Australia
(Source : Consulate General of India Sydney)
The year 2017 was good for India-Australia trade, with a jump of almost 50 % in 2017 over the year 2016 (though refined petroleum from India and coal from Australia were the main contributors, ie. 50% of the total trade).
In the month of January 2018, Australia exported merchandise goods to India worth USD 954 million, while importing goods worth USD 459 million from India. Indian merchandise Exports to Australia for Jan 2018 witnessed an increase of 105% over Jan 2017. Whereas, during the same period Australian export to India decreased by 9%.
Refined Petroleum, Medicaments, Pearls & precious stones, made up articles of textile materials, jewellery, passenger motor vehicles, women / girls clothing, manufactures of base metal, travelling cases and bags, floor coverings, organo-inorganic compounds, fixed vegetable fats and oils, apparels of articles and textile fabrics, equipment for distributing electricity, and furniture and parts, in that order, were dominant commodities of export from India to Australia.
In Jan 2018, export of Refined Petroleum Oils from India to Australia increased by 90 % over Jan 2017.
Export of ‘Coal’ from Australia to India was the main contributor for the volume of bilateral trade between the countries for the period Jan 2018.
In value terms the total trade increased from USD 1.3 b to USD 1.4 b between Jan 2017 and Jan 2018.
Saudi Arabia
(Source : Embassy of India, Riyadh)
During 2016-17, the value of India Saudi Arabia bilateral trade stood at USD 25.08 billion registering a decrease of 6.11% over previous year (USD 26.71 billion). Indian imports from Saudi Arabia decreased by 1.72% to USD 19.97 billion (in 2016-17) from USD 20.32 billion (in 2015-16) whereas Indian exports to Saudi Arabia decreased by 20.08% to USD 5.11 billion (in 2016-17) from USSD 6.39 billion (2015-16). The bilateral trade (Apr, 2017 – Jan, 2018) stands at USD 21.70 bn.
India accorded “Guest of Honour country” in Janadriyah festival-2018
India participated as ‘Guest of Honour’ in the 32nd edition of the prestigious Saudi National Heritage and Cultural Festival Janadriyah 2018 as the ‘Guest of Honour’ country from 7 -28 February, 2018. The “Guest of Honour’ privilege comes in the backdrop of the historic visit of PM Shri Narendra Modi to Riyadh in April, 2016 and the historic bilateral relations. The Festival provided a vivid platform to project India’s resilient economy, technical acumen, scientific progress, investment potential, flagship programmes, tourism and culture. Minister of State for External Affairs Gen. Dr. V. K. Singh visited Riyadh (3-5 Feb, 2018) and addressed the joint press conference with Saudi Minister of National Guard H.E Prince Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Ayyaf. External Affairs Minister Smt Sushma Swaraj (EAM) jointly inaugurated the India Pavilion at the Janadriyah festival with His Majesty King Salman. EAM took Saudi Foreign Minister H. E Adel Al Jubeir a round of the India pavilion. Later, EAM addressed the inauguration ceremony and thanked the Saudi leadership for according the honour to India. EAM also highlighted the historic links between India-Saudi Arabia and called for diversifying and deepening the current ties beyond oil. President, ICCR also visited the Festival and had interactions with the Saudi Officials. Considering the huge response, the Saudi Government extended the festival for 4 days, which resulted in the festival from 7-28 Feb, 2018.
Ministry of External Affairs chose the theme ‘Saudi ka dost Bharat’ for the Indian component of the festival. Keeping in mind, the front façade part was designed with the tagline ‘Saudi ka dost Bharat’ trilingual (Hindi, Arabic and English). The India pavilion comprised the friendship wall, traditional & contemporary India, business stalls, states part, flavours of India and information desk. The friendship wall is a collection of rare and historic photographs of the historic bilateral relations and its discourse over the years. The friendship wall began with the picture of historic visit of then King Saudi to India in 1955 and culminated with the landmark visit of PM Narendra Modi to Riyadh in April, 2016. The traditional India segment comprised the ‘Incredible India’, AYUSH, Handicrafts, Textiles and the much desired ‘Yoga Man’, while the contemporary India segment concentrated more on the modern technological skills of India displaying Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Ministry of Shipping, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Ministry of Food Processing Industries.
The business stalls included the Indian companies/firms namely Larsen & Toubro, LuLu, Tata Motors, ITL, Shapoorji Pallonji, Telecommunications Consultants India Limited, Virat Group, KBRL Rice, Al Abeer Medical Group, Aster Medcity, Max Healthcare, Artemis Healthcare, Jet Airways, Gateways Travels, Masah Construction, MDH Masala, Spice board, Tea board and Coffee board and Flavours of India. The companies/firms displayed their prominence in their respective sectors, had installed video walls, displayed modes, distributed brochures which evinced interest in the visitors and attracted huge gathering to the India pavilion. The Jaguar displayed by the Tata Motors garnered huge attention, sending a strong message on the vibrant automobile sector and the fact that Jaguar is an Indian product. Also, Jaguar was part of the numerous selfies by the Saudi visitors. The Arabic calligraphy exhibits was well received by the Saudi citizens which was well evident by the number of questions answered by the Exhibitors.
