Tuesday, October 6, 2015

India and Germany Sign Agreements

OCTOBER 6, 2015 | EDIT

India and Germany Sign Agreements for Furthering Cooperation in the Field of Science & Technology

India and Germany have signed agreements for furthering cooperation in the field of Science & Technology. The Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Dr. Harsh Vardhan and the German Federal Minister for Education and Research Ms. Johanna Wanka signed the main agreement and witnessed signing of another agreement by the officials for the purpose after mutual discussions in New Delhi today.

At the meeting held before the 3rd Indo-German Consultative meeting, both the Ministers expressed their satisfaction on the level of Indo-German Science & Technology cooperation which is now recognised as one of the strategic pillars in the overall bilateral relationship.

It was reiterated by both sides that they would continue to support and strengthen the basic research component of collaboration which will underpin future technology developments.

India is investing approximately 14 million euro for the construction of an additional beam line and access to the synchrotron facility at PETRA-III in DESY at Hamburg. Similarly, India is equity share holder with investment of 36 million euro in the construction of the international “Facility for Antiproton-Ion Research” (FAIR) at Darmstadt. Both these state of art facilities will further enable our scientists to conduct high impact and frontier research in material science, nuclear and high energy physics. On the same model, Dr. Harsh Vardhan offered Germany to participate in some of the future mega science projects, which India will be embarking upon.

A major highlight of the meeting was the agreement on both sides to extend the bi-national Indo-German Science & Technology Center (IGSTC) beyond 2017 with increase in funding from 2 million euro to 4 million euro every year. This was a reflection of the common endeavour on both sides to support industrially relevant R&D projects that have potential to generate novel technologies and new intellectual property in sectors such asadvance manufacturing, embedded systems & ICT for automobiles, renewable energy, food security, clean water and health care technologies- all of which are in tune with present national missions of the government of India. India is the only country with whom Germany has such a bilateral R&D Centre dedicated to promote applied and industrial R&D. The Centre is already supporting 15 joint projects and pro-types of some new technologies have been co-developed in solar-thermal energy, stress tolerant chic-pea variety, and high altitude cold resistance plants etc.

Dr. Harsh Vardhan expressed confidence that the extended tenure of Indo-German Science & Technology Centre (IGSTC) until 2022 along with doubling its financial resources will enable us to co-develop affordable technologies that can contribute to the knowledge economy of both our countries.

Both the Ministers reiterated the need for concerted effort to promote exchanges of young scientists and student researchers. To this end DST through a Letter of Intent agreed to continue the support for participation of 25 Indian science and medical students to the annual Nobel Laureate meet in Lindau.

Both the Ministers echoed that the future cooperation should focus on programs to promote innovation and techno-entrepreneurship by linking the SME and Start-up enterprises of both the countries in order to make meaningful contribution to the knowledge economy and use the tools of science and technology to address socially relevant challenges. New areas such as anti-microbial resistance and regenerative medicine, earth science system including monsoon studies and marine sciences required to understand the climate change process was emphasised by the Indian side that needs to be addressed together.

Union HRD Minister and German Minister of Education Exchange views on a Range of Issues

OCTOBER 6, 2015 | EDIT

Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, Minister for Human Resource Development and Dr. (Mrs.) Johanna Wanka, German Minister of Education and Research held bilateral discussions today in New Delhi. The Ministers exchanged views on a range of issues related to enhancement and deepening of traditional ties. These covered collaboration in science and technology, skills development, the Global Initiative for Academic Networks (GIAN) as well as cooperation in the field of promotion of languages of each country in the other. The leaders expressed satisfaction at the progress made in the bilateral relations.

After the talks, India and Germany signed two Joint Declarations of Intent (JDIs) and an MoU for enhancing cooperation in education. The two JDIs and the MoU were signed in the presence of Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, Minister for Human Resource Development and Dr. (Mrs.) Johanna Wanka, German Minister of Education and Research.

