India-UAE in Focus 2013

C•o•n•t•e•n•t•s India-UAE in Focus 2013

Ambassador's Message................................................................................................... 5 India Enjoys Strategic Ties with United Arab Emirates........................................................ 6 Patriotic Song 'Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon" Turns 50......................................................... 12 Protocol with UAE on Overseas Indian Workers............................................................... 14 Technocity - A Major Landmark in India's IT Scenario...................................................... 16 UAE-India Bilateral Trade Setting New Heights................................................................ 18 Alternative to Wood Developed...................................................................................... 20 Dabur Behind More than a Billion Smiles!........................................................................ 21 India and the United Arab Emirates: Growing Engagements ............................................ 22 Recent India-UAE Engagement...................................................................................... 26 India and UAE Explore Investment Opportunities............................................................ 28 India’s Gems & Jewellery Industry: A Dazzling Success Story........................................... 30 Bank of Baroda, UAE Operations.... Where Excellence is a Journey................................... 33 Jute- The Golden Fibre................................................................................................. 34 UAE: 2nd home for Indian Expatriates............................................................................ 36 The New India Assurance Company Limited................................................................... 37 For the UAE, India is the World’s Economic Powerhouse.................................................. 38 Dubai in Frame for Indian Tourist................................................................................... 40 Temi Tea – The Flavor of Sikkim ................................................................................... 42 Gurudwara, brings Religion and Tradition Alive in UAE..................................................... 44 Behind Camera Talent getting Exposure: Film Editor Namrata Rao.................................... 46 10 Best Independent Films of 2012 (2012 in Retrospect).................................................. 48 Interesting Facts about India......................................................................................... 50

Cover pix: Mr. Salman Khurshid, External Affairs Minister of India meeting with Foreign Minister of UAE, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi (March 13, 2013)

Published by Krest Publications (New Delhi) in association with the Embassy of India (Abu Dhabi) B-7/107A, Ground Floor, Safdarjang Enclave Extn.

New Delhi - 110029, India Tel: 91-11-4653 9323 Fax : 91-11-4610 5603 E-mail: editor@diplomacy.in

Editor: Harun Riaz Project Co-ordinator: R.K. Verma Marketing: Ajit Thakur Visual & Graphics: Hari Sharma Sub-Editor: Khushboo Kumari Prining: Rave India

Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi Plot No. 10, Sector W-59/02 P.O. Box : 4090 Abu Dhabi, UAE Tel.: (00-971-2) 4447729 Fax: (00-971-2) 4447738 Email: amboffice@indembassyuae.org

Disclaimer: India-UAE in Focus is a special publication. The magazine is produced to promote India’s bilateral ties with UAE. Every effort has been made to produce an error free magazine. It has no commercial value and is not for sale, only for private circulation. For further information, kindly contact the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

H.E. Mr. Lokesh Mysore Kapanaiah Ambassador of India to the United Arab Emirates

Message I am glad to know that M/s. Krest Publications is bringing out a special magazine on "India-UAE in Focus" 2013 with support from Emirates Airline. India and UAE share historical, time-tested and multifaceted relations. UAE is home to about 1.8 million Indians and an important source of India's energy requirements. Political relations between the two countries have been recently boosted with high-level exchange of political leaders.

The India-UAE economic partnership is unique and vibrant. UAE's energy resources and investible funds and India's ability to develop UAE's services sector and knowledgebased economy make both the countries natural partners. The bilateral trade value of US$71 billion for last year makes them the top trading partners for each other. Despite the general downturn in global economy, India-UAE trade has been showing positive trends all along. The Indian community in the UAE, with its diverse background and talents, has been serving a valuable role. It enjoys an enviable reputation of being law abiding and hard working. With over 700 flights a week between India and UAE, the civil aviation sector has played an important role in strengthening bonds between the two countries by promoting people-to-people contacts. The relationship is poised to attain new heights in the coming years.

I have no doubt that the publication "India-UAE in Focus" 2013 will greatly contribute to further strengthening of understanding between the two countries.

I n d i a -UAE i n F o c u s 2 0 1 3

5

Bilateral Ties

India Enjoys Strategic Ties with United Arab Emirates According to the most updated brief on India’s relationship with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) the ties are strategic and valuable. The bilateral trade is worth whopping US $ 71 billion. A report from Ministry of External Affairs, India.

I

ndia and United Arab Emirates (UAE) enjoy strong bonds of friendship which are founded on millennia-old cultural,

religious and economic intercourse between the two regions. Peopleto-people contacts and barter trade between the two regions

have existed for centuries. The relationship flourished after the accession of H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan as the Ruler of Abu Dhabi in 1966 and subsequently with the creation of the UAE Federation in 1971. Both sides have made sincere efforts to improve relations in all fields.

Bilateral visits: India-UAE bilateral relations have received impetus from time-to-time with exchange of high-level visits from both sides. Important visits at different level include: Presidential visits: President Dr. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed visited UAE in November 1976; President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam paid a State visit to the UAE in October 2003 and President Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil paid a State visit to UAE in November 2010. From the UAE side UAE’s President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan visited India in 1975 and 1992.

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh meeting with the VicePresident and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Mr. Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, in New Delhi on March 26, 2007

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Prime Ministerial visits: Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi visited UAE in May 1981. From the UAE side, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President & Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, visited India in March 2007, Mach 2010 and May 2011. The Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Interior, Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan paid a visit to India in November 2011.

Foreign Ministers visits: External Affairs Minister, Mr.

Bilateral Ties Pranab Mukherjee visited UAE in May 2008. External Affairs Minister, Mr. S. M. Krishna visited Abu Dhabi, UAE on April 16, 2012 leading the Indian delegation at the10th Joint Commission Meeting. Minister of State, Mr. E. Ahmed visited Abu Dhabi, UAE for the 3rd Indo-Arab Business Conclave on May 21-22, 2012.

From the UAE side, Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan led the UAE delegation at the India-UAE Joint Commission meeting in New Delhi in June 2007 during which he held meetings with Hon’ble Vice President, Hon’ble Prime Minister and Hon’ble External Affairs Minister. UAE Foreign Minister H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan visited New Delhi on May 17-18, 2012.

Other important ministerial level visits: Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE H.H. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited in June 2011. Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade visited India in 2009 and later in January 2012 to participate in the CII Partnership Summit.

Sheikh Hamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Managing Director of ADIA-largest Sovereign Wealth Fund in the world visited India on 16-20 January, 2012 to promote investments. Minister of State for Financial Affairs, H. E. Mr. Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, visited India on April 3, 2012. Mr. Vayalar Ravi, Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs paid a visit on November 13, 2012. Mr. E. Ahamed, Minister of State for External Affairs paid an official visit to Abu Dhabi on January 18-20, 2013 to meet representatives of Indian Associations in Abu Dhabi and to discuss amnesty related issues with the UAE Government.

Bilateral Agreements: India and the UAE have signed a number of Agreements and MoUs from time-to-time in different

sectors providing an institutional framework for cooperation in those sectors. Number of Agreements signed between India and UAE till date include [1] Cultural Cooperation Agreement (1975); [2] Civil Aviation Agreement (1989); [3] Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (1992), Protocol to amend the

India-UAE Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (April 16, 2012); [4] Agreement to Combat Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1994); [5] Extradition Treaty (1999); [6] Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty in Criminal & Civil Matters (1999); [7] Agreement on Juridical and Judicial Cooperation in Civil

10th Session of the India-UAE Joint Commission for Technical and Economic Cooperation

T

he 10th session of the India-UAE Joint Commission for Technical and Economic Cooperation concluded on April 16, 2012 with the ministerial round co-chaired by Mr. S.M. Krishna, the then Minister for External Affairs of India and H. H. Sheikh Abdulla Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Foreign Minister of the UAE and signing of two documents – A Memorandum of Understanding on setting up of Joint Committee for Consular Affairs and a Protocol to amend the India-UAE Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement. During the two day meeting, discussions were held covering diverse areas including cooperation in the fields of Trade, Investments, Customs, Banking, Auditing, Energy, Agriculture, Civil Aviation, Consular, Security, Transport, Tourism, Education, Culture, Manpower and Community Welfare.

Prior to the 2nd day meeting of Joint commission the two ministers held bilateral meeting. The two sides discussed an entire gamut of bilateral relations, including the intensification of economic and energy ties, defence cooperation, regional, international and bilateral issues of mutual concerns.

India's bilateral trade with the UAE is over $70 billion. India and the UAE were each other's largest trade partners in 2010-2011.

The UAE has invested in India around $2 billion in areas ranging from energy, services and programming to construction and tourism. The UAE is the tenth biggest investor in India in terms of FDI. On April 15, 2012 the EAM addressed the Indian Ambassadors from the GCC (Gulf Co-operation Council) Region including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, Yemen and Iraq. EAM also met about 200 Indian workers to discuss their working conditions in UAE and later in the evening addressed a gathering of the Indian Community from all over UAE. Both the sides expressed the hope that these meetings would open up new avenues for broader cooperation between the two friendly countries.

I n d i a -UAE i n F o c u s 2 0 1 3

7

Bilateral Ties and Commercial Matters (1999); [8] Information Cooperation Agreement (April 2000); [9] Channel Carriage Agreement (2000); [10] MoU on Defence Cooperation (2003); [11] MoU on Manpower Sourcing in (2006), A revised MoU on Manpower Sourcing (September 2011); [12] MoU on Political Consultations (June 2011); [13] Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Persons (November 2011); [14] Agreement on Security Cooperation (November 2011);

establishing a Joint Committee on Consular Affairs.

Institutional Structure for Dialogue: Annual Foreign Office Consultations are held at the Secretary level. Last India-UAE Foreign Office Consultations took place on February 8-9, 2012 in New Delhi. The UAE delegation was led by the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Tariq Ahmed Ibrahim Al Haidan. Indian side was led by the Secretary (East) Mr. Sanjay Singh. The

The then External Affairs Minister, Mr. S.M. Krishna and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan exchanging of documents after signing the minutes of the 10th Session of the India-UAE Joint Commission at Abu Dhabi (April 16, 2012) [15] Agreement on Customs Cooperation (April 1, 2012); [16] Protocol to streamline admission of Indian contract workers by way of an electronic contract registration and validation system (April 2012), and [17] MoU on

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two sides discussed wide range of issues including the areas of bilateral and mutual interests, regional developments in the Gulf, Middle East and South Asia and international issues. A Memorandum of Understanding

on holding annual Political Consultations was signed during the visit of the UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan to New Delhi in June 2011. India-UAE Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) for Economic and Technical Cooperation deals with issues related to trade and commerce.

The tenth Session of JCM took place in Abu Dhabi on April 1516, 2012 (Last JCM was held on June 5-6, 2007). Foreign Minister, Mr. S. M. Krishna led the Indian delegation and the UAE delegation was led by Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah. Memorandum of Understanding for establishing a Joint Committee on Consular Affairs was signed on April 16, 2012. This will provide a platform to discuss various consular and community related matters. With a signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation in 2003, a Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) was established. The JDCC provides a platform for a regular exchange of dialogue in defence sector. Fifth meeting of JDCC took place in New Delhi on May 1-3, 2012.

Economic & Commercial Relations: Economic and Commercial cooperation with the UAE is a key aspect of overall bilateral relationship. The traditionally close and friendly India-UAE bilateral relationship has evolved into a significant partnership in the economic and commercial sphere. Indians have emerged as important investors within the UAE and India as an important export destination for the UAE manufactured goods.

There are 484 direct flights per week between various destinations of India and the UAE. India-UAE trade, valued at US$180 million per annum in the 1970s reached level of $ 71 billion during 20112012. For UAE, India is the largest trading partner. India's major export items to UAE include

Bilateral Ties

India and UAE Ministerial Level Talks: Signed Treaties on Security Cooperation and Exchange of Sentenced Person • Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Govt. of UAE H.H. Lt. Gen. Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Union Home Minister, Government of India, Mr. P. Chidambaram have signed agreements, on Security Cooperation and on Transfer of Sentenced Persons. The two leaders met at a meeting held here today to discuss issues pertaining to bilateral security cooperation between two countries.

• T h e A g r e e m e n t o n S e c u r i t y Cooperation seeks to strengthen and develop the existing bilateral framework/ mechanism to enhance security cooperation in the areas such as combating terrorism in all forms, addressing activities of organized criminal groups, drug trafficking, illicit trafficking in weapons, ammunition, explosives, etc.; and initiatives on training of personnel.

