Greece
(Source : Embassy of India, Athens)
India Participated as ‘Honored Country’ in the 84th Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF), the largest annual commercial exposition of Greece, and also the largest in Southeast Europe and the Balkans from September 7-15, 2019 (India was also the ‘Honored Country in 2009). High powered Indian business delegation led by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri. New India Pavilion was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the MoS Shri Hardeep Singh Puri on 7th September 2019. During the visit, MoS for C&I also held meeting with PM Mitsotakis, and breakfast B2G meeting with CEOs, and the Minister of Economic Development & Investments. The fair was attended by officials of Indian Government from the Ministries of Commerce and Industry, Electronics & Information Technology, Social Justice and Empowerment, Tourism, MSME and officers of Embassy of India in Greece, ITPO, IBEF and CII as well as prominent Indian entrepreneurs. Around 60 exhibitors participated, included ISRO, NTPC, APEDA, NSIC and companies from the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, etc. Hon’ble Rashtrapatiji conveyed acceptance of India’s participation as ‘Honored Country’ during his visit to Greece in June 2018. The US, China and Russia participated as the Honored Country in TIF 2018, 2017, and 2016 respectively and Germany will be in 2020.
Important Indian related statements of commercial significance by political leaders, think tanks, chambers, associations, etc:
Various articles/ references/ statements/ interviews about India’s participation in the 84th TIF (Thessaloniki International Fair) from 7-15 September 2019 as the “Honoured country”, under the moto “New India” by officials and reporters. References and detailed articles on the visit of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to India’s pavilion and inauguration of the pavilion by the Greek PM together with the Indian Minister of State for Commerce & Industry Hardeep Singh Puri, important statements by Greek PM regarding the close relations Greece has with India, underlining the significant possibilities for the two countries to further strengthen ties, and interviews of the Indian Minister, stating that India is aiming to increase bilateral trade with Greece at USD 1 billion by 2021. Important statements and interviews by Greek officials, ministers, chambers and associations (Federation of Greek Industries-SEV, Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce and Industry-TCCI, Greek Exporters Association of Northern Greece-SEVE etc.) about the “emerging’ giant- India- and new prospects of cooperation with the Indian market. Presentation of Indian companies, like Hinduja Group, UPL, GMR Group, Britannia, Tata Group, Malhotra Productions, Switz Group etc. Reports about MoU of cooperation signed between the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV) and the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII). Reports about GMR interested in 23 regional airports in Greece. (More than 90 clippings enclosed) The Ambassador of India in Greece described the goals of the Indian presence at TIF 2019; Interview. (“Praktoreio” free press, 05 Sept. 2019). Interview of Ambassador of India in Greece, presenting the “New India”. (“Oikonomiki Epitheorisi” monthly magazine, Sept. 2019).
The Greek government is open to building partnerships between Greece and India in various productive sectors, including agriculture, logistics and technology, according to Greek Minister for Development and Investment Adonis Georgiadis. In a meeting in Thessaloniki on 8 Sept. 2019 with India’s Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Mr. Georgiadis discussed the prospects for economic, trade and investment opportunities between Greece and India. During the meeting, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri noted that relations of the two countries are marked by a long friendship and cooperation, which can be further expanded. He also referred to the prospects for the growth of Indian businesses in the wider area of South East Europe. Also present at the meeting was Greece’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Konstantinos Fragogiannis who underlined that the development of tourism, shipbuilding and IT services are just some of the potential areas of joint cooperation between the two countries. India has already expressed interest in investing in Greece. In 2016 the GMR Airports Limited (GAL) became part of the consortium selected to construct and operate the Euro 850 million Kastelli airport in Heraklion, Crete Island. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 84th Thessaloniki International Fair. According to TIF-Helexpo, the size of India’s economy is expected to reach $5 trillion in 2025 and Greece, a European Union and Eurozone member country that is located at the crossroads of three continents, could serve as a base for the presence of Indian enterprises in Europe. Indian companies have been internationally distinguished in recent years in key areas such as aerospace, pharmaceuticals, energy, shipping, tourism, metal mining and food. (Based on various articles in the Greek Press).
“The spirit of Thessaloniki travels to India”, “The Indian student wants to become the tourism ambassador of Thessaloniki”. A 26-year old Indian student (Kushal S Mehta) from Jaisalmer at the International University of Greece wants to make Thessaloniki known to rest of the world and so, with a team of 15 persons from Greece and abroad they created an electronic issue on the subject of Thessaloniki which so far was read by few thousands of people in 62 countries. (“Star Press”, 02 Sept. 2019, www.newsit.gr, 02 Sept. 2019, www.voria.gr 01 Sept. 2019).
Thailand
(Source : Embassy of India, Bangkok)
Clean energy
Daily News 25.10.2019
India has come up with the plans for “Megaproject” which is related to solar energy and wind energy. The related departments will study the possibility of these projects with the capacity of at least 30KW in Gujarat and at least 25KW in Rajasthan.