The first JDI seeks to implement a new programme titled “lndo-German Partnerships (IGP) in Higher Education” over four years from 2016-2020 to encourage and support cooperation between higher education institutions in each country. The University Grants Commission (UGC) and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Germany, the respective implementing agencies for the JDI also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for operationalization of the cooperation between the two countries in the field of the Higher Education.

The MoU will develop a joint partnership programme aimed at enhancing long-term partnerships between German and Indian institutions of higher education. New and innovative areas of cooperation would be opened, enabling participating institutions to develop teaching and research profiles and contribute to their internationalization strategies. Each side will contribute 3.5 million Euros for the initial programme period of four years. The IGP will fund a number of projects, which would be identified based on a competitive selection process. By concentrating on top-level strategic partnerships, the programme aims to improve the overall quality of teaching and research and to strengthen inter-disciplinarity within the participating institutions.

The second JDI is regarding the promotion of German as a foreign language in India and promotion of modern Indian languages in Germany. As part of the JDI on promotion of each other’s languages, students in Kendriya Vidaylaya (KVs) will be able to opt for the German language as an additional foreign language, in conformity with the National Education Policy of India. The JDI will be operationalised, in India through collaboration between the Max Mueller Bhavan and the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), and in Germany through nodal agencies to be identified shortly.

Centre to spend Rs 70,000 cr in 12 ports under Sagarmala: Gadkari

OCTOBER 6, 2015 | EDIT

Oct 6

Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that the Centre will spend around 70 thousand crore rupees in 12 major ports in the next five years under Sagarmala Project, aimed at port-led development in coastal areas. After chairing the first meeting of the National Sagarmala Apex Committee in New Delhi yesterday, Mr Gadkari said, there is a need to reduce logistic cost to increase the industrial output and ports can play an important role in it.

He said, the logistic cost in India is 3 times more than China, which has been hampering India to compete in the international markets. Gadkari said the project is aimed at development of coastal states through modernisation, mechanisation and computerisation and would create huge employment besides boosting the country’s GDP. He said, port, shipping and highways sector will very soon add 2 per cent to the country’s GDP.

The main objective of the Sagarmala project is to promote port-led direct and indirect development along India’s 7,500-km long coastline to provide infrastructure to transport goods to and from ports quickly, efficiently and cost effectively.

INDIA – AFRICA BUSINESS FORUM

OCTOBER 6, 2015 | EDIT

October 6, 2015

Dear Sir / Madam,

INDIA – AFRICA BUSINESS FORUM

Coinciding with the 3rd India – Africa Forum Summit

28 October, 2015, Hotel Le Meridien, New Delhi

As you are aware, Indian Government is gearing up to welcome the Heads of States of Africa for the third India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) in October in New Delhi.

FICCI in partnership with Ministry of External Affairs, alongside IAFS 3 is co- organizing India – Africa Business Forum on 28 October, 2015 at Hotel Le Meridien, New Delhi. In consultation with the Ministry of External Affairs, following sectors have been identified for special focus during the Business Forum:

Agriculture & food processing
Infrastructure
Energy
Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals
Science and Technology, Innovation

With your expanding business presence in Africa, this prestigious event offers a unique opportunity to brand your organization. We envisage that this forum would provide value addition to your organization across Africa through participating as delegate or sponsor. The various categories available for sponsorships are attached for your kind perusal (click here to download).

You are requested to confirm your participation with completed registration formalities (including payment) latest by October 7, 2015. For further details on India – Africa Business Forum, please feel free to contact me, or my colleagues Ms. Sadia Khan/Ms. Anchal, T: +91-11-23487582/23487361 E-mail: sadia.khan@ficci.com /scitech@ficci.com

We count on your support in making this business forum a success and look forward to receiving a favorable response (click here to download Registration Form).