The States part and the flavours of India stole the show of the India pavilion. The states part involved the participation of 11 states (Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telengana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar) decorating the states stalls with models, banners, roll-ups, handicraft items, textiles indigenous to their respective states and presenting the Indian concept of ‘Unity in Diversity ‘ to the visitors. The visitors were really awe-struck by the cultural diversity and also the historic richness, economic potential & investment opportunities and culinary skills each state had to offer. Besides the states part displaying their indigenous culinary delight, an exclusive part ‘Flavours of India’ adding authentic gustatory delight to the visitors with the cuisines from different parts of India. Embassy of India, Riyadh had also an information desk which provided the relevant and useful information about India to the visitors.
Besides the business related part, the Cultural part comprising Yoga demonstrations, dances, martial arts, and screening of Indian films/documentaries was well received by the Saudi audience resulting in the flooding of the cultural area completely jam-packed. The Yoga demonstrations attracted huge gathering with the crowds increasing in numbers as the festival proceeded. The cultural performances involved two shows per day characterized by the classical dances, martial parts from all the four corners of India namely, Kathakali, Kalariyaptu, kathak, Rajasthani, Gujrati, Maniuri, Purulia Chhau, Bhangra and Bollywood. Needless to say, Bollywood and Bhangra with their colourful dresses and racy beats enthralled the audiences, especially the Saudi women. Screening of Indian films/documentaries followed the cultural performances. The Indian Flag flying high at the minaret of the India pavilion and the tri-coloured laden Cultural stage remained a huge attraction to the visitors.
Seminar on India-Saudi Arabia bilateral ties & Economic Cooperation
On the side-lines of the Janadriyah, the Saudi Ministry of National Guard organized a two day seminar (11 & 12 Feb) on (i) Indo-Saudi ties: Present Realities and Future Prospects and (ii) Bilateral Economic Cooperation and Investment Opportunities. Eminent speakers from both the sides discussed candidly on the bilateral ties and the ways to further enhance and diversify it. From Indian side, Ambassador Mr. Ahmad Javed and Shri Nalin Surie, DG, ICWA addressed the first session, while Saudi Ambassador to India Dr. Saud Al Sati represented the Saudi side. From the Indian side, Shri Didar Singh, Former SG, FICCI and Shri Irfan Allana, Chairman of Allana Sons spoke of the business opportunities, GoI’s flagship programmes, ease of doing business in India and investment potential in India. Dr. Abdullah Salamah addressed the audience on the ‘Vision 2030’ and the recent initiatives under the ambitious programme.
12th India- Saudi Joint Commission Meeting
Hon`ble Finance Minister of India Shri Arun Jaitley visited (18 & 19 Feb) Riyadh and co-chaired (19 Feb) the 12th India-Saudi Arabia Joint Commission Meeting along with the Saudi Minister of Commerce & Investment Dr. Majed Al Qasabi. Speaking at the Joint Commission Meeting, Hon’ble Finance Minister said that Saudi Arabia has been a key partner and wished to enhance the bilateral relations to newer horizons. He stressed that India has core competence in Pharmaceuticals, Healthcare, IT, Tourism, Hospitality, Automobiles sectors etc. and emphasized that India wishes to be a long term and a reliable partner in the Saudi`s ambitious transformation programme. The JCM concluded with the signing and exchange of minutes focusing on Trade & Commerce, Security, Finance, Agriculture, Information & Media, Health, Vocational Training & Education, Tourism & Archeology, Housing, Energy, Sports, Culture and Community Welfare. Both the sides also agreed to constitute a Joint Working Group on the trade and investment issues. During his visit, Hon’ble Finance Minister called on the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Minister for Finance H.E Mohammad Al Jada’an, Minister for Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources H.E Khalid Al Falih and Deputy Minister for Foreign Trade Mr. Abdurrahman Al Harbi and held detailed discussions on further strengthening and diversifying bilateral cooperation in the fields of mutual interest.
Hon’ble Finance Minister also addressed the Saudi India Joint Business Meeting (18 Feb) organised by the Council of Saudi Chambers and briefed the Saudi businessmen of the initiatives implemented to ease the business environment in India.
On the sidelines of the 12th JCM, National Investment & Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) Executive Director Shri Prakash Rao met the Kingdom’s Soverign Wealth Fund Public Investment Fund (PIF) Officials and discussed the prospects of PIF investing in NIIF and early expedition of the proposed MoU between NIIF and PIF.
Saudi Minister for Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources visited India
Saudi Minister for Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources visited (22/2 – 24/2) India, called on Hon’ble PM and held bilateral talks with Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley; Minister of Petroleum & Natural gas Shri. Dharmendra Pradhan; Commerce & Industry Minister Shri. Suresh Prabhu and Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy (I/C) Shri R.K. Singh. On the side-lines of the visit, a Non-Disclosure Agreement was signed between Saudi oil company Aramco and Indian oil companies headed by Indian Oil Corporation on the possible investment by Aramco in the West Coast Refinery Project. NITI Aayog made a presentation on the Indian Economy and the GoI’s flagship programmes to the Saudi Minister. Also, NIIF CEO Mr. Sujoy Bose met the Saudi Minister in Mumbai.