Bilateral relations between Viet Nam and India have developed significantly over the past years, especially in trade, agriculture and food processing. This was revealed at a conference in Uttar Pradesh in India on Thursday. The conference was held as part of the ongoing Global Food & Beverage Show of India. Two-way trade between the two countries had grown from US$1.53 billion in 2007 to $7.63 billion in 2017. Vietnamese exports to India in particular increased by 21 times from $180 million to $3.76 billion. Viet Nam exports coffee, pepper, cashew nuts and seafood to India, among others, while it imports meat, aquatic products, fruits, vegetables and animal feed from the Indian market. In his speech at the conference, Bui Trung Thuong, head of Trade Office at the Vietnamese Embassy in India, said there was scope for the two countries to accelerate bilateral co-operation in three reviewed areas. Do Huu Huy, deputy head of the Asia-Africa Market Department from Viet Nam’s … [Read more...] about Conference highlights strong ties between Viet Nam, India
India
Vietnamese Prime Minister to pay official visit to India
The information was released at a press conference in Hanoi on January 17.In addition to a Plenary Session of the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit, the PM will join numerous other important events, including a Retreat of all heads of State and Government of ASEAN Member States with the Indian PM, a parade on the Republic Day of India (January 26) and an event entitled ‘At Home’.During his stay, Vietnamese Government leader and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi will hold bilateral talks, seeking the signing of important agreements in different fields.Speaking at the press conference, Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Parvathaneni Harish noted: “The visit will provide an opportunity for the two leaders to review the entire gamut of bilateral relations and further lay out the roadmap for strengthening our comprehensive strategic partnership”.The year 2017 was chosen as the ‘Year of Friendship’ to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the establishment of … [Read more...] about Vietnamese Prime Minister to pay official visit to India
Israeli PM Israel Netanyahu begins 6-day visit to India
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu (left) and Indian PM Narendra Modi (Photo: AFP/VNN) “We have landed in India. Thank you to my good friend Narendra Modi for the warm welcome!” said a Twitter post by Mr. Netanyahu soon after his arrival. PM Netanyahu was received by PM Narendra Modi at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. India's External Affairs Ministry says the two countries are expected to sign agreements on cyber-security, energy and space cooperation, and film production. Israel and India have developed close ties in high-tech and defence cooperation. Mr. Netanyahu’s visit, the first by an Israeli PM since 2003, comes within the framework of events to mark a quarter century of diplomatic relations./. … [Read more...] about Israeli PM Israel Netanyahu begins 6-day visit to India
India rice rates gain as Bangladesh keeps up purchases, Vietnam ends flat run
Rice prices gained this week in India as Bangladesh continued to lap up the staple grain from its neighbour, while prospects of deals with the Philippines saw rates climb for the first time in three weeks in a relatively quiet Vietnamese market. In Vietnam, benchmark 5 percent broken rice rose to $400 a ton, free-on-board (FOB) Saigon, ending a three-week flat trend within the $390-$395 range, and boosted by prospects of deals with the Philippines, traders said. “Prices edged up on market talk that the Philippines would invite tenders to buy 250,000 tonnes at the end of January,” a trader in Ho Chi Minh City said. However, trading remained thin due to depleted stocks in the world’s third-largest rice exporter, while Vietnam’s major winter-spring crop would be ready only by the end of February, traders said. Vietnam plans to sell close to a 23 percent stake in the country’s main rice exporter Vinafood II through an initial public offering. Top exporter … [Read more...] about India rice rates gain as Bangladesh keeps up purchases, Vietnam ends flat run
India-ASEAN Summit to focus on counter-terrorism, security, trade
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (fourth, left) and other delegates at the 15th ASEAN-India Summit in November 2017. (Photo: VNA)New Delhi (VNA) – Enhancing ties incounter-terrorism, security and trade will top the agenda at the India-ASEANSummit that will see the participation of leaders from all ten ASEAN countriesto mark the 25th anniversary of India-ASEAN Dialogue Partnership.The visit of the leaders of the ASEAN countries, who willbe the chief guests at India’s Republic Day parade, is “unprecedented” and a“landmark” event, Secretary (East) of the Indian Ministry of External AffairsPreeti Saran told reporters.Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj’s visits tothree ASEAN nations – Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore – last week turned outto be a curtain-raiser for the summit, Saran said.In reply to the question whether security andcounter-terrorism will be discussed, she said these issues “always remain … [Read more...] about India-ASEAN Summit to focus on counter-terrorism, security, trade