With warm regards,

Nirankar Saxena
Senior Director
Division / Sector: BISNET, ATA Carnet, Innovation, Science & Technology Commercialization, Disaster Management
FICCI
Industry’s Voice for Policy Change
Federation House, Tansen Marg, New Delhi 110 001
T: +91-11-2331 6542
F: +91-11-2332 5158
E: nirankar.saxena@ficci.com
W: http://www.ficci.com

FICCI Corporate Identity Number (CIN): U99999DL1956NPL002635

Farmers Are Rich $10Trillion – GoI MADE THEM Poor

OCTOBER 6, 2015 | EDIT

Farmers own 400m acres of land [Decimal Error in Earlier Message]
which at $25,000 Per Acre is worth over $10Trillion. The land may have
mineral deposits worth 100 times in value or could support MSMEs, Food
Processing Industries or Dams or Housing Complexes. Farmers were
denied EQUITY in developing their land.

In fact every farm can produce foods worth about Rs.3 lakh per acre at
Retail Level, 8 Tones of Wheat & Basmati/Rice Annually – assuming
Punjab Level Productivity [Which get one more crop over 50% more crops
if more irrigation can be provided] when Fully Irrigated and Protected
from Floods.

Farmers are paid Rs.14,000 Per Tone for Wheat [Retail Rs.25,000/T] and
Paddy as MSP [Basmati Farmers get Rs.20,000 Per Tone for Basmati
Paddy(Retail Rs.60,000/T)] – Farmers therefore get just 30% to 40% of
the retail value – even less 15% to 25% for Fruits & Vegetables
Retailed without even Grading.

Thus Farmers in Punjab are paid just Rs.1,00,000 Per Acre for Produce
and Expenditure on Tube-well for Irrigation, Inputs like Fertilizer,
Cost of Farm Machinery and Labor means he earn not even Rs.50,000 Net
Per Acre.

Crop Yields in Most States are Much Lower Than Punjab and Farmers get
only one crop a year but have Similar Expenditure on Maintaining
Tube-Wells and machinery.

One can well imagine the POTENTIAL OF PUNJAB – and Every Indian State
– Punjab get not even 1% of waters in Indian Rivers – just 12 Million
Acre Feet which is 15 Billion Cubic Meters out of 1891 BCM.

For the last three decades GOI is not investing in Irrigation & Dams
and most of the irrigated area growth has been contributed by
Tube-wells, or Built Lame Duck Dams that don’t Store Water and don’t
prevent floods.

No One Is Interested in Progress Of India & Punjab.

Farmers get just Rs.200,000 Crores as Bank Credit [$30b] for 400M
acres of land which is just Rs.5,000 per acre [$80] . Ambanis get more
Bank Credit than all farmers as long term credit. [Figures in document
are Rs.2,19,540 Crores – this includes processing cost and bribes.]
https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/PublicationsView.aspx?id=16498

Mukesh & Anil Ambani get more Bank Credit than all Farmers in India
but contribute just 0.5% to India GDP, 0.001% Direct Jobs, payout say
just 0.0005% of India GDP as Dividend to Indian Public [$100m for
$2000b GDP] who own not even 5% equity in their companies. GoI has
FUNDED most UNPRODUCTIVE Companies, Given them Them Cheap Land;
Subsidies & Tax Concessions Worth $100b annually.

Had GoI allowed 18% of Bank Credits to Farmers [Rs.15,00,000 Crore
Including Food Processing Industries] and Invested 25% of India Budget
on Multi-Purpose Dams, Canals, Water Supply & Sanitation – All Farmers
& RURAL Incomes would have QUADRUPLED than present level, all enjoying
Power Irrigation, Water Supply & Sanitation and OUR RIVERS WOULD HAVE
BEEN CLEAN.

Ravinder Singh, Inventor & Consultant, INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES AND PROJECTS
Y-77, Hauz Khas, New Delhi-110016, India. Ph; 091- 9718280435, 9910693464
Ravinder Singh* is a WIPO awarded inventor specializing in Power,
Transportation,