Consulate General of India, Vancouver www.cgivancouver.org
Vol. 02, Issue No. 22 June 01, 2018.
India in Vancouver Weekly Newsletter
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India Perspectives India Perspectives is the flagship publication of the Ministry of External Affairs. Richly illustrated, this magazine provides our readers with an insight into India’s culture and tradition along with elements of contemporary India. Click here to read more‌. Ministry of External Affairs, India
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Vol. 02, Issue. 22, June 01 2018.
Consulate News Consul General’s Visit to Regina, Saskatchewan (May 28, 2018) Consul General Mrs. Abhilasha Joshi called on LG Thomas Molloy, Premier Scott Moe, Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart, Trade Minister Jeremy Harrison, Speaker Mark Docherty and Provincial Secretary Nadine Wilson during her official visit to Regina, Saskatchewan. She also visited STEP- Saskatchewan Trade and Export promotion organization and interacted with Mr. Chris Dekker, President and CEO. The province has significant trade ties with India. She also met office bearers of the India Canada Association of Saskatchewan (ICA) and board members of Cultural Connections, both organizations involved in promoting greater India Canada people to people ties. Mr Dinesh Mehta, Vice Consul, accompanied Consul General on the visit.
Important Trade Fairs in India – To know more, click on 1|P a g e
Vol. 02, Issue. 22, June 01 2018.
Farewell to Consul CPV Amarjit Singh (May 28, 2018) Fond farewell to Consul Mr. Amarjit Singh on completion of his tenure at CGI Vancouver and warm welcome to Consul Mr. H. Venkatachalam on joining the Post.
BC-INDIA Business Network Meeting (May 29, 2018) BC-INDIA Business Network hosted a High Tea and Illuminating Talk with Peter G. Hall, Vice President & Chief Economist Export Development Canada regarding ‘Current Economic Climate in Canada and Trade Relations with India’ on Tuesday 29 th May, 2018 at Fairmont Hotel, Vancouver. Consul and Head of Chancery Mr. Jasbir Singh and Marketing Executive Mr. Nikunj Nayak from Consulate General of India, Vancouver office have attended the event to strengthen the business relationship between BC and India. CGI office distributed brochures of Digital India, Make in India, Smart Cities Mission and Start-up India to promote Investment opportunities in India.
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Vol. 02, Issue. 22, June 01 2018.
Cultural – Heritage Tourism in India Humayun's Tomb, Delhi Humayun died in 1556, and his widow Hamida Banu Begam, also known as Haji Begam, commenced the construction of his tomb in 1569, fourteen years after his death. It is the first distinct example of proper Mughal style, which was inspired by Persian architecture. It is well known that Humayun picked up the principles of Persian architecture during his exile, and he himself is likely to have planned the tomb, although there is no record to that effect. The tomb was constructed at a cost of 15 lakh rupees (1.5 million). Mirak Mirza Ghiyath, a Persian, was the architect employed by Haji Begam for this tomb. The tomb proper stands in the centre of a square garden, divided into four main parterres by causeways (charbagh), in the centre of which ran shallow waterchannels. The high rubble-built enclosure is entered through two lofty double-storeyed gateways on the west and south. A baradari (pavilion) occupies the centre of the eastern wall and a hammam (bath chamber) in the centre of northern wall. The square red sandstone double-storeyed structure of the mausoleum with chamfered corners rises from a 7-m. high square terrace, raised over a series of cells, which are accessible through, arches on each side. The grave proper in the centre of this cell-complex is reached by a passage on the south. The octagonal central chamber contains the cenotaph, and the diagonal sides lead to corner-chambers which house the graves of other members of the royal family. Externally each side of the tomb, its elevations decorated by marble borders and panels, is dominated by three arched alcoves, the central one being the highest. Over the roof pillared kiosks are disposed around the high emphatic double dome in the centre. The central octagonal chamber contains the cenotaph, encompassed by octagonal chambers at the diagonals and arched lobbies on the sides. Their openings are closed with perforated screens. Each side is dominated by three arches, the central one being the highest. This plan is repeated on the second storey too. The roof surmounted by a double dome (42.5m) of marble has pillared kiosks (chhatris) placed around it. The mausoleum is a synthesis of Persian architecture and Indian traditions-the former exemplified by the arched alcoves, corridors and the high double dome, and the latter by the kiosks, which give it a pyramidal outline from distance. Although Sikandar Lodi's tomb was the first garden-tomb to be built in India, it is Humayun's tomb which set up a new vogue, the crowning achievement of which is the Taj at Agra. There is also a somewhat common human impetus behind these two edificesone erected by a devoted wife for her husband and the other by an equally or more devoted husband for his wife. Several rulers of the Mughal dynasty lie buried here. Bahadur Shah Zafar had taken refuge in this tomb with three princes during the first war of Independence (AD 1857). On the southwestern side of the tomb is located barber's tomb (Nai-ka-Gumbad) which stands on a raised platform, reached by seven steps from the south. The building is square on plan and consists of a single compartment covered with a double-dome. The Humayun's Tomb, Delhi entered the UNESCO world heritage list in 1993.
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Vol. 02, Issue. 22, June 01 2018.