• The Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Persons provides the framework to facilitate the social rehabilitation of sentenced persons in their respective countries by giving citizens of the Contracting States, who have been convicted and sentenced as a result of commission of a criminal offence, the opportunity to serve the sentence in their own society.

• Issues relating to drug trafficking, security, capacity building so as to enhance cooperation to combat organized crimes and international terrorism were also discussed in the meeting.

• Both countries reiterated their commitment for enhanced cooperation in investigation of mutually relevant criminal cases and sharing of relevant information in this regard.

The UAE Deputy Prime Minister, Lt. Gen. Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan calling on the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, in New Delhi on November 23, 2011

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, UAE, Lt. Gen. Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the Indian Home Minister, Mr. P. Chidambaram signed the agreements on security cooperation and on Transfer of Sentenced Persons, in New Delhi on November 23, 2011

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9

Bilateral Ties

External Affairs Minister Mr. S.M Krishna and Mr. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE at the delegation level talks in New Delhi (18 May, 2012)

petroleum products; precious metals; stones, gems & jewellery; minerals; food items (cereals, sugar, fruits & vegetables, tea, meat, and seafood); textiles (garments, apparel, synthetic fibre, cotton, yarn); and engineering & machinery products and chemicals. India’s major import items from UAE include petroleum and petroleum products; precious metals; stones, gems & jewellery; minerals; chemicals; wood & wood products. Oil Trade: UAE was the fifth largest import source of crude oil for India in 2011-12 with import of 15.79 MMT of crude oil.

India-UAE bilateral trade for the last five years Investments: Total FDI from UAE to India is estimated to be US$2.36 billion (Nov. 2012). UAE is the tenth biggest investor in India in terms of FDI. UAE’s investments in India are concentrated mainly in five sectors: Power (15%), Metallurgical Industries (12%), Construction Development (11%), Services Sector (10%), Computer Software & Hardware (5%).

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Prominent UAE companies such as DP World, EMAAR, RAK etc. have invested significantly in various sectors of the Indian economy.

Several prominent private and public sector Indian companies and banks are also operating in the UAE. Major Indian companies such as L& T, ESSAR, Dodsal, Punj Lloyd, Engineers India Ltd., TClL etc. have been able to obtain significant number of contracts in the UAE. A UAE-India High Level Task Force was formed on 18th May 2012 to look at new opportunities for investment between the two countries.

Preparatory meeting at official level of India-UAE HLTF took place on November 11, 2012.

Value in US$ Million Source DGCIS, Kolkata S. No.

Year

1

Export

2

%Growth

3

Import

4

%Growth

5

Total Trade

6

%Growth

7

Trade balance

20082009

20092010

20102011

20112012

20122013 Apr.-Sep.

24,477.48 23,970.40 33,822.39 35,925.52 18,599.85 56.54

-2.07

41.10

6.22

23,791.25 19,499.10 32,753.16 35,790.39 19,620.99 76.46

-18.04

67.97

9.27

48,268.72 43,469.50 66,575.55 71,715.91 38,220.84 65.76

-9.94

53.15

686.23

4,471.30

1,069.22

7.72 135.13 -1,021.14

Defence Cooperation: With the signing of MoU on Defence Cooperation in June 2003 and setting up of Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) regular exchange of dialogue is taking place between the two countries. The fourth Meeting of JDCC took place in Abu Dhabi in April 2011, followed by the fifth in New Delhi on May 1-3, 2012. Potential areas of bilateral cooperation in the defence field are: production and development of defence equipment; Joint exercises of armed forces, particularly naval exercises; sharing of information on strategy and doctrines; technical cooperation in respect of Intermediate Jet Trainer

Bilateral Ties etc. In recent years, bilateral Defence cooperation has been strengthened, notably in the field of defence training and supply of defence inventory, besides regular exchange programmes.

There have been goodwill visits of Indian Navy ships to the UAE from time-to-time. Three Indian Naval Ships, INS Teer, INS Krishna and CGS Veera, paid a visit to the UAE ports in March 2011. UAE hosted the meeting of the ‘Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) at Abu Dhabi in May 2010, where India handed over the Chairmanship of the IONS to the UAE. The Indian delegation in the meeting was led

by Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Nirmal Varma. The third Naval Staff Talks between Indian and UAE Navies took place at Abu Dhabi in June 2011. The first ever India-UAE Joint Air Forces exercise took place in September 2008 at the Al-Dhafra base in Abu Dhabi. India has also been a regular participant at the biennial International Defence Exhibition (IDEX) in Abu Dhabi.

Multilateral: During the visit of the President Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil to the UAE in November, 2010, President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan reaffirmed UAE’s support for India to become a permanent member of an expanded Security Council.

Cultural Cooperation: Both countries share historic cultural ties and are making sincere efforts to cultivate regular cultural exchanges both at official and popular levels. India and UAE signed a Cultural Agreement in 1975. A bilateral Cultural Exchange Programme was signed for the period 1994-1996.

UAE’s Ministry of Culture and organisations like Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) have been close partners in organizing Indian cultural events such as the

Indian Film Festival in November 2008, SAARC Film Festival in March 2009, and the Indian Paintings Exhibition spectrum in November 2009. Affiliated institutions of ADACH, such as Ketab, Kalima, have also been assisting in translation of some prominent Indian books into Arabic. An Indian Cultural Centre was opened by ICCR in the premises of the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi in December 2009. The Cultural Centre has been organizing many cultural activities in the field of performing arts, seminars, India festivals, exhibitions, propagation of yoga, etc. In 2011 the Centre organized a total of 50 events including a handicraft bazaar called ‘Discover India in February 2011; poetry reading session by Dr. Satchidanandan, an Indian poet and Arabic Translations by Arabic poet Dr. Shihab Ghanem and a seminar on November 2223, 2011 on ‘Arab–Indo relations through the ages in History, Art & Culture (with special emphasis on UAE) in collaboration with Culture & Media Centre for H.H. Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, H.H. the President’s Representative, in which Indian, Arab and Emirati speakers participated. The centre hosted about half a dozen cultural troupes in the in 2011 including a Sufiana qawwali group, baul troupe, Katyayani theater troupe, a bhangra, and a Rajasthani dance group. A three day film festival was organised from April 19-21, 2012 in the Embassy auditorium screening award winning arthouse Indian cinema for the UAE public. Retrospective of films of Shyam Benegal was organised in October 2012.

Indian Community: UAE is home to Indian expatriate community of more than 1.75 million, the largest expatriate community in the UAE. Professionally qualified personnel constitute about 15 and 20 percent of the community, followed by 20 percent white

collar non-professionals (clerical staff, shop assistants, sales men, accountants, etc) and remainder 65% comprises of blue-collar workers. There is a significant business community from India.

The Indian community has played a major role in the economic development of the UAE. The economic boom in the UAE created a huge demand for shortterm immigrant labour which witnessed increasing numbers of white collar non-professionals and professionals coming from India in the recent years.

With large number of blue collared Indian workers focus of bilateral relations is also on developing efficient grievanceredressal mechanisms for the Indian workers in the UAE. The UAE’s Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs are working closely to evolve a new arrangement that would make the system of recruitment and contracting more transparent.

The Indian has in place the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) for providing short term economic assistance (food, shelter, passage expenses etc...) to destitute workers/housemaids in distress. Indian Workers Resource Centre (IWRC), with a 24-hour helpline, was inaugurated in Dubai by Hon’ble President of India, during her State Visit in November 2010. India and UAE signed a MoU in the field of Manpower Sourcing in December 2006. Revised MoU was signed during the visit of UAE Labour Minister Saqr Ghobash to India in September 2011. A Protocol to streamline the admission of Indian contract workers by way of an electronic contract registration and validation system was signed on April 4, 2012 during the visit of Mr. Vayalar Ravi, Hon’ble Minister, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs on April 3-4, 2012.

Source: Ministry of External Affairs, India

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India Feature

Patriotic Song 'Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon" Turns 50

I

t is a song that is sung on every patriotic occasion, had moved India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, to tears and its strong moraleboosting words provided solace to a nation agonized by the defeat in the 1962 India-China war.

"Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon" (O people of my land), penned

by National Poet Pradeep, was written shortly after the war and served to unite the masses who were seething with rage over the battering the Indian forces received.

By Quaid Najmi Indo-Asian News Service The distinguished audience included president S. Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Nehru, cabinet ministers, virtually the entire film industry comprising stalwarts like Dilip Kumar and late actors Dev Anand, Raj Kapoor, Rajendra Kumar, singers Mohammed Rafi, Hemant Kumar and many more.

"Unfortunately, Pradeep was not invited. When Nehru visited Mumbai three months later - on March 21, 1963 - my father sang it specially for him at a function at R.M. High School here and also

"must play" at all major national celebrations and events.

There's an interesting story behind the song's origin.

Pradeep, who was as despondent as every other Indian after the 1962 war, was walking the Mahim beach in Mumbai when the words suddenly came to him.

He borrowed a pen from a fellow walker, wripped out the foil from his cigarette packet and penned the first stanza: "Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon/Aankhon Me Bhar Lo Paani/Jo Shaheed Huei Hai Unki/ Zara Yaad Karo Kurbani".

Some weeks later producer Mehboob Khan approached him for an opening song for a fundraiser he was organising at the Nation Stadium. Pradeep said he would do so but would not reveal any details. He then roped in Lata Mangeshkar and music director C. Ramchandra and the rest, as they say, is history.

Mitul recounted how Lata Mangeshkar narrowly missed singing "Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon".

presented the original handwritten poem to him," his artist daughter, Mitul told IANS.

"Due to some misunderstanding between Ramchandra and Latadidi, it was to be sung by Asha Bhosale. However, my father felt nobody except Lata-didi could do justice to it. He even personally convinced her and she agreed to sing it. But with a rider - Pradeep must be present at the rehearsals!"

A tribute to the war heroes and martyrs, the song enabled the young and the old to control and overcome the anger of defeat. Its popularity continues unabated after 50 years - and remains a

Pradeep, (whose 98th birth anniversary will be observed next month), was born Ramchandra Narayanji Dwivedi on Feb. 6, 1915 in Badnagar (near Ujjain) in what is now Madhya Pradesh.

Pradeep presents manuscript of “Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon� to Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru at R.M. School, Mumbai, March 21, 1963 "Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon", perhaps revered next only to the National Anthem ("Jana Gana Mana") and the National Song ("Vande Mataram"), as also "Saare Jahan Se Aacha", was first rendered before a packed National Stadium in the capital on a cold Jan. 27 evening exactly 50 years ago - by Lata Mangeshkar.

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From his early days, Dwivedi displayed a patriotic fervor which continued in college and in later life. He penned around 1,700 poems and songs for 72 movies.

"Nobody can make you patriotic," It's in your blood. It is how you bring it out to serve the country that makes you different," Pradeep once told this writer in 1987 during a free-wheeling interview at his Vile Parle bungalow.

After graduating in 1939, he became a teacher, but continued his passion - writing and singing poems at various concerts and programs, adopting the pen-name 'Pradeep' (Light). At one such function in Mumbai, he was offered his first film, "Kangan" (1939) as a lyricist.

However, it was a patriotic song in "Bandhan" (1940), "Chal Chal Re Naujawan," which became hugely popular and he was widely noticed as the freedom movement was just cresting.

Three years later, "Door Hato Ae Duniyawalon", a nationalistic song in "Kismet" catapulted him to national fame. Though strict British censors innocently cleared it, belated realization dawned on the song's implications. "They promptly ordered his arrest and he went underground for a year," Mitul said.

Pradeep sings “Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon� before Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru at R.M. School, Mumbai, March 21, 1963 Since "Bandhan", Pradeep never looked back, and like a patriotic soldier armed with a pen, he continued raising the nationalist fervor among the masses with his songs.

Some of the notable ones include "Aao Bachchon Tumhe Dikyayen Zhanki Hindustan Ki", "Hum Laye Hain Toofan Se Kishti Nikal Ke, Is Desh Ko Rakhna Mere Bachchon Sambhal Ke," "De Di Hame Azaadi Bina Khadag Bina Dhal, Sabarmati Ke Sant Tune Kar Diya Kamaal," (all from "Jagriti', including one as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi), "Upar Gagan Vishal," ("Mashal"), "Dekh Tere Sansarki Haalat Kya Ho Gayi Bhagwan, Kitna Badal Gaya Insaan," ("Nastik").

Mitul (56) and elder sister Sargam (66) proudly recall that in those days, audiences all over used to demand encores as Pradeep's songs were played in cinemas and the projectionists used to repeatedly rewind them.

