LOG ON TO OUR OFFICIAL WEBSITE @ www.hcindia-au.org
  
     
   
  INSIDE THIS ISSUE
   
   
   
  01 MAIN
   
   
  02 NEWSMAKERS
   
   
  03 INVESTMENT UPDATE
   
   
  04 TRADE & ECONOMY
   
   
  05 OPPORTUNITY INDIA
   
   
  06 CULTURE
   
   
  07 TRAVEL
   
   
  08 CALENDAR
   

   
  HIGHLIGHTS
   
 

Index of Six Infrastructure Industries
MORE [+]

 
  Indian Spices
MORE [+]
 
  On a Hindu
Pilgrimage Trial
MORE [+]
 

 
The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh along with other Heads of State and Government, at the concluding session of the 14th SAARC Summit, in New Delhi on April 04, 2007.
The heads of the SAARC nations met at the Fourteenth Summit meeting of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) held in New Delhi, India on April 3-4, 2007.  They welcomed the entry of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan into SAARC. This was a historic moment as Afghanistan assumed its rightful place as a valued member of the SAARC fraternity.

The Highlights of the joint declaration were:

  • Welfare of people: They agreed to build a Partnership for Prosperity and work towards shared economic cooperation, regional prosperity, a better life for the people of South Asia.
  • Connectivity: It was vital to have better connectivity within South Asia and then with the rest of the world. The SAARC Car Rally, in the run-up to the Fourteenth SAARC Summit, had vividly symbolized this connectivity. They noted the offer of India to hold the Meeting of SAARC Ministers of Transport in New Delhi in 2007. They also directed that pilot projects for improving connectivity be identified and implemented through mutual consultations among the Member States.
  • Growth: of the economies of SAARC countries has opened new opportunities to pursue the fight against poverty with firm resolve. They called for deepening of pro-poor orientation of growth process, including through enhancing investment in human capital and infrastructure etc. Acknowledged that there is a wide range of homegrown best practices and innovative solutions for transforming the lives of peoples in South Asia.
  • SAARC Village: They decided to earmark one rural community as SAARC Village in each Member State to showcase these innovative models of development in order to further replicate these across the region.
  • Social Charter: They recognised that the implementation of the Social Charter needs focused attention and directed the National Coordination Committees (NCCs) to formulate concrete programmes and projects to complement national implementation efforts.
  • MDGs: The Independent South Asian Commission on Poverty Alleviation (ISACPA) for its elaboration of the SAARC Development Goals (SDGs), which reflect the regional determination to make faster progress towards attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
  • The SAARC Development Fund (SDF) is an important pillar that would bring concrete benefits to the people of the region. They directed that the SDF be made operational at the earliest.
  • Energy: Rapidly increasing energy demands for meeting the developmental needs of SAARC countries. They also acknowledged the need of expediting development of conventional sources of energy in a sustainable manner and for strengthening renewable energy development such as in hydropower, bio-fuel, solar and wind. They welcomed the organizing of the first ever South Asia Energy Dialogue in March 2007 in Delhi.

      » continued on page 02
VISIT OF MR.SHYAM SARAN, SPECIAL ENVOY OF PM

Mr.Shyam Saran, Special Envoy of PM visited Australia from 28 to 31 March, 2007.  In Canberra, he called on Prime Minister Howard, Foreign Minister Downer and met Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade, Mr.Michael L’Estrange.  Mr.Saran also exchanged views with the Joint Parliamentary Committee of Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade.
Mr. Howard assured of Australia’s continued support to India in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).In Sydney,  Mr.Saran had an interactive session at the Lowy Institute of International Policy.

In his meetings, Mr.Saran briefed his interlocutors on the background and status of India’s discussions on civilian nuclear cooperation with the USA, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and NSG.  He highlighted India’s unblemished record of non-proliferation, as well as present legislative developments to bring India’s export controls in line with existing global arrangements.  

He referred to India’s growing energy requirements in the context of its economic growth.   In order to maintain both economic development and its commitment to reducing green house gas emissions, India was also looking to move away from fossil fuels to the extent possible.  Nuclear energy would play an important part in this.

 
VISIT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS COMMISSION

An eight – member delegation led by His Excellency Mr.M.Veerappa Moily, Chairman, Administrative Reforms Commission of India, visited Australia from 5 to 10 March, 2007 to undertake a study of the role of functioning of the civil services in Australia.  The delegation had useful interaction with the Australian Public Service Commission and Government departments and agencies in Canberra and Sydney.

The Administrative Reforms Commission is working on a proposal for Civil Services Reform and had earlier submitted report on Ethics in  Governance.



MAIN I NEWSMAKERS I INVESTMENT UPDATE ITRADE & ECONOMY I INFOTECH I CULTURE I TRAVEL I CALENDAR

     
 
BACK TO TOP