PIB Analysis 16th July 2020

15th India-EU (Virtual) Summit

Context

PM Modi attended the 15th India-EU (Virtual) Summit

Highlights

The India-EU Summit due in March was postponed in the view of COVID-19
India is committed to deepen and strengthen the relations with the EU and is focusing on a long-term strategic perspective for the same.
Trade and investment were the main focus of the 15th India-EU summit.
India was represented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the EU by Charles Michel, president of the European Council and Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission.

India - EU

India and the EU are natural partners and our partnership is useful for peace and stability in the world.
Both share universal values like democracy, pluralism, inclusivity, respect for international institutions, multilateralism, freedom and transparency.
After COVID-19, new problems have cropped up globally in the economic field.This requires greater cooperation between the democratic nations.
There are a variety of pressures on the rules-based international order.
Under such circumstances, the India-EU partnership can play a significant role in economic reconstruction, and in building a human-centric and humanity-centric globalisation.
Apart from the current challenges, long-term challenges like climate change are also a priority for both India and the EU.
Investment and technology from the EU can help India’s renewable energy sector.
India and the EU have been planning a free trade agreement, officially called the Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) since 2007 and it is yet to be finalised.

Source:

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1638783

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India’s first trans-shipment hub - Vallarpadam Terminal

Context

The Minister of State for Shipping recently reviewed the development activities of Vallarpadam Terminal of Cochin Port. It is envisaged as the first trans-shipment port of India.

Details

Trans-shipment Hub is the terminal at the port which handles containers, stores them temporarily and transfers them to other ships for the onward destination.
The Kochi International Container Trans-shipment Terminal (ICTT), locally known as the Vallarpadam Terminal is located strategically on the Indian coastline.
It successfully fulfills all the criteria which are needed to develop it as trans-shipment hub which include:

It is best positioned Indian port with regard to proximity to International sea routes
It is located at least average nautical distance from all Indian feeder ports
It entails a connectivity which has multiple weekly feeder connections to all ports on West & East Coast of India, From Mundra to Kolkata
It has proximity to key hinterland markets of India
It has the infrastructure to manage large ships and capacity to scale it up as per requirement.

Vallarpadam Terminal of Cochin Port is proposed to be developed as the most preferred gateway for South India and leading trans-shipment hub of South Asia.

Source:

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1638709

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Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Conjugate Vaccine

Context

Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has given approval to the first fully indigenously developed Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Conjugate Vaccine.

Highlights

This is the first indigenously developed vaccine in the field of pneumonia.
It has been developed by Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd, Pune.
Serum Institute first obtained the approval of DCGI to conduct Phase I, Phase II and Phase III clinical trials of Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Conjugate Vaccine in India.
The Company also conducted clinical trials in Gambia.
Earlier the demand of such vaccines was substantially met by licensed importers in the country since the manufacturers were all vaccine companies based outside India.

Pneumococcal Vaccines

They are vaccines used to protect infants, young children, and adults against disease caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus).
Their use can prevent some cases of pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis.
There are two types of pneumococcal vaccines: conjugate vaccines and polysaccharide vaccines.
They are given by injection either into a muscle or just under the skin.
In May 2017, the Government of India decided to include pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in its Universal Immunization Programme.

Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI)

Under Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) , is responsible for approval of licences of specified categories of drugs such as blood and blood products, IV fluids, vaccines, and sera in India.
Drugs Controller General of India, comes under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
DCGI also sets standards for manufacturing, sales, import, and distribution of drugs in India.

To read more about Vaccines and Immune System CLICK HERE

Source:

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1638731

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India–US Strategic Energy Partnership

Context

In the joint working group meeting of the Sustainable Growth Pillar, an “India Energy Modeling Forum” was launched.

Background

Sustainable Growth Pillar is an important pillar of India–US Strategic Energy Partnership co-chaired by NITI Aayog and USAID.
The SG pillar entails three key activities:

Energy data management
Energy modelling
Collaboration on low carbon technologies

There exist energy modelling forums in different parts of the World.
The Energy Modelling Forum (EMF) in the USA was established in 1976 at Stanford University to connect leading modelling experts and decision makers from government, industry, universities, and other research organizations.
The forum provides an unbiased platform to discuss the contemporary issues revolving around energy and environment.
In India, there was no formalized and systematic process of having a modeling forum.
Even then, various think-tanks/research organizations like TERI, IRADe, CSTEP, CEEW, NCAER, etc., have been consistently developing scenarios and contributing through modelling studies and analyses to provide required inputs to MoEF&CC and other relevant ministries, including NITI Aayog.

The India Energy Modelling Forum

It will accelerate this effort and aims to:

Provide a platform to examine important energy and environmental related issues;
Inform decision-making process to the Indian government;
Improve cooperation between modelling teams, government, and knowledge partners, funders;
Facilitate exchange of ideas, ensure production of high-quality studies;
Identify knowledge gaps at different levels and across different areas;
Build capacity of Indian institutions.

NITI Aayog will initially coordinate the activities of the forum and finalize its governing structure. The forum would include knowledge partners, data agencies and concerned government ministries.

Source:

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1638779

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Digital Indo- Italian Business Mission on Food Processing

Context

The Union Minister for Food Processing Industries addressed the opening session of Digital Indo- Italian Business Mission on Food Processing.

Highlights

Under the two-day event, digital conferences, trade fair and B2B meetings are being held.
Italian Food and Equipment related companies have much to look forward to the Indian markets in order to expand their global outreach.
India and Italy are natural partners, when it comes to the Food Processing Industry and in European Union, Italy has one of the largest Indian diaspora.
The Union Minister also highlighted champion segments in the food processing sector for both countries to benefit mutually.
India, also known as the world’s fruit & vegetable basket, offers ample opportunities for sourcing raw material. India also offers one of the fastest growing markets for finished processed food products.
Meetings and the webinars would be spread across the key areas – Fruits & Vegetables, Cereals, Milk & Dairy processing, Packaging & Bottling and also there would be opportunities for technical collaborations with the units located in the Mega Food Parks.
India’s partnership with Italy in the area of food processing will further strengthen and consolidate relations between the two countries.