By the mid-1960s, as the country slowly progressed, patriotic songs were edged out by fast, pacy, disco numbers both in the Hindi film industry and in poetry.

On the wane, Pradeep suddenly bounced back onto the central stage with S. Mukherji's "Sambandh" (1969), giving superhit numbers in tune with the audiences' likings including the immortal "Chal Akela, Chal Akela, Tera Mela Peechhe Chhoota" rendered by Mukesh to O.P. Nayyar's music.

In 1975, he achieved a second peak in his career with "Jai Santoshi Maa" and his title number, "Main To Aarti Utaroon Re, Santoshi Mata Ki" becoming a religious rage in the country and broke all records.

In 1958, music giant HMV released an album with 13 of Pradeep's patriotic numbers and he was conferred the title of Rashtra Kavi (National Poet).

Pradeep with his wife Bhadra, and two daughters Mitul & Sargam in Mumbai-1995

He later became Kavi Pradeep and was showered with honours and awards, including the Dadasaheb Phalke Award-1997, a year before his demise on Dec. 11, 1998.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at q.najmi@ians.in)

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13

Bilateral Ties

Protocol with UAE on Overseas Indian Workers

U

nited Arab Emirates is one of the preferred destinations for Indian workers going overseas for employment. However, many Indian workers also go for employment to other Gulf countries as well. Approximately 1.5 million Indian workers are estimated to be working in UAE. The UAE Ministry of Labour and Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs have agreed to jointly deploy an electronic contract registration and validation system that ensures: • Full transparency of the contract terms; • Disclosure of such terms to the prospective worker and securing the worker’s informed consent to the same terms prior to being deployed to the UAE; • Approval by the concerned Indian government agencies of the terms of the contract for the purpose of granting emigration clearance to the prospective worker, and • Non-substitution of any of the agreed-to terms of employment in the final and official contract document to be signed by the worker and the employer after the former’s arrival in the UAE. The protocol mandates the informed consent and approval of the worker, the employer and the

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The Indian Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs and Civil Aviation, Mr. Vayalar Ravi and the Minister of Labour of UAE, Mr. Saqr Ghobash Saeed Ghobash, at a joint press briefing after the signing an MoU on manpower, in New Delhi

competent Indian authorities, of the full terms of the work contract prior to the worker’s deployment to the UAE. The contract terms are, in turn, captured in the contract document that is eventually signed by the worker and employer in the UAE and duly registered with the Ministry of Labour.

The new system is activated by an online application by a UAE employer for the granting of work permits that requires disclosure of the key terms of the employment offer. The UAE (Ministry of Labour) processes

the application and provides access to the electronic record to Indian government- accredited recruitment agencies in India that are then required to obtain the worker’s attested consent. A duly designated Indian government agency also accesses the record for the purpose of reviewing the terms of the employment and granting an emigration clearance accordingly. This is followed by the registration of the electronic contract and the issuance of the work permit by the UAE Ministry of Labour.

Our Heartiest Greetings on the Occasion of India’s 64th Republic Day

India Feature

Technocity - A Major Landmark in India's IT Scenario

By Jacob Abraham Press Information Bureau

A

landmark-in-the-making in the Indian IT scenario of India, Technocity of Thiruvananthapuram is fast evolving into the hub of global convergence with the expected arrival of big-time brands of the industry to set up their production centers, training campuses, development institutions and assorted other initiatives in the picturesque technopolis in the Pallippuram area of Thiruvananthapuram district.

asset to the State as also to the nation”, adds Sr. ManagerBusiness Development.

The shaping up process of Technocity is currently in progress, with the masterplan ready for take off, offering state-of-theart infrastructure facilities for intending investors. Technocity, when fully commissioned will be an integrated IT township, spread across about 432 acres, which includes not just space for IT/ ITES firms but also residential, commercial, hospitality, medical

Artist's Impression of Technocity “Our schedules are in the right track with enquires pouring in from across the world seeking info on investment potential and possibilities”, observes CEOTechnopark. “Mentored and nurtured by TeamTechnopark, Technocity, when it takes its final shape, will be a valuable

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and educational facilities. The project will be a self-dependent satellite city, which would not strain the resources and infrastructure of the city of Thiruvananthapuram.

The units in Technocity will include a wide variety of

companies engaged in a range of activities, such as Embedded Software Development, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Process Control Software Design, Engineering & Computer-aided Design Software Development, IT Enabled Services (ITES), Process Re-engineering, Animation and e-business. The firms will include domestic companies as well as subsidiaries of multi-national organisations.

Technocity provides all the infrastructure and support facilities needed for IT/ITES and electronics companies to function as well as for their employees to enjoy world-class lifestyles.

In addition, Technocity, like Technopark, will provide business incubation facilities.

Techno city will have up to 25 million square feet of built-up space within multiple buildings for its tenant organisations. Technocity is being developed as an Integrated Township and it will include residential space, commercial space, retail facilities, multiplexes, hospitals and schools. This will enable employees in the companies at Technocity to enjoy a world-class lifestyle within walking distance of their offices.

Thiruvananthapuram is connected to the National Internet Backbone and Technocity will be serviced by a variety of bandwidth providers, including Reliance Infocomm, Bharti Airtel, Videsh Sanchar Nigam and Asianet Dataline,

India Feature through fibre optic lines in the Campus.

Tata Consultancy Services Ltd(TCS) are in the process of setting up Asia’s largest training centre which can train and accommodate 16,000 employees at any time in 82 acres of land already allotted to them.

TCS already has their Global Learning Centre operational from Technopark Phase I. The Software Development Centre to accommodate around 10,000 professionals are getting ready in Technopark Phase I. Infosys is in the process of setting up their next development centre in the 50 acres SEZ land allotted was to create infrastructure and provide support required for the development of high technology companies.

Technopark to them. Infosys already operates from Technopark Phase-I and Phase II. The third Software Development Block as well as the multi-level car park building is getting ready in the Phase II Campus.

Technocity will host at least two important educational and research institutes: The Indian Institute of Information Technology & Management– Kerala (IIITM–K) and The Asian School of Business (ASB) which has already started operations for

its campus in Technocity, while IIITM-K is in the process of setting up their campus in the 10 acres of land allotted to them. Technopark is developing a 50 acre Special Economic Zone in Technocity.

Technopark was set up under the auspices of Electronics Technology Park, Kerala, an autonomous body under the Department of Information Technology Government of Kerala. The park is home to over 240 companies employing more than 32000 professionals. Technopark's aim

The park is growing steadily both in size and employee strength. Park centre, Pampa and Periyar were the only buildings in the beginning.

The total land available with Technopark is about 771.54 acres. The land available with Technopark for phase one, phase two and phase three is about 326.54 acres leaving the rest of the land to Technocity. Technopark has periodically added new buildings such as Nila, Gayathri and Bhavani. With the inauguration of the 850,000 sq.ft. Thejaswini in February, 2007, Technopark became the largest IT Park in India. It has become the single largest source of employment in Kerala, with over 32000 people working directly in 240 companies in the facility itself and creating Rs. 2000 crore turnover with export earnings of Rs. 1977.32 crore during 2010-11. *Deputy Director, PIB, Thiruvananthapuram.

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Business Ties

UAE-India Bilateral Trade Setting New Heights

I

ndia-UAE bilateral trade is expected to reach USD 103.6 billion by 2025, according to financial services firm HSBC. By 2013, the India-Middle East corridor is expected to grow by 34 percent, placing it among the fastest growing global trade corridors. India is currently ranked as one of the UAE’s top 10 trade corridors, along with China, US, and Japan.

India-UAE bilateral trade for the last five years S. No.

Year

1

Export

2

%Growth

3

Import

4

%Growth

5

Total Trade

6

%Growth

7

Trade balance

20082009

20092010

20102011

20112012

20122013 Apr.-Sep.

24,477.48 23,970.40 33,822.39 35,925.52 18,599.85 56.54

-2.07

41.10

6.22

23,791.25 19,499.10 32,753.16 35,790.39 19,620.99 76.46

-18.04

67.97

9.27

48,268.72 43,469.50 66,575.55 71,715.91 38,220.84 65.76

-9.94

53.15

686.23

4,471.30

1,069.22

7.72 135.13 -1,021.14

Source: DGCIS, Kolkata

Trade between Indian and the UAE has never been bigger. In the past 12 months the growth has really been enormous.

India’s exports to the UAE are well diversified with a large basket.

India’s major export items to the UAE include petroleum products, precious metals, stones, gems & jewellery, minerals, food items, and engineering & machinery products and chemicals.

India’s major import items from UAE include petroleum and petroleum products, precious metals, stones, gems & jewellery, minerals, chemicals, wood & wood products.

UAE was the fifth largest import source of crude oil for India in 2010-11 with import of 14.20 MMT of crude oil.

Total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from UAE to India is estimated to be US$1.8 billion.

UAE is the tenth biggest investor in India in terms of FDI. UAE’s investments in India are concentrated mainly in five sectors: Energy (19.1%); Services

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Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ruler of Dubai, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (L) talks with Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh during a welcome ceremony at The Presidential Palace in New Delhi

Business Ties (9.3%); Programming (7.8%); Construction (6.8%); and, Tourism and Hotels (5.6%). Prominent UAE companies such as DP World, EMAAR, RAK etc. have invested significantly in various sectors of the Indian economy.

Several prominent private and public sector Indian companies and banks are also operating in the UAE. Business in UAE

The Indian Minister for Commerce & Industry and Textiles, Mr. Anand Sharma in a bilateral meeting with the Minister of Foreign Trade, UAE, Ms. Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, in Agra on January 28, 2013

The traditionally close and friendly UAE-India bilateral relationship has evolved into a significant partnership in both economic and commercial spheres. Indians have emerged as important investors within the UAE and India as an important export destination for UAE-manufactured goods.

Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) make up the biggest community in the UAE, outnumbering all other nationalities. They are estimated to own nearly half of the UAE’s registered companies that are currently active.

It is estimated there are around 1.75 million Indians reside in the UAE, constituting the largest expatriate community in the country.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set to look for fresh investment opportunities in India, building on the booming trade between the two countries, which has zoomed to 67 billion dollars last year.

The the Indian Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Mr. Jaipal Reddy at the bilateral meeting with the Minister of Energy, UAE, Mr. Mohammad Dhaen Al Hamli, on the sidelines of Extraordinary Ministerial meeting of International Energy Forum (IEF) on Physical and Financial Markets' Linkages and Energy Markets' Regulations, at Riyadh on February 22, 2011.

The growing India-UAE economic and commercial relations contribute to the stability and strength of a rapidly diversifying and deepening bilateral relationship between the two countries. Both sides are striving to further strengthen these ties for mutual benefits.

Source: http://arabiangazette.com, MEA

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Feature Story

Alternative to Wood Developed

By Jacob Abraham Deputy Director, PIB, Thiruvananthapuram.

A

ll over the world hard wood becomes a scarce commodity. The furniture manufacturers are vigorously searching for an ecofriendly alternative to wood. The National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST) at Thiruvananthapuram, a constituent laboratory of CSIR has

developed by NIIST has been found suitable substitute for wood. The composite material utilizes coir fibre all other natural fibres such as coir, jute and sisal.

According to Director, NIIST there is great potential for using many unutilized lingo-cellulose fibre for making composite material. The

The NIIST has signed an MoU with the Kerala Furniture Consoritium Pvt Ltd (KFCPL) to commercialise the technology.

Located at Perumbavoor, Ernakulam district, the consortium is one of the seven innovation clusters benchmarked by National Innovation Council under the chairmanship of Sam Pitroda.

It is a common facility centre to pursue seasoning, designing, standardisation, testing and finishing of rubber wood for manufacturing furniture.

KFCPL as an innovation cluster, of national importance is dedicated to develop patented alternate substitutes for the scarce forest hard wood as part of its stringent environment policy. The cluster is destined to boost innovation and competition even in MSME sector in the state by upgrading the qualities of the furniture and related industry business environment Under the MoU the coir composite developed by NIIST will be adopted by the furniture consortium as a substitute to hard wood. Further technical development required for commercialisation of fibre composites will be undertaken by NIIST and KFCPL.

developed the technology to make wood substitute from natural fibre polymer composites. It has been a pioneer in the research of natural fibre - composites for more than two decades.

The natural fibre polymer composite christened as 'Polycoir'

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material can be manufactured as per our requirement. It possess several unique properties such as resistance to fibre, termites and water. Surface properties and physical and mechanical properties can be finetuned as per requirement.

