the Argentines is on the uptick as Trade Minister comes calling |
 India and Argentina have very strong political and economic ties portending a bright future and the private sector is making the most of the opportunities available. This was stated by Jorge Taiana, Argentine Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Faith the “Argentina-India’s: Opportunities in Trade and Investment and Buyer seller meet” organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) last month.
Taiana said that he was convinced of the future of India-Argentina ties after a string of high level meetings during his three-day stay. He met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Commerce Minister Kamal Nath, Minister of Sate for External Affairs Anand Sharma among others. In Mumbai he met Indian business leaders.
Speaking about India-Argentina ties, Taiana stated that the trade level between the two countries stood at $1 billion. “Investment and co-operation in several fields, detecting opportunities of mutual interest were discussed including mining and energy, transport equipment, pharmaceutical drugs and medicine, information technology, nuclear medicine, space technology, agriculture and biotech and food production,” he said. Ernesto Carlos Alvarez, ambassador of Argentina, also addressed the participants. |
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AUSTRIA AND INDIA
INDIA ROCKS VIENNA |
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| The Austrians could not have enough of Indian handicrafts or the mouthwatering platters at the festival of India |
 An Indian fest, “Indien in Wien”, opened in the premises of University of Vienna at the city centre. Margit Fischer, the First Lady of Austria, inaugurated the fest in a brief ceremony at Vienna University.
Earlier on arrival at the university, Fischer was welcomed by ambassador of India, Sheel Kant Sharma and his wife Meenu Sharma. Also present on the occasion, among other dignitaries, was Johann Jurenitsch, Vice Rector of the University.
During the tour of the Indian handicrafts exhibition, Fischer visited several stalls put up by Indian entrepreneurs and evinced interest in the range of textiles, silk items, shawls, leather wares, jewellery, paintings, sculpture, wood carvings, jute and jute products. She also witnessed with appreciation live demonstrations by artisans from India.
Over 20 businessmen from India participated in the event.
A folk dance troupe from Rajasthan in India, gave a brief performance. A busy section of the event was the Indian food court which throughout the three day exhibition-cum-sale offered cuisine from the North and South of India.
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