News from India 1. India's exports may reach $350 bn this fiscal: FIEO India's exports are expected to record a growth of about 15-20 per cent and touch USD 350 billion in the current fiscal on account of a host of factors including rise in commodity prices, exporters body FIEO said today. Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO) President Ganesh Gupta said despite increasing global protectionism, the country's exports would continue to register healthy growth rates. "Growth is looking promising this fiscal. Indian exports, which are hovering at around USD 300 billion, should show 15-20 per cent growth so as to reach USD 350 billion in this fiscal," he told reporters. Read more… (PTI, May 29, 2018, 05.40 PM IST)
2. India, Indonesia agree to nearly triple bilateral trade to USD 50 billion India and Indonesia have agreed to double their efforts to boost bilateral trade to USD 50 billion by 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today after holding comprehensive talks with President Joko Widodo. Prime Minister Modi, who arrived here last night on his first-ever official visit to Indonesia, exchanged views with President Widodo on potential areas of cooperation in areas like defense, maritime security, trade and economy. In a joint press statement after the talks, Modi said India and Indonesia have agreed to upgrade their ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Read more… (PTI, May 30, 2018, 02.14 PM IST)
3. Textile sector attracted up to Rs 27,000 crore investments: Smriti Irani Union minister Smriti Irani today said the textile sector has attracted up to Rs 27,000 crore investments since the announcement of incentive package last year and is likely to get more investment from international and domestic markets going forward. The government in June last year announced a Rs 6,000 crore special package for the textile and apparel sector, which included several tax and production incentives. "As per the record of textile commissioner's office, an investment of up to Rs 27,000 crore has come in, and we are hopeful that with the government's intervention, we will get more investments, both from the international and domestic markets," Irani said while addressing the textile summit, Texellence 2018, organized by industry body CII. Read more… (PTI, May 25, 2018, 09.49 PM IST)
4. India is the fourth most powerful country in the Asia-Pacific India ranks fourth on the Asia Power Index, which attempts to measure the power of countries in the Asia-Pacific. The Asia Power Index, developed by the Lowy Institute in Australia, covers 25 countries across a very broad geographical spectrum, extending to Pakistan, Russia and Australia and the U.S. India ranks behind the U.S, China and Japan in that order. Following India are Russia, Australia, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia in that order to round out the top 10. The index includes many parameters to measure the “power” of a nation, including economic resources such as gross domestic product (GDP), technological and scientific capability, connectivity through trade and investment flows, resources that enhance financial and legal force abroad. Read more… (Anand Kulkarni, Qrius, Sun, 27 May, 02:31pm)
5. Manipur woman makes history by sailing across the globe in 254 days A young Manipur woman, Lieutenant S. Vijaya Devi, became part of a historic team to circumnavigate the globe. It is the first all-women team from India and Asia to achieve the feat. She has been given the Narsishakti Award for her accomplishment. The six-member team was headed by lieutenant commander, Vartika Joshi and her deputy second in commander Parthiva Jamwal. Other crew members are lieutenant Aiswarya Boddapati, lieutenant, S. Vijaya Devi, lieutenant, Swati P and lieutenant, Payal Gupta. The team achieved this feat by using a 55-foot sailing vessel named INSV Tarini. Read more… (Imphal Free Press, The North East Today, Tue, 29 May, 02:08pm)
6. United Nations Appreciates India’s Role In Women Empowerment Since the establishment of the United Nations, so far, the important role played by leading women who have been associated with UN from India and other developing countries has been appreciated, including Vijay Laxmi Pandit and Hansa Jivraj Mehta. India’s permanent representative in the United Nations Syed Akbaruddin said, “A lesser known fact is that when developed countries try to establish itself as a leader of gender equality, then it was found that only three such instances where there were women have served as president of the General Assembly. These three women have been from developing countries.” Read more… (Uttarakhand News, Uttarakhandnewsnetwork, Thu, 24 May, 12:28pm)
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Vol. 02, Issue. 22, June 01 2018. 7. Indian scientists develop building block of optical computing In a development that could boost optical or light-based computing, a group of Indian scientists has developed a photodetector device by integrating sheets of nanomaterials with silicon. The device could be used to develop a switch for optical computing and could also make silicon solar cells more efficient. Computers, at present, use electronic circuits consisting of transistors – tiny devices which act like an on/off switch for streams of electrons. This is called binary switching. In the same way, optical computing works on switches that get activated with light or beams of photons. Scientists at the CSIR-National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in New Delhi have now developed a photodetector that can operate over a broadband range of light (250 to 1650 nanometers) and displays binary photoswitching behaviour over a similar range 250 to 1350 nanometers. Read more… (Dinesh C Sharma, Business Line, Wed, 30 May, 05:52pm)
8. IIT scientists develop novel nano-composite that can clean polluted air! Carbon monoxide is a major air pollutant posing threat to human health. A team of scientists led by researcher at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Gandhinagar have developed a nanocomposite material that can selectively convert environmental carbon monoxide into less toxic carbon dioxide. The new composite material is made of graphene and alloy of platinum and palladium in the form of nanoparticles. Read more… (Guest Contributor, The Better India, Tue, 29 May, 12:46pm)
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