The composite will be metamorphed by KFCPL into unique design formats of furniture and accessories on market requirements. According to the Managing Director of KFCPL, the consortium has plans to bring out a range of knock down furniture series using this material during this financial year.

Dabur Behind More than a Billion Smiles!

F

rom its humble beginnings in 1884 in a small clinic in the Indian city of Kolkata, Dabur's splendid 129 year legacy has been capped with numerous milestones and accolades, making it one of the most trusted and recognized personal and healthcare brands in the world. Boasting of a vision that states "Dedicated to the health and well-being of every household", Dabur started out as Doctor S.K. Burman's visionary endeavor to provide effective and affordable medicinal treatment for the under-privileged and has advanced in leaps and bounds to encompass a wide range of diverse product lines.

The forerunner in disseminating and popularizing the goodness of natural and herbal products, Dabur's time-honored idea is even more beneficial in this day and age with the natural way of life steadily being regarded with esteem.

Dabur is now truly a global player, with an overall turnover of over US$ 1 Billion and a market capitalization of ~US$ 4 Billion.

reaching a milestone of AED 1 Billion only within 8 years of its existence.

Bridging the gaps by transcending borders, Dabur has spread itself worldwide so as to be close to its growing consumer base and suitably meet their needs with high quality product offerings.“ The strategy is comprised of three parts acquiring product ingredients from the local market, construction of manufacturing plants to take advantage of

regional trade agreements and strategic acquisitions for widening niche consumer base worldwide�, says Mohit Malhotra, CEO of Dabur International.

Continuing on its relentless growth charge, Dabur has recently made two strategic acquisitions for gaining access to newer markets, entry into virgin categories and access to advanced technologies in the highly developed consumer markets of Turkey, with Hobi

Dabur International a wholly owned subsidiary of Dabur India is headquartered in Dubai, UAE. It is the cornerstone of its growth strategy delivering over 40% CAGR growth and Kozmetik, a leading personal care company and USA NamastĂŠ Laboratories, a leader in African American Hair Care based out of Chicago.

Starting out with one manufacturing plant in India in 1896, Dabur now markets its vast line of products in over 100 countries, through 17 state of the art manufacturing units, 8 out of which are located outside India.

With powerful brands like Dabur Amla, Vatika Naturals, Dabur Miswak, Fem, Dabur Chawanprash, Dermoviva, Dabur Herbal, etc under its portfolio Dabur is a household name to stay.

Research Study

India and the United Arab Emirates: Growing Engagements Dr. Zakir Hussain* Indian Council of World Affairs

I

n the last couple of years India has been trying to regain international clout in West Asia and this has resulted in an increasing number of visits of the Foreign Minister to Egypt, Jordan, UAE (United Arab Emirates), Israel and also Palestine. Likewise, the Indian Defence Minister also undertook visits to Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar. This clearly shows that India’s strategic orientation is being redefined in the Gulf region. While India has engaged a number of countries in the region, it has nurtured special relations with the UAE because it has been the largest trading partner as well as a strategically important country.

Indian expatriate workers also list the UAE as a relatively labour friendly country in terms of wages, facilities, freedom and the annual leave. UAE had assumed the chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) immediately after India and, therefore, greater understanding was developed on the maritime issues also. With shrinking markets in Europe and the US, UAE is increasingly looking towards India for exports and investment.

In less than six months, India and the UAE have exchanged four high level bilateral visits and

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almost all visits underpinned the significance of economic and strategic engagements between the two countries. A host of factors such as deep historical links, culture, economy, polity, security and changing geo-strategic and maritime environment helped bring the two nations closer.

On his visit to India on 15-16 May 2012, the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Abduallah Zayed bin Al Nayahan, described India as an ‘ally and cherished neighbour’ and said that UAE would like to have a ‘strong presence’ in the Indian market in the future. Besides this, he also acknowledged the need for working together with India on some of the pressing regional issues such as stabilising Afghanistan, combating maritime piracy in the Gulf of Aden as well as stabilising Somalia and religious and sectarian faultlines emerging in the West Asian countries.

Today, India and the UAE enjoy a wide spectrum of engagements; they have signed a gamut of agreements and MoUs in almost all possible fields of mutual interest, including economy, culture, manpower services, civil aviation, managing criminals and criminal activities, developing people-to-people interactions and

exchange of news and information through print and electronic media.

Largest Trading Partner Being one of the significant trade corridors in the world, UAE has emerged as India’s largest trading partner, even exceeding China and the US. Bilateral trade between the two jumped from a meagre US $170 million in 1970s annually to US $68 billion in 2010-11, accounting 12 to 14 per cent of the total volume of India’s trade. Two characteristics of Indo-UAE trade deserve to be mentioned: one, Indo-UAE trade is a sustainable venture as each country’s export is almost equal to its import (figure 1); second, till date, non-oil trade between the two occupy greater significance.

These two characteristics of IndoUAE trade can work as a ‘model’ of doing sustainable trade with other oil exporting countries with whom India incurs huge deficits.

Opportunities for UAE Capital Investment is another important area which provides massive opportunities where both the countries can mutually engage and benefit. At present UAE is India’s 10th largest investor, with

Research Study Pakistan-India) gas pipeline deal and INSTC (International North-South Transport Corridor) meeting in New Delhi, will further erode the UAE’s significance as an important trade corridor, once these transport networks become operative, leaving financial sector as the only signification area where the UAE investors have an unlimited scope.

Fig. 1. India-UAE Trade, 2002/03-2010/11 Source: Source: DGCIS, Kolkata.

a capital base of $1.8 billion, concentrating mainly into five areas: energy (19.1%), services (9.3%), programming (7.8%), construction (6.8%) and tourism and hotels (5.6%). EMAAR Group, RAK Investment Authority, DP World, and Nakheel, ETA Star Group, SS Lootah, Emirates Techno Casting FZE, Estisalat DB Telecom, Damas Jewellery and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank etc., are major UAE companies doing business in India.

From Indian side, Tata, Reliance, Wipro, NTPC, Larsen & Toubro, Dodsals, and Punj Lloyd, Oberoi Group of Hotels, Hinduja group, Pioneer Cement, are actively engaged in different sectors of the UAE economy. It is estimated that Indian companies have invested nearly $5 billion, making India the third largest investing country in the UAE. Following the emergence of UAE as a major re-export centre, Indian companies have emerged as important investors in the free trade zones such as Jebel Ali FTZ, Sharjah Airport, Hamariya Free Zones and Abu Dhabi Industrial City.

However, looking at the investment potentials, both in terms of capacities as well as opportunities, India and the UAE

offer to each other, the volume of investment and the sectors targeted, have been dismal.

India’s vast market, particularly its infrastructure, real estate, retail marketing and stock exchange has deep capital-absorbing capacity; its infrastructure sector is estimated to absorb more than $1 trillion in the next five years, of which India expects to source half from abroad. At the same time, the UAE investors, both government and private, including the Sovereign Wealth Funds full of cash, are eagerly searching better avenues for higher returns to their capital.

Indeed, three emergent scenarios have created favourable conditions for the UAE investors to target India. One, the continued economic recession in the USWest European economies offer little scope and confidence to the foreign investors to venture there. They are wary of losing even their base-capital, let alone earning profits. Second; IndoUAE trade has reached almost to its saturation point ($68 bn).

Certain developments that have taken place in the recent months, such as improving economic relationship between India and Pakistan, signing of the TAPI (Tajikistan-Afghanistan-

Third, is ‘regional’. In fact, most of the oil-abundant cash-rich Gulf countries are intensely competitive in few select areas such as banking and finance, including Islamic finance, tourism, real estate and stock exchange; this leaves little scope for the UAE investors to outshine and grow; because of greater exposure to the world economy, they are still facing relatively deeper pinch of economic meltdown, pushing them to explore India that has sizeable Muslim population.

While on the other hand, fast emerging economies such as India and China, having strong economic fundamentals, promise better and high returns to the foreign investors. These common economic potentials have been acknowledged by both the UAE and India. During this visit to New Delhi Sheikh Abdullah and his Indian counterpart, S M Krishna, together announced the formation of a High Level Joint Task Force ‘to explore the opportunities of investment’, including energy cooperation between the two countries. In fact, India has approached the UAE to compensate the Iranian oil, which it has reduced by about 29.5 per cent, from 22 MMT to 15.5 MMT, between 2008-09 and 2012-13 and the UAE has promised India to be its ‘reliable’ energy partner. Sheikh Abdullah said, “We would like to see more UAE energy exports to India especially when it comes to crude oil....There are talks between our officials looking at these avenues

I n d i a -UAE i n F o c u s 2 0 1 3

23

Research Study and even further. We would like to see UAE presence in downstream investments in India, including petrochemicals”.

Expatriate Community The Indian community in UAE is the largest expatriate population forming nearly 1.75 million and accounting for almost 40 per cent of the total Arab population in the UAE. Significantly, both workers and businessmen, has contributed enormously to sustain and convert these desert islands into one of the finest tourist-cumbusiness destinations of the world.

However, the treatment they are mete out in various parts of the Emirates needs more attention.

Both the countries, although, from time to time have undertaken a number of effective measures to protect, prevent and minimise the hardships and exploitation of the expatriate workers, they need to be more pro-active and pragmatic in addressing the problems of the workers taking place at the grass root levels such as black marketing of visas, overcharging as well as misuse of Kafal System (sponsorship).

In recent years, however, some measures such as increment and payment of wages to the Indian workers through banks by the UAE government, establishment of India Mission House with a 24hours helpline and establishing the Indian Workers resource Centre (IWRC) at Dubai, by the Indian Government and regulating recruitment process through online mechanism, leaving little room to the recruitment agents to manoeuvre, has borne positive results. However, the condition of the blue collar and women workers going to informal sector such as household, need more attention and care. It is worth mentioning that the blue collar workers form the bulk of the Indian expatriates, almost 65 per cent, in the UAE.

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Potential Areas of Cooperation There are several potential areas that can expand, deepen and add momentum to the growing bilateral engagements between India and the UAE. Strategic and Diplomatic Although both countries have signed defence cooperation agreements in 2006, it needs finetuning, particularly on two policydimensions: one, a real time assistance and cooperation by sharing information and providing necessary support to the Indian Navy to check the growing and expanding menace of piracy in the Gulf of Aden, which is equally fatal to the oil-exporting Gulf rentier economies. Besides, the presence of the Indian Navy can also effectively handle the growing nexus between pirates and the terror outfits, particularly between the Somali-based al Shabab and the al Qaida of the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) of Yemen.

UAE could consider giving the Indian Navy logistic supports such as refuelling, deployment, providing bases during emergency as well as enabling Indian Navy to evacuate its large diaspora community during crisis period.

India can assist and train the UAE crew in counter-terrorism, disaster relief management, rescue and search operations, etc.

Besides this, both the countries can work and enhance their strategic engagements at a higher level. Second, UAE, including other Gulf countries as well, should diplomatically ‘de-bracket’ India from Pakistan. India has outgrown from its regional setup; its trillion plus economy, billion plus market, growing defence capabilities, particularly naval power, science and technology prowess, particularly ICT, medical science, biotechnology, vibrant ‘knowledge community’, emerging modern English speaking middle

class, liberal-secular ethos backed by independent judiciary and its constitutional capability of coexistence with diverse culture, caste, communities and ethics, converts India into a powerful ‘geo-political’ force.

Energy Engagements - IndoGCC Gas Pipeline UAE is now India’s fourth largest oil supplier; India resources around 14 MMT oil annually, which is expected to grow further, particularly after cutting of the Iranian share. Looking at the growing future relationships, engagements in hydrocarbons field needs to be more robust and strategically sustainable. UAE’s oil deposits, sitting at 8.8 per cent of the total global deposit, are inexhaustible for the coming 100 years. This opens India’s window for long-term energy engagement with the UAE. UAE should offer India oil acreages.

Indian companies such as OVL, IOL and Reliance Petrochemicals have enough expertise to assist, train, and finance and own oil projects in UAE. Other significant area where India and UAE can engage is building a joint subsea gas pipelines. On the pattern of India and Oman, India and UAE can also think of either extending the Dolphin Project up to India or the IndoOmani pipeline may be converted into Joint Indo-GCC Gas Pipeline.

Qatar, which has 3rd largest gas deposits may also join the group. This can potentially open opportunities for Iran to join the Indo-GCC Pipeline later.

