PM to Inaugurate Pravasi Bharatiya Divas-2010
New Delhi, The Financial Express

The next Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) will be held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on 07-09 January 2010. The high-profile convention will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India on 8th January. The President of India will deliver the valedictory address on 9th January and would confer Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards for 2010.

The 8th edition of this flagship event of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs has been differently structured this time around with a view to provide the delegates with an opportunity to interact with:

(i) Cabinet Ministers from India on matters of interest and concern to them.

(ii) PIO Ministers/dignitaries from other countries on the expectations and aspirations of the overseas Indian community from the land of their ancestors and how they could work towards strengthening the relationship between India and the country of their residence.

(iii) Chief Ministers on issues their States need to attend on priority and facilities and incentives available in their states for the overseas Indian community.

The PBD-2010 will have four concurrent sessions on: ‘Investment’, ‘Knowledge’, ‘Philanthropy’ and ‘Gender Issues’. It will also see the launching of an annual lecture series under the overarching theme of ‘India and its Diaspora: Everlasting Bonds of Togetherness’. On cards is also a Golf Tournament and seminars on Nano-Technology and property related issues of NRIs/PIOs. The 8th PBD is being organised by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA), in partnership with the Government of NCT of Delhi. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) would be the institutional partner. Online registration would start from 15th September, 2009. Further details would be available on the website of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (www.moia.gov.in).

The PBD conventions provide the largest platform to the PIOs and NRIs for exchange of views and networking on matters of common interest. Among the decisions taken by the Government of India as a result of wider consultations held at these Conventions, are formulation of the Overseas Citizenship of India, establishment of Overseas Indian Facilitation Centre, conceptualisation of PIO University, formation of Prime Minister’s Global Advisory Council of People of Indian Origin, setting up of the India Development Foundation, enabling professionals holding Overseas Citizens of India cards to practice in India, launching of the Global Indian Network of Knowledge (Global-INK) and the issuance of a smart cards for Indian workers working abroad.

Seven more IIM’s to be set up

Union cabinet approved the proposal for setting up 7 new Indian Institutes of Management (IIM’s) in the states of Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Haryana, J & K, Uttarkhand and Rajasthan. The eleventh plan had envisaged establishment of 7 new IIM’s in the country out of which one, namely, Rajiv Gandhi Indian Institute of Management (RGIIM) has commenced in Shillong during the academic year 2008–2009.  The remaining IIM’s were to be set up in the states of Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Haryana, J & K and Uttarkhand. Rajasthan was added to the list following the announcement made by the Finance Minster while presenting the trade budget in February 2009. The IIM at Tamil Nadu would be set up in Tiruchirappalli, the one in Haryana at Rohtak and those at Jharkhand and Chattisgarh at Ranchi and Raipur respectively. The location of IIM’s in J & K, Uttarkhand and Rajasthan has not been decided.

These institutes are expected to contribute to the generation of highly skilled and competent management professionals who would act as a catalyst for development of a knowledge society that would have a positive impact on the economic growth of the country.

India – South Korea CEPA signed
New Delhi, The Financial Express

India signed a comprehensive economic partnership agreement with Republic of Korea on 8 August. This is the second comprehensive economic agreement that India has signed, the first being with Singapore, and would include in addition to a free trade agreement, provisions for trade in services as well as for promoting investments and bilateral cooperation in other areas of mutual interests. This is also India’s first free trade agreement with an OECD country. This agreement was signed at Seoul by Mr. Anand Sharma, Commerce Minister of India and Mr. Kim Jong – Hoon, Trade Minister of Korea.

Under the FTA tariffs would be reduced or eliminated 93% of Korea’s tariff lines and 85 % of India’s tariff lines. Both countries have committed to provide national treatment and protect each others investments. CECA will come into force after it is ratified by the Korean National Assembly and the relevant notifications are issued.

Pitroda appointed to head NIHA

Govt of India is setting up National Information Highway Authority (NIHA) to synergize the various e-activities such as e-governance, e-learning and e-health. It has been reported that Mr. Sam Pitroda would be heading NIHA. NIHA would serve as the apex body for all e-activities and for monitoring all future projects and budgets in this regard. It would also be the mandate of NIHA to bridge the digital divide between the urban and the rural areas.

 Mr. Sam Pitroda had earlier worked as Head of the Centre for Development of Telematix under the then Prime Minister Mr.Rajiv Gandhi and also headed the National Knowledge Commission. He is widely credited as the father of the telecom revolution in India, which has resulted in the country becoming one of the fastest growing telecom markets in the world.

Pitroda appointed to head NIHA

Panacea Biotec Ltd has bagged a three-year contract worth over Rs 1,067 crore ($222.37 million) from Unicef to provide the agency with EasyFive vaccine, a protection against five dreaded pediatric diseases. The contract is valid for the period between 2010-2012, during which Panacea would supply the vaccine, a combination of five vaccines—Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hepatitis B, Hemophilus Influenza.

"This is one of the growth drivers which would have a significant impact on our overall performance in the coming years," Panacea Biotec joint managing director, Rajesh Jain said. Pentavalent vaccines (five antigens in one injection) are used by UN agencies to immunise children in the developing countries. Pentavalent vaccines for children are chosen over five different vaccines by health authorities world over, due to protection against five dreadful diseases in one shot rendering it convenient to administer by health authorities and enhancing the compliance rate among subjects.

The company claims that EasyFive, manufactured by Panacea is the world's first fully liquid pentavalent vaccine. The drug was introduced in India by Panacea Biotec in January 2005. The company received the pre-qualification for EasyFive by WHO in July 2008. Panacea Biotec has partnered with WHO and Unicef in their effort to maximise coverage of vaccines under the `Expanded Program on Immunisation'. The company has also been granted pre-qualification by WHO for its other two combination vaccines, EasyFour and Ecovac.

Panacea Biotec is also a pre-qualified supplier of oral polio vaccine (OPV) and Hepatitis-B vaccines to UN agencies. With the development Panacea's stock gained around 5% on BSE to close at Rs 174. The combined demand of all combination pediatric vaccines worldwide stood around $600 million in 2005 and is estimated to grow up to $1.6 billion by 2012.