Ethiopia
(Source : Embassy of India, Addis Ababa)
Ease of Doing Business: Ethiopia is ranked 159 among 190 economies globally and 31st in Africa in the Ease of Doing Business, according to the latest World Bank annual ratings. The report, among other things, evaluates and measures economies in terms of starting business, availability of credit and electricity, paying taxes, cross-border trading and protecting minority investors. At the regional level, Rwanda comes at the top of the Ease of Doing Business ranking, attaining 29th place at a global rank. In addition, Kenya stands at the 61 place. Rwanda not only led sub-Saharan Africa but also managed to come ahead of countries like China, Brazil and South Africa. The rank of Ethiopia improved to 159 in 2018 from 161 in 2017. Ease of Doing Business in Ethiopia averaged 133.45 from 2008 until 2018, reaching an all-time high of 161 in 2017 and a record low of 104 in 2010.
Ease of Doing Business-Djibouti: Djibouti saw a rise of 55 ranks in the World Bank World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business global rankings. This was announced in the World Bank Group’s Doing Business 2019: Training for Reform, released on 31 October 2018. This year, Djibouti cleared the top 100 economies, sitting at 99th globally. Last year, the report ranked Djibouti at 154. The country is among the 10 economies that improved the most across three or more areas measured by Doing Business. Over the past year, the country saw six reforms in the areas measured by the report – Starting a Business, Registering Property, Protecting Minority investors, Getting Credit, Enforcing Contracts and Resolving Insolvency.
Egypt
(Source : Embassy of India, Cairo)
An Indian delegation grouping about 10 auto parts companies are participating in Autotech 2018, the International Auto Aftermarket Trade Show for Automobile Spare Parts, Accessories, Motorcar Workshops, Service Station Equipment and Feeding Industry, which will be held at Cairo International Convention and Exhibition Center during the period from December 14 to 16. The Indian government is backing the country’s pavilion at the exhibition which is set up under the patronage of the Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC) of India. The Indian companies will offer the capabilities of the country’s Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and will explore the Egyptian and North African markets to specify the spheres of mutual cooperation. The Indian auto parts manufacturing industry is expected to be the third largest industry in the world by 2025. The sector’s exports have achieved 23% growth rate in fiscal year 2017-2018. Egypt is considered one of India’s major trading partners in the African continent, with volume of trade exchange amounting to $3.68 billion, according to the figures registered during 2017-2018. India is ranked Egypt’s tenth trading partner, and the seventh largest importer of the Egyptian commodities. It also ranks the 11th among Egypt`s largest exporters.
Thailand
(Source : Embassy of India, Bangkok)
Two-wheelers power India`s EV revolution
Bangkok Post 14.01.2019
The government has set a target of electric vehicles making up 30% of new sales of cars and motorcycles by 2030 from less than 1% today. Hurt by high fuel prices, Vinod Gore, a farmer in Gove village in the western Indian state of Maharashtra, ditch his petrol scooter for an electric model, underlining how two-wheelers are driving the country’s goal of electrification of its vehicles. Gore`s electric scooter, built by Indian startup Okinawa, runs for about 100-120 km on a single charge which costs the sugarcane farmer less than 10% of the 150 rupees ($2.15) he would otherwise have spent on fuel for the same distance.
Venezuela
(Source : Embassy of India, Caracas)
India to keep oil trade with Venezuela: According to media reports (oilprice.com & financialexpress.com), India would continue to trade with Venezuela, despite the ongoing crisis in Venezuela. Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaidó, the president of the National Assembly, declared himself interim president on 23 January 2019, and the United States supported him against Nicolas Maduro. India continues to be one of the main buyers of Venezuelan crude oil. The report indicates that Indian refiners keep buying more than 400,000 bpd of oil from Venezuela. The report added that in recent months, Venezuela has been the fourth largest supplier of crude oil to India, after Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). India imported crude oil from Venezuela worth US$ 5.8 billion in the financial year 2017-2018, while imports between April and October 2018 were valued at US$ 4.6 billion.