India’s domestic gas pipelines which connects the western coast to the eastern coast, can convert the Joint Indo-GCC Gas Pipeline into a vehicle of targeting the East Asian gas market, converting/ making India’s eastern coast as a the ‘GCC energy-LNG gateway’ to East Asian economies. This

Research Study will help reduce not only the marine pollution, congestion at the Strait of Hormuz but also open up the Asian gas market to the Gulf countries, which find tough to sell to the western market due to saturation as well as tough competition with Russia.

Indo-GCC Gas Pipeline will engage multiple partners; hence give India a better leverage to manipulate the energy politics.

Nuclear Hobnob UAE is the first Arab Gulf country that obtained a clean chit to use nuclear energy for civilian purposes and in 2009 it established the Emirates Nuclear Energy Cooperation (ENEC) to deliver safe, clean and efficient nuclear energy to the country.

Although South Korea’s KEPCO firm bagged all contracts, India’s clean non-proliferation records allow it to establish a credible nuclear partnership with the UAE and assist it through its rich experiences and manpower services.

Another area where India and UAE can cooperate and work together in future is on thoriumbased nuclear technology. Both the countries want to meet sizeable portion of their power through nuclear sources; however, both are deficient in natural uranium. Looking at India’s third generation nuclear plan, which is based on converting silica into thorium by developing fast breeder reactors, India and UAE can cooperate with each other as both have abundant silica at their beaches.

Solar, Tidal and Wind- Three Non-conventional Alliance Under the increasing pressure of climate change and the urge to developing alternative energy sources and save oil for export, almost all the Gulf countries have promoted ‘clean’ and ‘green’ energy programmes. Besides

hydrocarbons, solar, tidal and wind energy are other natural sources of energy ‘gifts’ to this region. Similar to other Gulf countries, UAE has also embarked on developing alternative energy sources and has given abundant emphasis on developing all three forms of energy sources. For instance, under ‘green decree’, UAE has launched a 12 billion dirham Mohammad bin Rashid al Maktoum Solar Park, which will eventually produce 1000 megawatts of power. Abu Dhabi has launched one of the largest solar missions is the MASDAR city project.

The UAE government has also established an Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) unit, while silica is a good source of geothermal energy. In all these fields, India and UAE can share their expertise and resources. Indian companies such as LANCO and Indo-Solar are working together in UAE and negotiations with India’s TERI (Energy Research Institute) are also going on. A better and more coordinated proactive policy in non-conventional sources of energy can promote joint ventures as India has both natural resources and expertises.

India’s Balancing Act in the Region – Building Trust among Arabs and Persians Since India has deep historical, political, economic and cultural relationships with almost all the countries of West Asia, it can play a key role in resolving and minimising the ‘trust deficit’ among all these nations. Looking at the multiplicity of India’s own society, the Indian model can provide a suitable solution or model to these countries passing through a high phase of transformation. Coexistence, secularism and liberal democratic setup may be helpful in reducing as well as minimising the acrimony arising in the form of Shia-Sunni

divide, Arabs versus Persians and inter-tribal conflicts. India is the second-largest home to Muslims in the world, with the second-largest Shia population after Iran. Its system has well absorbed as well as handled not only the different religious groups but also ethnicities, races and regional diversities.

Conclusion Looking at the range of issues and potentialities both the countries share and possess, it is can be said that India and the UAE have all sinews to build a strong and meaningful bilateral relationship that goes beyond trade and investment. Both can work together and shape regional political landscape. India can be an effective partner not only in stimulating UAE’s economic programmes but also assist and contribute to the Emirates on its defence, security and strategic matters. The 21st century could be an India-UAE century in the Gulf region.

Besides, India can participate as a capacity building partner of the UAE and develop and promote, particularly higher education, R&D, health, medical tourism and developing cheap world class pharmaceutical industries as well as assisting in the development of strong ‘knowledge community’ in the Emirates.

Further, both the countries can work together to ensure effective tax compliance and prevention as well as minimisation of the flow of black money. On the similar pattern of Bahrain, India and the UAE may also consider signing of the bilateral Tax Information Exchange Agreement (TIEA). This will potentially check tax avoidance and tax evasion and promote healthy economic cooperation between the two countries. *Dr. Zakir Hussain, Research Fellow, at Indian Council of World Affairs, New Delhi 110001 June 24, 2012

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25

Bilateral Visits

Recent India-UAE Engagement

The Indian Minister for Commerce & Industry and Textiles, Mr. Anand Sharma meeting the Minister of Foreign Trade, UAE, Ms. Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, in Dubai on February 17, 2013

Mr. Salman Khurshid, External Affairs Minister of India meeting with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi & Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi (March 13, 2013)

26

I ndi a- U A E in F ocus 2013

I n d i a -UAE i n F o c u s 2 0 1 3

27

Bilateral Visits

India and UAE Explore Investment Opportunities

I

nvestment is another important area which provides massive opportunities where both the countries can mutually engage and benefit. At present UAE is India’s 10th largest investor, with a capital base of $1.8 billion, concentrating mainly into five areas: energy (19.1%), services (9.3%), programming (7.8%), construction (6.8%) and tourism and hotels (5.6%). EMAAR Group, RAK Investment Authority, DP World, and Nakheel, ETA Star Group, SS Lootah, Emirates Techno Casting FZE, Estisalat DB Telecom, Damas Jewellery and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank etc.,

are major UAE companies doing business in India.

Hamariya Free Zones and Abu Dhabi Industrial City.

From Indian side, Tata, Reliance, Wipro, NTPC, Larsen & Toubro, Dodsals, and Punj Lloyd, Oberoi Group of Hotels, Hinduja group, Pioneer Cement, are actively engaged in different sectors of the UAE economy. It is estimated that Indian companies have invested nearly $5 billion, making India the third largest investing country in the UAE. Following the emergence of UAE as a major re-export centre, Indian companies have emerged as important investors in the free trade zones such as Jebel Ali FTZ, Sharjah Airport,

However, looking at the investment potentials, both in terms of capacities as well as opportunities, India and the UAE offer to each other, the volume of investment and the sectors targeted, have been dismal.

India’s vast market, particularly its infrastructure, real estate, retail marketing and stock exchange has deep capital-absorbing capacity; its infrastructure sector is estimated to absorb more than $1 trillion in the next five years, of which India expects to source half from abroad. At the same

Hamariya Free Zones

28

I ndi a- U A E in F ocus 2013

Bilateral Visits time, the UAE investors, both government and private, including the Sovereign Wealth Funds full of cash, are eagerly searching better avenues for higher returns to their capital.

Indeed, three emergent scenarios have created favourable conditions for the UAE investors to target India. (i) The continued economic recession in the US-West European economies offer little scope and confidence to the foreign investors to venture there. They are wary of losing even their base-capital, let alone earning profits. (ii) Indo-UAE trade has reached almost to its saturation point ($68 bn). Certain developments that have taken place in the recent months, such as improving economic relationship between India and Pakistan, signing of the TAPI (Tajikistan-AfghanistanPakistan-India) gas pipeline deal and INSTC (International North-South Transport Corridor) meeting in New Delhi, will further erode the UAE’s significance as an important

trade corridor, once these transport networks become operative, leaving financial sector as the only signification area where the UAE investors have an unlimited scope. (iii) Most of the oil-abundant cashrich Gulf countries are intensely competitive in few select areas such as banking and finance, including Islamic finance, tourism, real estate and stock exchange; this leaves little scope for the UAE investors to outshine and grow; because of greater exposure to the world economy, they are still facing

relatively deeper pinch of economic meltdown, pushing them to explore India that has sizeable Muslim population.

While on the other hand, fast emerging economies such as India and China, having strong economic fundamentals, promise better and high returns to the foreign investors. These common economic potentials have been acknowledged by both the UAE and India. During the visit to New Delhi Sheikh Abdullah, Foreign Minister and the then his Indian counterpart S.M. Krishna, together announced the formation of a High Level Joint Task Force ‘to explore the opportunities of investment’, including energy cooperation between the two countries. In fact, India has approached the UAE to compensate the Iranian oil, which it has reduced by about 29.5 per cent, from 22 MMT to 15.5 MMT, between 2008-09 and 2012-13 and the UAE has promised India to be its ‘reliable’ energy partner. Sheikh Abdullah said, “We would like to see more UAE energy exports to India especially when it comes to crude oil. There are talks between our officials looking at these avenues and even further. We would like to see UAE presence in downstream investments in India, including petrochemicals”.

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India Feature

India’s Gems & Jewellery Industry: A Dazzling Success Story

By Jacob Abraham* Press Information Bureau

The Indian Minister for Commerce & Industry and Textiles, Mr. Anand Sharma releasing a catalogue at the 29th India International Jewellery Show 2012, in Mumbai on August 23, 2012

I

ndia’s gems and jewellery industry is a bright star of the economy, and one of the important foundations of the country’s export-led growth.

It is a leading foreign exchange earner and one of the fastest growing sectors, which accounted for 14 per cent of India’s total merchandise exports during FY 2011-12. The industry has registered a remarkable growth over the last four decades, with exports growing from US$ 28 million in 1966-67 when the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) was established, to US$ 42.84 billion in FY 201112.

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I ndi a- U A E in F ocus 2013

Diamonds account for 54 per cent of the total export basket of the industry, with gold jewellery contributing 38 per cent and coloured gemstones and others contributing 1 per cent each, whereas rough diamond contributes 4 per cent of the total share. The industry is a truly global one, with both suppliers and buyers from many different countries.

The UAE (44 per cent), Hong Kong (25 per cent) and USA (12 per cent) are among the major buyers, while Belgium, which accounts for 21.55 per cent of all imports of raw materials, is by far the major supplier.

Diamonds : Undisputed Leadership A major contributor to the creditable performance of the industry is the massive diamond manufacturing sector, which employs nearly one million people across the country. India exported cut and polished diamonds worth US$ 23.30 billion in 2011-12.

The industry has grown from its small origins in the ‘50s and has established itself as the world’s largest manufacturing centre of cut and polished diamonds for the last many years, contributing 60 per cent of the world’s supply in terms of value, 85 per cent in

India Feature Jewellery: Brilliant Impact In the recent past, it is in the jewellery sector that India has made a brilliant impact, emerging as the fastest growing jewellery exporter in the world, averaging a growth of nearly 15-20 per cent each year over the last decade.

Exports of gold jewellery in 201112 touched US$ 16.5 billion from just US$ 486 million in 1994-95.

terms of volume. Eleven out of every 12 diamonds set in jewellery worldwide, are processed in India, mainly around Mumbai, Surat and Jaipur. This feat has been possible due to various factors. At the forefront is the skill of the Indian artisan. The relentless efforts of Indian entrepreneurs, who took on the daunting task of setting up this industry, has contributed to its growth in no small measure.

Indian diamantaires have gone on to create a marketing network worldwide, which is truly mindboggling. Added to this is the

strong financial base of the industry and support of financial institutions of the country.

Today, after creating a niche for itself in the diamond world with small diamonds, India is developing skills for cutting and polishing larger stones and fancy cuts. Indian diamond polishing factories are on a par with the world’s best and are at the cutting edge of technology using laser machines, computerized yield planning machines, advanced bruiting lathes, etc.

However, the development of the branded jewellery segment is still in its rudimentary stage, mainly because the traditional jewellery has been dominated by home grown retail enterprises or the concept of the family jeweller.

The Hall Marking of jewellery introduced by the Bureau of Indian Standards to institutionalize global bench marking in quality assurance and to prevent against frauds will go a long way in building a reliable Brand India.

A few Indian jewellery brands are marking their global footprints, having entrenched themselves in the domestic market.

The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council, set up by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in 1966, has played a significant role in the evolution of the industry to its present stature by effectively moulding the scattered efforts of individual exporters into a powerful engine driving the country’s export-led growth. Today, the Council has 5,300 members spread all over the country.

The Council undertakes direct promotional activities such as organizing joint participation in international jewellery shows, sending and hosting trade delegations, and sustained image building exercise through advertisements abroad, publications, audio visuals/

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India Feature corporate literature, members’ directory, etc.

It also directly aids intra-regional investments by encouraging cooperation and joint ventures in jewellery manufacturing, especially in the various EPZs/ SEZs created by the Ministry of Commerce which offer special facilities for Foreign Direct Investments in Jewellery units through foreign collaborations and partnerships.

The Government, recognizing the the inherent strengths of this sector in terms of its employability potential has taken major initiatives to strengthen institutional linkages.

Enhancing the skill levels of the workers commensurate with the requirement of the industry tops the agenda and two such centres are being set up at Domjur in West Bengal and Khambat in Gujarat.

