India World Forum

Warm and friendly contacts between India and Kuwait go back several centuries and our excellent bilateral relations have been consolidated by the continuous intermingling of our peoples and civilizations. Till the discovery of oil, Kuwait’s economy revolved around its fine harbor and three maritime-linked activities, all of which had an Indian perspective: building ships using teak and other timber brought from India; pearl diving and fishing; and voyages to India on dhows carrying dates that were traded for wood, rope, rice, tiles, cloth and spices. Until 1961, Indian Rupee was the legal tender in Kuwait. The Kuwaiti ruling family too has had longstanding ties with India. Cultural affinities, historical trade and other linkages, geographic proximity, and a large presence of Indian expatriates in Kuwait, have sustained and nurtured the close relationship, which encompasses significant political, trade and economic interests. VVIP visits from India to Kuwait: These have been by HE Vi

I cannot find words to condemn the barbaric acts of terror that resulted in the senseless killing and injuring of innocent people in Mumbai yesterday. I understand the shock and outrage of the people of Mumbai. I share their pain, anguish and anger. I have come here in solidarity with the people of Mumbai. I extend my deepest condolences and sympathies to those who have suffered in this terrible tragedy. The need of the hour is to look after their medical and other immediate needs. I have asked the State Government to ensure that all support is provided so that these families can overcome the tragedy and rebuild their lives. We have already announced ex gratia payment of Rs.2 lakhs to the next of kin of those killed and Rs. 1 lakh to those injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. The Central Government and the State Government have acted quickly to deal with the situation. I have asked the Chief Minister of Maharashtra and the Union Home Minister to continue to c

Switzerland and India have had cordial and friendly relations since India became independent. The relationship is based on shared values of democracy, multiculturalism and the rule of law. Independent India’s policy of non-alignment and Switzerland’s traditional policy of neutrality helped to develop a close understanding between the leaders of the two countries in the early years. A Treaty of Friendship between India and Switzerland was signed at New Delhi on August 14, 1948, one of the first such treaties to be signed by the independent India. The Treaty provided for the establishment of diplomatic missions between the two countries and diplomatic missions were opened in Berne and Delhi soon after its conclusion. During the course of 2008, India and Switzerland celebrated the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Friendship Treaty, an important milestone in the annals of our bilateral relations. In recognition of the growth of multi-faceted bilateral relationship in the past six

 India Singapore Political Relations India and Singapore have a cordial relations and bilateral relationship based on convergence of strong economic and political interests. The process of economic growth and economic reforms in India since the early 1990s created a strong basis for cooperation with Singapore, opening up possibilities for significant presence in each others’ economies. For India, Singapore has also played an important role in reconnecting us to the countries of South East Asia and beyond. As pluralistic societies, the two nations share similar concern about the challenges posed by terrorism and religious extremists and have therefore found it mutually beneficial to evolve a broad framework of security cooperation. Singapore, led by then PM Goh Chok Tong, took a major interest in India’s economic reforms in the 1990s. He visited India in 1994 as the Chief Guest at our Republic Day celebrations. A reciprocal visit by PM Shri Narasimha Rao took place in September 1994

The Union Cabinet in its meeting today has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to approve of the 'Policy Guidelines on Expansion of FM radio broadcasting services through private agencies (Phase-Ill)'. Cabinet has also cleared the proposal of the Ministry for conducting ascending e-auction, as followed by Department of Telecommunications for the auction of 3G and BWA spectrum, mutatis-mutandis, for award of license of FM Channels, as recommended by the GoM on Licensing Methodology for FM Phase-Ill. FM Phase-Ill Policy extends FM radio services to about 227 new cities, in addition to the present 86 cities, with a total of 839 new FM radio Channels in 294 cities. Phase -III policy will result in coverage of all cities with a population of one lakh and above with private FM radio channels. Salient features of the approved Policy for Phase-Ill as against Phase-11 are as under;- i) Radio operators have been permitted carriage of news bulletin

India and Australia have strong cordial relations and several commonalities, which serve as a foundation for closer India Australia cooperation and multifaceted interaction, on lines similar to what India has developed with other Western countries. India and Australia Both are strong, vibrant, secular and multicultural democracies. They both have a free press and an independent judicial system; the English language is an important link. Cricket, and now the large numbers of Indian students coming to Australia for education, are significant elements in awareness at the popular level. The relationship has grown in strength and importance since India’s economic reforms in the nineties and has made rapid strides in all areas - trade, energy and mining, science & technology, information technology, education and defence. Australia is in India’s extended neighbourhood, a point made by then Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith when he made a key note address in September 2008 a

Following the official announcement of his visit to Bangladesh on 6-7 September, the Prime Minister called the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Her Excellency Sheikh Hasina to say how much he was looking forward to the visit and to renewing contacts with his old friends there. Prime Minister Hasina said that she personally and the people of Bangladesh were waiting eagerly to receive him and there were high expectations from the visit, which she hoped would be a historic one. The Prime Minister conveyed his warm personal greetings to Prime Minister Hasina and through her to the people of Bangladesh . He said that India attached the highest importance to relations with Bangladesh and a strong and productive partnership between the two countries was in the interest of the two peoples and the people of South Asia as a whole. The visit would provide an opportunity to give added momentum and high level political direction to bilateral ties, which have been intensifying steadily in recent years.

On 17 September 1950, India announced recognition of Israel. Soon after India’s recognition of Israel, the Jewish Agency established an immigration office in Bombay. This was soon converted into a Trade Office and later a Consulate. Sporadic governmental contacts continued between India and Israel in the fifties and early sixties, including visits by several Israeli and Indian ministers. Following decision to establish diplomatic relations, Israel opened its Embassy in Delhi in February 1992 and India opened its Embassy in Tel Aviv on 15 May 1992. Since then relations have seen rapid growth across a broad spectrum. Recent important high level visits from India include that of Chief Minister of Punjab Shri Parkash Singh Badal and Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Shri Prem Kumar Dhumal in November 2009; Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia in February 2010; Minister of State (I/C) for Science & Technology Shri Prithviraj Chavan in March 2010; Membe