Indonesia, India hold first security dialogue
Spokesperson of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Raveesh Kumar (Photo: AP/VNA)New Delhi (VNA)– Indonesia and India held their first security dialogue in New Delhi onJanuary 9.The dialogue was co-chairedby India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Indonesia’s CoordinatingMinister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs H. Wiranto, saidspokesperson of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Raveesh Kumar.The two sides have agreed onoperational cooperation in security and counter-terrorism fields, according tothe spokesperson.During his visit, Minister Wirantoalso met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. At the meeting, Modi laudedthe first security dialogue between the two nations, saying that India andIndonesia hold great potential for cooperation in green economy development aswell as maritime security.He also expressed his hopeto welcome Indonesian President Joko Widodo in late January, as leaders ofASEAN countries will come to India for the … [Read more...] about Indonesia, India hold first security dialogue
India allows 49% foreign investment in state-run airline
Once the country's monopoly airline, Air India has slowly lost market share to new low-cost private players in one of the world's fastest-growing airline markets.The government said last June it was open to selling a stake in the state-owned airline, which has developed a reputation for delays, cancellations and poor service.On Wednesday the cabinet rubber-stamped plans to allow foreign airlines to invest up to 49 percent in Air India, subject to government approval.That was part of a series of moves to relax restrictions on foreign investment.Prime Minister Narendra Modi's right-wing government has sought to encourage foreign companies to invest in India since coming to power in 2014.The cabinet also cleared plans to automatically allow 100 percent foreign investment in single-brand retailers. Previously, this required special government approval.Air India ran losses for nearly a decade after a botched merger in 2007 and has debts of around $7.67 billion according to government … [Read more...] about India allows 49% foreign investment in state-run airline
Ambassador: Vietnam-India ties increasingly important to Indo-Pacific
Vietnamese Ambassador Ton Sinh Thanh (centre) at the workshop on Vietnam-India relations in New Delhi on January 9 (Photo: VNA) New Delhi (VNA) – Vietnam-India relations have become more important to peace, stability and development of the two countries, as well as peace, security and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, said Vietnamese Ambassador to India Ton Sinh Thanh. Thanh made the remark while addressing a workshop on India-Vietnam ties amid the changing geopolitical situation in the Indo-Pacific held at the India International Centre in New Delhi on January 9. The event saw the attendance of scholars and researchers from the University of Delhi, Jawaharlal Nehru University and Sri Venkateswara University of India, Indian Council of World Affairs, King’s College London of the UK, Centre for China Analysis and Strategy, along with those from Vietnam. Thanh said although the global and regional situation is complex and unpredictable, peace, cooperation and … [Read more...] about Ambassador: Vietnam-India ties increasingly important to Indo-Pacific
India, Singapore discuss trade partnership
India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj met with her Singaporean counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan in Singapore (Source: the Times of India)New Delhi (VNA) – India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on January 7 met with her Singaporean counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan in Singapore and discussed bilateral and multilateral issues relating to the economic and strategic partnership.The two officials also discussed the enormous potential for cooperation between ASEAN and India, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said on Twitter.Swaraj addressed the Indian diaspora at the ASEAN-India Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) during which she reaffirmed India's commitment to ASEAN. She also met delegates from the ASEAN countries attending the PBD.Balakrishnan said that the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) between ASEAN and six of its key partners, including India, is a historic opportunity to set up the world's largest … [Read more...] about India, Singapore discuss trade partnership
India fosters cooperation with ASEAN
The meeting took place in the context that India is scaling up effortsto enhance cooperation with the region in accordance with its “Act East”policy. Indian Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj (R) and Secretary General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Dato Paduka Lim Jock Hoi (Photo: rediff.com) Kumar also said that on the threshold of the summit commemoratingthe 25th anniversary of India-ASEAN Dialogue Partnership, Swarajinaugurated the fifth Round Table of ASEAN-Indian Network of Think-Tank. Source: VNA … [Read more...] about India fosters cooperation with ASEAN