The Government is also encouraging global partnerships and collaborative ventures for adopting a diversified approach in the jewellery sector. A collaboration with the Antwerp World Diamond Centre has also been sought to strengthen skills in diamond and gem stones grading, certification, research and development, cutting and polishing and setting up state-ofthe –art training centres in India.

India International Jewellery Week & India International Jewellery Show The Gems & Jewellery Export Promotion Council, in its endeavour to promote India as the “Innovation & Design Destination” for jewellery, presents the India International Jewellery week (IIJW). It is a five day extravaganza of 32 shows brought together major jewellery designers of India. IIJW is an initiative to showcase India’s finest in jewellery, be it design or innovation supported by top of

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the line craftsmanship, technology and quality, to customers around the globe.

The Jewellery week is followed by the India International Jewellery Show, which has grown significantly to become the second largest Jewellery Expo in the Asia –Pacific region. It has acquired the reputation of being the most prominent sourcing show in India, evincing great participation from exhibiters, exporters, buyers and trade visitors. The 29th edition of

creativity of our brilliant minds truly making India.

Looking Ahead The global market for Gems and Jewellery today is over USD 100 billion with jewellery manufacturing dominated by a handful of countries, namelyItaly, China, Thailand, USA and India.Although India is the global factory of cutting and polishing diamonds, the trading hubs are located in the bye lanes

Indian Minister for Commerce & Industry Mr. Anand Sharma at the India International Jewellery Show 2012 in Mumbai on 23 August 2012 the India International Jewellery Show, which was inaugurated by the Union Minister for Commerce & Industry, Mr.Anand Sharma on August 23, has attracted participation of over 800 exhibitors with 1800 stalls, with exclusive country pavilions of Thailand, Israel, Turkey, Belgium and UAE. The India International Jewellery Show represents an amalgam of the ingenuity of handcraft, skill, technology, innovation and

of Antwerp and Belgium where this trade is shared by Jews and Gujarati’s. The setting up of the Diamond Bourse in Mumbai – amongst the largest bourses in the world, at par with international standards is expected to ensure India’s strategic shift as a leading diamond trading market in Asia.

The vision is to make India the Global Jewellery Hub and world’s one stop destination for diamonds, gems, gold and jewellery, in the years to come. *Source: PIB Mumbai Feature

Bank of Baroda, UAE Operations....

Where Excellence is a Journey

B

ank of Baroda, GCC Operations wishes all its customers, patrons and well wishers a Happy Indian Republic Day.

The bank has emerged as a key market differentiator in the banking landscape of UAE. It is one of the major connecting forces between the United Arab Emirates and India in facilitating and promoting the bi- lateral trade.

It is the only Indian bank licensed by the Central Bank of UAE to provide the entire gamut of banking and financial services, thus it occupies a unique position among Indian banks in the UAE. The bank has been successfully catering to the banking needs of all sections in the UAE for more than 38 years.

available, India has emerged as the largest trading partner of the UAE. In fact, Bank of Baroda is acting as a banking bridge and truly aligned to the economy of these two great nations. It is also instrumental in providing all required financial services in a seamless manner to all those who do matter in contributing to the development of these two countries.

Besides Indian business entities the bank has also proactively financed and supported a good number of organizations owned by the UAE nationals and has also extended support and finance to some important organizations of UAE Government.

The amazing CAGR of 28% recorded by the bank in last three years has indeed translated into substantial increase in business numbers and that has enabled the bank to move to the third slot among foreign banks operating in the UAE. It has, of late, emerged as a preferred banking destination not only for expat Indians but also for other nationalities as well.

Besides, the bank’s strong global presence, dedicated and professional work force, transparent and reliable dealings have been the hallmark of its functioning that appeal and attract the customers the most.

The bank continuously attempts to adapt to the dynamic economic environment while engaging in long term relationships to provide superior customer service. That provides key advantage to the customers among many others.

In UAE the bank has been continuously introducing innovative products and services. With services like 8 am to 8 pm banking, Internet banking, any branch banking, Friday remittance, Bank of Baroda strives to serve its customers in an outstanding manner.

Bank of Baroda has a dedicated approach to NRI services. The bank has established NRI/India desk at all the branches to offer exclusive and preferred services/ attention to the NRI segment. The bank has introduced a special loan product for NRIs in its basket of offerings which gives an excellent value proposition to the NRI who can borrow from the bank at a lesser interest rate than what he earns on his NRE term deposit in India.

Owing to pragmatic approach of the governments of both the countries and Bank of Baroda’s active engagement for furtherance of bilateral trade relationship by way of making trade finance and other solutions proactively

The bank takes pride in playing a critical role as a vehicle for channelizing investment flow between the UAE and India.

The bank through its strategic tie up arrangement with KIZAD, JAFZA, DMCC, RAKIA, Hamriya Free Zone etc provides end to end solutions to the upcoming units in the UAE. Bank of Baroda thus assumes a lead responsibility in facilitating and taking care of the banking & financing needs of the individuals / corporate operating in UAE to a larger extent.

As part of its expansion plan the bank is all set to shortly unveil an Offshore Banking Unit at Dubai International Finance Centre and 9th Customer Service Centre (EBSU) at Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, a prime and strategic location in Dubai.

On this auspicious occasion the bank rededicates itself with renewed vigour and enhanced passion to the service of these great nations.

Jute- The Golden Fibre Press Information Bureau

J

ute is one of the oldest sectors in India’s agricultural and industrial economy.

India is the largest producer of raw jute and jute goods. Export performance of jute sector crossed US$ 383 million during 2011-12.

This year’s target has been set

at US$ 500 million. The exports included diversified products like jute floor coverings, wall hangings, decorative fabrics.

There are 83 composite jute mills in the country producing jute goods to the extent of 16 lakh

metric tonnes. The industry is an agro-based and labor intensive, providing employment to about 2.48 lakh workers directly and indirectly.

The main advantage of jute lies in its eco-compatibility. Jute, the golden fibre, meets all the standards for ‘safe packaging in view of being a natural, renewable, biodegradable and eco-friendly product. As a natural fibre, it is finding greater acceptance as an environment friendly product since its contents are cellulose and lignin, which are biodegradable. With growing concern for environment and ecology, the global trend of opting for natural products in various sectors holds bright prospects for the jute industry.

National Jute Board (NJB) under the Union Ministry of Textiles has undertaken various programmes for promotion of jute.

NJB represents the interests of growers, workers, producers and exporters. NJB also undertakes

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Feature Story various measures for promotion of jute and jute products in the country as well as export markets abroad. The sustained efforts of NJB have resulted in increase of enterprises in the informal sector and consequently more employment.

NJB is actively engaged in market development of jute products and as part of its promotional activity, a ‘jute festival’ is being organized at Chennai. Nearly 35 jute entrepreneurs from different states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Puducherry, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh etc. are showcasing their products like jute blended saris, jute tiles, floor coverings, wall hangings, jute handicrafts, various kinds of bags, home textiles, jute stationery articles, gift articles, footwear etc. Every evening a ‘jute fashion walk’ is also being organized as part of the expo.

Prerana Lifestyle of Thrissur, which is an SHG initiative, has an wide range of bags and folders which it claims to supply to many corporate customers.

Jute Emporium has displayed an amazing collection of bags, clocks and time-pieces with jute dial, wall hangings and other decorative items. Anakaputhur Jute Weaver Association has showcased an interesting variety of jute blended saris which are attracting the women folk. C. Sekar of the association says these jute saris are chic and more durable.

Reliance Handloom Crafts of Warangal, AP manufactures jute durries of various sizes. Favourites from Palladam has displayed jute floor coverings and tiles besides wall hangings and serving trays of varying sizes. Kiran Bag of Kolkata has a delightful range of jute footwear, which is light in weight.

The exhibition is attracting large crowds looking for eco-friendly and fashionable ethnic product

range. Besides creating awareness on jute as an eco-friendly product, the exhibition is also attracting domestic entrepreneurs interested

in diversifying their business activity. *With inputs from PIB Chennai

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Bilateral Ties

UAE: 2nd home for Indian Expatriates

T

he Indian community in the UAE, numbering 1.8 million, constitutes 30 per cent of the total population. It is the largest expatriate community in the country. It uniquely provides a breadth in terms of numbers and depth in terms of categories of workers employed which distinguishes it from every other expatriate community in the UAE. UAE is home to an Indian expatriate community. Between 15 & 20 percent of the community is made up of professionally qualified personnel, 20 percent belong to the white collar nonprofessionals (clerical staff, shop assistants, sales men, accountants, etc) and remainder (about 65%) belongs to the blue-collar workers.

There is also a significant business community from India. The Indian community has played a major role in the economic development of the UAE. The economic boom in the UAE has created a huge demand for short-term immigrant labour and white collar nonprofessionals and professionals in increasing numbers are coming from India.

Demographic Profile The UAE population presently is estimated to be around five million of which 2/3rd are immigrants from foreign countries, including India. The break-up of Indian emigrants in UAE is as follows: • 65% belong to the blue-collar category (employed mostly in construction companies, municipalities, agricultural farms) • 20% belong to the white collar non-professional (clerical staff,

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shop assistants, sales men, accountants, etc…) and • 15% are professionals and businessmen and their family members.

The breakup of Indians from different States prepared on the basis of data of remittances sent to India is as follows: S. No.

State

%

Population

Remarks

1.

Kerala

50%

8.75 lakhs

Employed mainly in jobs in offices, schools, receptionistsecretaries, small business establishments, salesmen, van drivers, watchmen, etc.

2.

Tamil Nadu

15%

2.6 lakhs

Employed in field jobs, construction and offices

3.

Andhra Pradesh

10%

1.7 lakhs

Employed in construction and other blue collar jobs

4.

Punjab

8%

1.4 lakhs

Mainly in construction sector, aluminum and steel works, business, carpentry, crane and heavy vehicle drivers, etc.

5.

OthersRajasthan, UP, Bihar, Gujarat,Goa Maharashtra

12%

2.1 lakhs

Gujaratis are mainly in business sector. Goans are mainly in hotel industry.

Total

17.50 lakhs

Over the last few years, steady improvement has been witnessed in respect of grievance-redressal mechanisms for the Indian workers in the UAE. The UAE’s Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs are working closely to evolve a new arrangement that would make the system of recruitment and contracting more transparent.

The Indian Mission is in the process of launching projects, such as preRecruitment attestation, for the welfare of Indian workers. There is an Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) for providing food, shelter, passage expenses etc to destitute workers/housemaids in distress. The Indian Workers Resource Centre (IWRC), with a 24-hour helpline, was inaugurated in Dubai by Hon’ble President of India, during her State Visit in November 2010. India and UAE signed a MoU in the field of Manpower Sourcing in December 2006. The revised MoU was signed during the visit of UAE Labour Minister Saqr Ghobash to India in September 2011.

Business Profile

The New India Assurance Company Limited The New India Assurance (New India) is a 93-year-old general insurance company with an international market presence, marked by its first foreign office opening in London in 1920. Today, it has offices in Australia, the Asia-Pacific, Europe, Africa and the Caribbean. Its gross global premium last year was $2 billion (about Dh7.34 billion), while total assets were more than $5 billion(Dh 18.35billion).

New India Assurance commenced operations in Dubai in 1961 through Rais Hassan Saadi Group, which is a highly reputed group - being the first national firm of shipping Mr. S.K. Sofat Mr. C.S. Ayyappan agents in the UAE, it was established in 1910, and ranks Chief Operating Officer amongst the leading commercial enterprises in Dubai.

Chief Operating Officer Abu Dhabi Dubai The operations of New India in Abu Dhabi started in 1973, the local sponsor and chief agent being Abu Dhabi Shipping Agency, a 100 per cent local company, well known for its shipping agencies, international freight forwarding (both air and sea), customs clearance and documentation, and handling project cargo shipments.

New India Assurance has enjoyed a presence in the Middle East from 1950 and currently the operations are in Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Dubai. New India has also opened an office at Sharjah.

New India Assurance provides property insurance, marine cargo and hull insurance, motor insurance and miscellaneous insurance - CAR, workmen’s compensation, personal accident, liability insurance, medical insurance, livestock insurance, energy insurance in the UAE. It maintains strong business relations with leading re-insurers such as Munich Re, Swiss Re and GIC. It enjoys a successful record of underwriting mega construction risks such as infrastructure projects, road works, gas pipelines, petrochemical plants, satellites of the Indian Space Research Organisation and Oil and Energy risks including offshore rigs around the world.

