India and World

INDIA AND HUNGARY

Gujarat Info Petro Ltd (GIPL), the subsidiary of Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation signed an agreement with Cason Engineering Plc, Hungary, for gas monitoring system. This agreement was in accordance with the MoU signed during the Vibrant Gujarat Summit-2013. This agreement was signed between VK Sharma, CEO, Gujarat Info, and Ferenc Szakács, Chairman and CEO of Cason. Gujarat Info Petro Ltd offers the IT services to government departments, corporate houses, corporations as well as boards. Cason Engineering Plc, on the other hand, is the Hungary-based technology company which offers services such as implementation, manufacturing as well as development of the systems which are responsible for gas distribution network monitoring. It also developed as well as installed new solutions that are equipped with leading technologies. These are meant for large oil pipeline operators in various countries as well as Europe. The aim of the agreement is providing automation services for oil as well as gas companies in India. This will provide joint technical solutions, which will generate fast accessibility as well as ease for development of city gas distributor industry. Primary advantages of these joint technical solutions are to provide the tool in order to control the sales procedures as well as procurement procedures of daily purchased gas volume. Also, these solutions will provide access for stakeholders to everyday business data along with the technology reports and alarms through the Web-based applications. Apart from this, the special pipeline monitoring system as well as leak detection for leading oil pipeline operators will also be offered. This would result in less number of accidents as well as incidences such as pilferages and thefts. This will also help in solutions for disaster management as well as security issues of cross-country pipelines. The Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban will visit India in October 2013 in order to launch the product.

INDIA AND SAUDI ARABIA

India and Saudi Arabia on 26 May 2013 decided to further strengthen and deepen their counter-terrorism cooperation. This was decided during the 4-day visit of External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid to Saudi Arabia. The counter-terrorism issue is emerging as a key area of cooperation between India and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia deported deported Abu Jundal, wanted in the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack about a year back. Saudi is concerned about the rise of extremism in the region, including in Pakistan, notwithstanding their close ties. Both nations discussed the menace of terrorism the world continues to face and agreed to further strengthen our counter-terrorism cooperation which is an essential element of the Riyadh Declaration signed in 2010. India held talks with Saudi Arabia on a number of issues including the controversial ‘Nitaqat’ law, counter-terrorism measures and energy security. Saudi Arabia also tried to allay India’s fears over the Nitaqat law and stated that the procedures are being taken in the best interest of Indian workers.The Nitaqat law and the ongoing drive to identify workers who are overstaying in the Arab Kingdom was one of the main area of focus during the talks held between the two nations. Khurshid’s visit is the first by an Indian External Affairs Minister in the last five years to Saudi Arabia, India’s biggest supplier of oil.
The Indian Embassy in Riyadh on 21 June 2013 appealed the migrant Indian nationals in Saudi Arabia to avail concessions granted by the Saudi authorities and get the exit passes issued to return to India or to get their job or visa or residency status in the country corrected by the deadline of 3 July 2013. About 60000 Indian nationals have approached to the embassy to avail the concessions announced by the Saudi Authorities. About 30000 out passes were issued for the Indian nationals who wished to return back to India. More than 20000 migrated Indian Nationals have applied for visa or the legal resident status corrected. About 10000 persons are in a process of getting their job status corrected.
About 200 companies have approached to the Embassy with job opportunities for eligible Indians in past two months. Earlier on 6 May 2013, Authorities of Saudi Arabia announced that there would be no extension over the three month grace for foreigners staying in the country illegally. The Interior Ministry has urged people to take advantage of the grace period provided to them for regularization of their situation.

INDIA AND SINGAPORE

India and Singapore on 3 June 2013 reaffirmed their strong and long-standing defence ties as they renewed a bilateral agreement for the conduct of joint army training and exercises.
The agreement was signed after visiting Defence Minister A K Antony held bilateral talks with his Singapore counterpart Ng Eng Hen. The Agreement for the Conduct of Joint Army Training and Exercises was first established on 12 August 2008. Its renewal allows the Singapore Army to train and exercise with the Indian Army in India for another five years. The armies of India and Singapore jointly conducted bilateral armour and artillery exercises, codenamed Ex Bold Kurukshetra and Ex Agni Warrior respectively. The bilateral exercise was successfully conducted in March 2013 and a combined artillery live-firing was carried out in December 2012.