New India Assurance operates through branches, agencies, subsidiary and associate companies in the Middle East, the UK, Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, Japan, Australia, Singapore, New Zealand, Sierra Leone, Fiji, Thailand, Philippines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Mauritius.

New India Assurance plays a vital role in the local insurance market, as a top class security and has been rated as ‘A-’ (Excellent) by AM Best (Europe), the world’s oldest insurance-rating company. It has an ‘AAA’ rating from Crisil in India.

New India Assurance is the only Direct Insurer from India to have a desk in Lloyds, considered to be the Mecca of Insurance.

New India Assurance in UAE, aims to cater to the local needs with global vision.

AGENTS FOR DUBAI & NORTHEN EMIRATES: RAIS HASSAN SAADI INSURANCE AGENTS L.L.C P.O.BOX 5701, DUBAI, U.A.E. Tel: +971 4 3525563, 3522539, Fax: +971 4 3518544 E-mail: newindia@nia-dubai.com P.O.Box:45772, Sharjah office - Tel: +971 6 5560312 Fax +971 6 5561862 AGENTS FOR ABU DHABI & AL AIN: ABU DHABI SHIPPING AGENCY L.L.C P.O.BOX. 46743, ABU DHABI (UAE) Tel-+971 2 6440428 – Fax: +971 2 6456352 Email: niaauh@newindia-uae.com

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Media Coverage

For the UAE, India is the World’s Economic Powerhouse Traditional trade ties have flourished and are now expanding to tourism, investment

I

t is no longer uncommon in India’s biggest cities and tourist destinations to see black-clad Arab women in shops, haggling with the locals over 50 rupees ($1). But they are just one aspect of burgeoning commercial ties between India and the federation of Gulf emirates that runs the gamut from merchandise trade, tourism, investment and labor exports.

Indeed, for the UAE, it is India rather than China that is the preeminent economic partner.

In 2011, two-way trade between India and Dubai – the emirate that acts as the confederation’s entrepot, reached 206 billion dirham ($56 billion), more than double China’s 100 billion dirhams. India accounted for nearly a fifth of Dubai’s total, according to Dubai customs.

Over 1.75 million Indians live in the UAE, making it the confederation’s largest expatriate community. The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry has 20,038 Indian companies registered. UAE investors have pumped some $2 billion into India in areas ranging from energy, computer services and programming to construction and tourism, making the tiny confederation the 10th-largest foreign investor in India.

In fiscal 2010-2011, trade between India and the UAE crossed $67 billion, according to Indian government figures, yielding India a badly needed surplus as $34 billion of Indian

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exports reached the UAE and $32 billion worth of UAE exports were shipped to India. Trade, social and cultural ties between the two sides go back centuries.

Strangely for two countries with no significant gold deposits, it is the yellow metal that constitutes a large part of the trade. Gold is Dubai’s biggest trade item, with imports and exports worth a total of $39 billion last year, most of that with India. Major Indian exports to Dubai include gems and jewellery, petroleum products, machinery and instruments, much of it for re-export.

Earlier this month, India’s Foreign Affairs Minister SM Krishna was in the Gulf to promote trade and tourism, and signed agreements ending double taxation and boosting consular services – issues that had been trouble spots for India and the Gulf region.

At a joint news conference with his UAE counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the two talked about a broad strategy of trade and investment over the coming years.

“Looking at the trajectory of India’s [annual] growth of 7-8%, India has to expand the imports of oil and gas sourced from countries like the UAE, with whom we enjoy extraordinary ties,” Krishna said. Sheikh Abdullah suggested that the time had arrived to “push forward the UAE-India relationship in new ways”.

Expecting to invest around a trillion dollars over the next

decade in infrastructure alone, India is looking to the UAE for financing. Sheikh Abdullah is due to visit India this month to examine the sovereign wealth fund of Abu Dhabi, the wealthiest of the UAE members, investing in India.

With India, we have a market of over one billion people. That is a vast number of people who we can start to work with and develop bilateral relations between the two sides to increase how we can do business,” says Al-Uthman. “I have seen a lot of optimism here for travel between both countries, and just look at my wife and friends, they love to come to India.”

Economic ties have come hand in hand with closer political and even sports links.

India carries a chip on its shoulder in the Arab world because of its rivalry with Muslim Pakistan and disputes over the Muslim-majority region of Kashmir, which India controls and Pakistan claims for itself.

Nevertheless, India is already dealing with UAE on defense issues. There have been goodwill visits by Indian Navy ships to the UAE from time to time and in recent years; bilateral defense cooperation has been strengthened.

“Unlike Iran and Saudi Arabia, for example, the UAE has so many opportunities. The country continues to invest and develop

Media Coverage infrastructure on a large scale,” he says. “We can learn a lot on how to increase our own tourism sector for the upper classes who want to come to India but where there aren’t a lot of high-end travel packages.”

“If we look at the current trends, more and more people are looking

at India as a cheap destination,” he explains. “But for UAE families and the more affluent, they still would like to stay in places that give them the same standards they have at home. India has developed this sector tremendously in recent years, but now we have to push forward by partnering to make it a reality.”

Wives, Al-Uthman says, will be an important factor in this process.

“If we can convince women in the UAE that traveling to India is a great opportunity, for shopping among other things, travel could be a key economic benefit for both business and people.”

Source: http://www.themedialine.org

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Tourism

Dubai in Frame for Indian Tourist

I

ndia's economic slowdown is not preventing wealthy Indians from splashing out on expensive holidays. Luxury travel out of India to destinations including Dubai is still on the rise, despite concerns about the country's economy and a weaker rupee, which pushes up the cost of a holiday abroad.

An Indian travel company Thomas Cook reports an increase of about 15 to 20 per cent in the number of affluent Indians booking luxury holidays in the year 2011and in line with this, there has been a similar increase in luxury holiday bookings to Dubai with most clients opting for private villas or beachfront hotels.

The UAE is also increasingly trying to tap India for tourists from both middle and high-income backgrounds. With a population of more than 1.2 billion and a growing middle class, India has a

A tour bus full of Indian tourists, stopping near the Dubai Mall.

Many of the tourists were taking photos of the nearby Burj Khalifa standing tall in the background burgeoning travel market. A total of 702,142 Indian guests stayed in Dubai's hotels last year, meaning it overtook the United Kingdom as a source market, and it was in second place only to Saudi Arabia, according to figures from the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).

Yash Raj Films insisted the park would open, bringing the glamour of Bollywood to Dubai

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This helped Dubai to enjoy increase of 10 per cent in the number of hotel guests overall in the emirate in year 2011, over the previous year to reach a total of 9.3 million guests, while the average length of stay rose 12 per cent to 3.6 days, while revenue grew by 20 per cent in year 2011to Dh16 billion (US$4.35bn), according to figures from the tourism department.

Tourism "India is increasingly becoming an important feeder market for leisure travel to the UAE, Europe and the rest of Asia. At the luxury end, ultra high-net worth travellers from India continue to find Dubai an attractive destination, especially due to its shopping malls, tax-free incentives and its connectivity to Europe. Dubai is gaining a reputation for being an attractive wedding destination as it offers everything for the Indian diaspora."

The Indian movie industry has also had a role to play in attracting Indians to Dubai. Bollywood has also enhanced the visibility of the UAE with blockbusters

Dubai night sky line and lower mid-level segment.

But when it comes to the highend segment, they prefer to stay in places like the Grand Hyatt.

There's also a lot of demand for the Burj Al Arab.” Even the midincome Indian travellers are keen to get a taste of luxury in Dubai during their stays.

Ski Dubai, the Middle East’s first indoor ski resort, is a place to ski, snowboard, toboggan, and play in real snow, all year round. Encompassing 22,500 square metres, this resort offers runs to suit all skill levels—from beginner to expert. Ski Dubai is complete with a freestyle zone, private kids’ party rooms, resident penguins, and retail pro shop being filmed in Dubai and that association elevates relevance.

When it comes to the Emirates as a destination, 35 to 40 per cent of hotels are four and five-star hotels.

One would think that people would prefer to stay around the Bur Dubai area, or the Deira, and pick up two-star and three-star properties. There is a segment for that, which is the mid-level

Shopping and restaurants are among the main attractions in Dubai for India's luxury travellers.

The Burj Al Arab and Armani hotels are among the most popular for wealthy Indians travelling to Dubai. "Abu Dhabi is largely demanded as a day tour from Dubai. India has an opportune growing luxury segment, and Abu Dhabi, if positioned well, could certainly leverage off this viable market. "Dubai often serves as a stopping-off point for such holidays. "Dubai due to its proximity is a very attractive en-route stop in an overall luxury holiday."

Source: http://www.thenational.ae

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Feature Story

Temi Tea – The Flavor of Sikkim

By Khagendramani Pradhan*

A

midst the backdrop of picturesque and mighty Mt. Khanchan Dzonga refreshed by the gentle breeze of river Teesta brews the morning sip of Sikkim – the Temi tea.

Spread over 180 hectares of gentle slope with altitude ranging from 4500 to 6316 feet, the Temi tea garden produces one of the finest orthodox tea that promises the appreciation of tea connoisseur.

The Temi Tea estate was established in 1969 during the erstwhile regime of Chogyal and the commercial production started in the year 1977. In the year 1974 Tea board was formed to govern the day to day functioning of the estate and later it went on to become the subsidiary of Industries Department under Sikkim government. Temi Tea

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which apart from providing direct employment to over four hundred labors and thirty personnel, also is a major employer in the Government sector.

The gentle slopes that originate from the Tendong hill range has loamy soils condition with slope of 30–50% that suits best for tea plantation and produces nearly 100 tons of tea annually.

Although the quantity of produce may seem insignificant in terms of major tea producing estates, the quality and the flavor it produces has been able to win the heart of tea aficionados within India and the world.

The tea produced by the Temi Tea estate is packaged under many brand names like "Temi Tea" which is of the best quality

consisting of pure tea golden flowery orange pekoe. The next in quality is the popular brand of 'Sikkim Solja' followed by 'Mystique' and 'Kanchanjunga Tea'. It is also sold in the form of 'Orthodox dust tea'. While nearly 70 percent of the produce is sold in public auction at Kolkata through its authorized broker, the rest is converted into retail packets and sold in the local market.

The geographical location and the young plantation supplemented by organic method of production have further added to the value and flavor of tea leaves produced from this estate. Temi Tea garden closely followed the guidelines issued by IMO,Switzerland and with the completion of observation period, Temi Tea Estate was

Feature Story certified 100 percent organic

by IMO India, a member group of IMO Switzerland in 2008.

In addition, it is also a HACCP certified estate as per ISO -22000 standard under Food Safety Management System ensuring finest of quality product reaching the market. It may be noted that Temi tea garden is also the recipient of All India Quality Award from Tea Board of India for the two consecutive years.

The conversion of entire production process from conventional to organic with inputs like biofertilizers and pesticides like vermin-compost manure, neem cakes and castor cakes, have not only opened bigger market in international market, but has also seen a surge in demand amongst the tourist visiting Sikkim. Nearly one hundred acres of forest land at its disposal amply supplies the bio-mass to the estate making it self-reliant for required inputs.

By abandoning the use of agrochemical and adopting organic means of production, the Temi tea estate has not only curtailed the cost of production, but also has opened wider arena of market preferring organic produce free from harmful chemicals.

The Temi Tea board boasts of coming to breakeven point and substantially contributing to the State exchequer.

While Germany, United Kingdom, America and Japan constitute the major buyer, efforts are on way to further diversify the product in view of growing demand for green teas including redesigning of more attractive packets for value addition. This apart, efforts are underway to source direct buyers in foreign market for tea produced in Sikkim. The Tea Board of late has started directly exporting small quantities of organic tea to Canada and Japan where it has been fetching comparatively competitive and attractive prices.

Though, the expansion of tea plantation has been thwarted due to non availability of suitable land, Temi tea estate has been offering assistance to small scale grower and producers by providing quality planting materials and other technical knowhow. The garden nursery produces some of the best clone planting material, which is distributed among the small tea growers’ cooperatives in the state.

Though Temi Tea has lived up to expectation of many tea connoisseurs, given the climatic condition in the estate, there still is scope for production of high value and high return finest tea leaves. *The author is a freelance Journalist

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News Story

Gurudwara, brings Religion and Tradition Alive in UAE

T

he largest Gurudwara of Gulf region has been opened for public in Dubai in January 2012. Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar has been constructed at a cost of $20 million. Though Dubai has 50,000 Sikhs staying there, it had no gurudwara so far.

The Guradwara has ornated by 24-carat gold canopies for the Guru Granth Sahib religious text of Sikhism, Italian marble on the walls and floor, stunning chandeliers and a five-star kitchen.

It is Dubai's first gurdwara having grand realisation of the aspirations of Sikhs in the UAE. Gurunanak Darbar is a heady mix of spirituality, tradition,

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News Story

Main Palkhi in the darbar hall of Dubai Gurudwara

Devotees in the Darbar hall gathered for Kirtan in Dubai Gurudwara

modernity, opulence and the determination of a man. On entering the building, one is in awe of its sheer grandeur and the attention to detail. A sense of calm descends as strains of "Tu Prabh Daata," a popular 'kirtan' or devotional chants, fill the air.

It symbolizes the beginning of a new chapter in the relations between Sikhs and Dubai government. It is said to be the most modern Gurdwara in the world. The idea of the building was born 11 years ago with the growing need of a proper place of worship for the Sikhs, who until January 2012, shared space in the cramped temple premises in Bur Dubai. The permission came through six years ago when the ruler of Dubai gave 25,400 sq feet of land to build the temple.

"On Baisakhi, food is served around 40,000 people visiting the Gurdwara," and several Pakistani Sikhs also come to offer prayers besides many Sindhis and Hindu Punjabis. The state-of-the-art kitchen, which churns out food for devotees through the day every day, is worth a peek. It is complete with a dough-kneader,

Serving Langar in the Langar hall in Dubai Gurudwara a chappati-maker and large dishwashers. And along with the rest of the building, the kitchen too is spotless.

Apart from a large carpeted prayer hall, there are three smaller rooms for private functions, a meditation room, a library and the spacious 'langar' or common kitchen hall.

Gurunanak Darbar is modelled on both the Golden Temple and the gurdwara in Southall, London.

Interior designer Paul Bishop was sent to both these shrines "to get the feel" of gurdwaras.

To develop religious values among the next generation of NRIs, special three-hour sessions are held for children on Saturdays at the temple where they are taught Punjabi, 'Kirtans' and how to behave in places of worship.

Gurudwara is now attracting visitors from across the world.

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India Feature

Behind Camera Talent getting Exposure: Film Editor Namrata Rao

By Uma Ramasubramanian* Indo-Asian News Service

I

t was "tricky" to edit "Kahaani" that was "hinging on one twist", but as an editor Namrata Rao pulled it off so well that the thriller has won her several awards. While enjoying the recognition, she admits talent behind the camera is "getting the deserved exposure" and that she is being "paid quite a decent amount" for her work.

At 32, Rao is one of the youngest editors in Bollywood, who bagged the best editing statue at the Filmfare, Zee Cine Awards and Colors Screen Awards for "Kahaani", a Kolkata-based woman-centric thriller.

"I won three awards for 'Kahaani' and it feels good to get such recognition for your hard work. Awards matter a lot. It's a very nice feeling to hold an award," Rao told IANS in an interview.

She feels editors are getting their due.

"Getting credit for your film is very subjective.

In certain kinds of films, the editor gets all the importance, but many films are completely star driven.

But I feel it's balanced these days. The media has opened up and now all of us are getting the deserved exposure," she said.

While editing Sujoy Ghosh directed "Kahaani", maintaining and heightening suspense were vital, says Rao. "I would say 'Kahaani' was the most challenging film to edit so far. The entire film hitched on a twist and the entire challenge was to hold the film till the twist comes.

We worked on around 300 drafts of edits. It wasn't easy to edit 'Kahaani'.

It was a complete team effort," Rao said.

She admits "Kahaani" being "very close to my heart".

"It's a very nostalgic film as I was revisiting the city where I studied filmmaking," added the editor, an alumni of Kolkata's Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute.

A Dibakar Banerjee find,

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India Feature

Rao earlier showed her skills in "Band Bajaa Baaraat", "Ishqiya", "Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!", "Love Sex Aur Dhokha", and "Shanghai".

Explaining how she got her first break, she said: "I am a Konkani from Kerala. I was raised in Delhi as my father used to work there.

Then I went to Kolkata to study filmmaking. Initially, I used to work on documentaries and I edited 'I Am the Very Beautiful'.

Dibaker happened to see that film and approached me to edit his film. That's how I got my first break in showbiz."

An editor can make or break a movie.

When asked if she is happy about the way editors are being compensated, she said: "I am not sure about it. When I started as an editor, obviously, I was a fresher and I used to edit some low-budget films. And that time what I used to get paid was not too much. Now I am being paid

quite a decent amount."

Although she is being compensated well, many are still struggling in the industry.

"When I give my six to eight months to a film, there is no freedom and no flexibility so, of course, we want to be paid well.

It's not just about me but also for all the editors. Many of them are not able to earn what they deserve."

What is most challenging for an editor?

"The challenging part is to keep my audience engaged. These days even scripts are being edited a lot before going on the floors. The most difficult part is to hold the audiences and not let them get bored," she said.

So far Rao has edited documentaries, off beat films and commercial cinema.

Though she is not so comfortable while editing typical Bollwyood

films, she enjoyed working on song and dance in Yash Raj Films (YRF).

"My first film with YRF was 'Band Baaja Baaraat' and for the first time I edited typical Bollywood songs and it was fun.

"Somewhere down the line I feel I am less eased when I come out to do mainstream cinema. I feel my work is not good at it. But editing 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan' was a great experience because of Yashji (later director Yash Chopra)."

Having invested quite a few years in editing and getting a grip over the craft, Rao now plans to get into direction.

"Direction is something I am looking at, but now let's see when it happens. I enjoy telling stories so direction is definitely on cards. I have not set a time period for myself now let's see when it happens." *Source: Indo-Asian News Service

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India Feature

10 Best Independent Films of 2012 (2012 in Retrospect)

By Haricharan Pudipeddi Indo-Asian News Service

I

n a year when big-budget, star-studded Bollywood films and the Rs.100 crore club made headlines, there were some small-budget independent films too, which managed to attract eyeballs, with their strong storylines and visual appeal,

for writing soaps like "Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi" and "Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki", debutant director Anand Gandhi addressed questions such as redemption and death in his first feature length film "Ship of Theseus" with the support of stunning performances

Touted to be India's answer to "Slumdog Millionaire", this film is a perfect blend of joy, sorrow and misfortune. The film was the official selection at the Toronto International Film Festival 2012, the Abu Dhabi Film Festival New Horizons Competition and

without any backing from studios or actors.

by its actors. The film made quite a stir at the Toronto International Film Festival.

the Mumbai Film Festival Indian Competition.

IANS lists 10 best independent films, which left an impact at various national and international film festivals during 2012. " K s h a y " : Shot completely in black-and-white, "Kshay" directed by debutant Karan Gour, is a psychological drama about obsession. Rasika Duggal's portrayal of an obsessive housewife was outstanding. The film played in four festivals including last year's Dubai International Film Festival and won awards and critical acclaim from western critics.

"Ship of Theseus": Known

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"Gattu": A heart-warming tale of childlike innocence hidden within us. "Gattu" was made with the help of Children's Film Society of India. The story of a young boy obsessed with kite-flying, "Gattu" may be yet another children's film but in essence it highlights the power of hope. Directed by Rajan Khosa, the film was held in high regard by critics and film reviewers all over the world.

"Mumbai Cha Raja": Manjeet Singh's "Mumbai Cha Raja" explores the underbelly of Mumbai during the rainy Ganesh festival.

"Miss Lovely": Ashim Ahluwalia's "Miss Lovely" traverses through a long forgotten era of C-grade Bollywood horror and porn films.

Starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Niharika Singh, the film competed in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. It also won two awards at the 14th Mumbai Film Festival this year.

"Supermen of Malegaon" (SOM): SOM takes us through the lives of people, who are united over a single goal to produce a Malegaon version of "Superman" by making spoofs on Bollywood

India Feature films. Before its theatrical release in June this year, the film bagged 15 awards at various film festivals.

"Good Night Good Morning" (GNGM): Shot completely in black-and-white, GNGM plunges into the psyche of the viewers by highlighting the strong desire to be loved. Following screenings at several international film festivals, the tragic yet comedy film saw a theatrical release in India on Jan 20 and opened to mostly positive reviews.

"Shuttlecock Boys": The film was made by all first timers. Most of the cast members are nonactors and didn't have any formal training. The film revolves around the lives, successes and failures of four friends who hail from lower

middle class backgrounds in Delhi. It made its way to festivals including the Gotham Screen International Film Festival, New York, the Seattle South Asian Film Festival and the Chicago South Asian Film Festival.

"Delhi in A Day": Prashant Nair's debut feature, set against the backdrop of a rich family in Delhi, makes a strong statement on the socio-economic strata without deviating from the crux of the plot. The film had flashes of comedy to shine a light on the uncomfortable realities of contemporary life. " P e d d l e r s " : Crime-thriller "Peddlers" is an ode to Mumbai that narrates a raw story of three characters that share an almost appalling behaviour since childhood. The film was screened as part of the 2012 International Critics' Week, an independent film event which runs parallel to the Cannes Film Festival in southern France.

(Haricharan Pudipeddi can be contacted at haricharan.pudipeddi@gmail.com)

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Know India

Interesting Facts about India • India never invaded any country in her last 100000 years of history.

• When many cultures were only nomadic forest dwellers over 5000 years ago, Indians established Harappan culture in Sindhu Valley (Indus Valley Civilization) • The name 'India' is derived from the River Indus, the valleys around which were the home of the early settlers. The Aryan worshippers referred to the river Indus as the Sindhu.

• The Persian invaders converted it into Hindu. The name 'Hindustan' combines Sindhu and Hindu and thus refers to the land of the Hindus.

• Chess was invented in India.

• Algebra, Trigonometry and Calculus are studies, which originated in India.

• The 'Place Value System' and the 'Decimal System' were developed in India in 100 B.C. • India is the largest democracy in the world, the 7th largest Country in the world, and one of the most ancient civilizations.

• The world's first university was established in Takshila in 700 BC. More than 10,500 students from all over the world studied more than 60 subjects. The University of Nalanda built in the 4th century was one of the greatest achievements of ancient India in the field of education.

• Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to mankind. The Father of Medicine, Charaka, consolidated Ayurveda 2500 years ago.

• India was one of the richest countries till the time of British rule in the early 17th Century. Christopher Columbus, attracted by India's wealth, had come looking for a sea route to India when he discovered America by mistake.

• The Art of Navigation & Navigating was born in the river Sindh over 6000 years ago. The very word Navigation is derived from the Sanskrit word 'NAVGATIH'. The word navy is also derived from the Sanskrit word 'Nou'.

• Bhaskaracharya rightly calculated the time taken by the earth to orbit the Sun hundreds of years before the astronomer Smart. According to his calculation, the time taken by the Earth to orbit the Sun was 365.258756484 days.

• The value of "pi" was first calculated by the Indian Mathematician Budhayana, and he explained the concept of what is known as the Pythagorean Theorem. He discovered this in the 6th century, long before the European mathematicians.

• Algebra, Trigonometry and Calculus also originated in India.Quadratic Equations were used by Sridharacharya in the 11th century. The largest numbers the Greeks and the Romans used were 106 whereas Hindus used numbers as big as 10*53 (i.e. 10 to the power of 53) with specific names as early as 5000 B.C.during the Vedic period.Even today, the largest used number is Terra: 10*12(10 to the power of 12).

• Until 1896, India was the only source of diamonds in the world (Source: Gemological Institute of America).

• The Baily Bridge is the highest bridge in the world. It is located in the Ladakh valley between the Dras and Suru rivers in the Himalayan mountains. It was built by the Indian Army in August 1982.

• Sushruta is regarded as the Father of Surgery. Over2600 years ago Sushrata & his team conducted complicated surgeries like cataract, artificial limbs, cesareans, fractures, urinary stones, plastic surgery and brain surgeries.

• India exports software to 90 countries.

• The four religions born in India - Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, are followed by 25% of the world's population.

• Islam is India's and the world's second largest religion.

• There are 300,000 active mosques in India, more than in any other country, including the Muslim world.

• The oldest European church and synagogue in India are in the city of Cochin. They were built in 1503 and 1568 respectively.

• Varanasi, also known as Benaras, was called "the Ancient City" when Lord Buddha visited it in 500 B.C., and is the oldest, continuously inhabited city in the world today.

• Martial Arts were first created in India, and later spread to Asia by Buddhist missionaries.

• Yoga has its origins in India and has existed for over 5,000 years.

Source: http://knowindia.gov.in

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