Three Pacts Signed with Ghana
- India and Ghana signed three bilateral agreements to strengthen cooperation in varied fields on June 13, 2016.
- The agreements include the exemption of visa requirements of holders of diplomatic passports. Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) on the establishment of a joint Commission and the MoU on foreign services between the two Foreign Affairs Ministries.
- The Joint Commission framework will periodically review various aspects of the multi-dimensional relationship between the two countries.
- Ghana’s main trade consists of gold imports; it’s nearly 80% of total trade. Ghanaian gold is in great demand in India. India’s exports to Ghana are close to around $ 700 million on an average and consist of a range of products like pharma, plastics, steel products, textiles and to most of the African countries besides cereals including wheat and rice.
ADB Approved Loan for Irrigation System in Tamil Nadu
- The Aslan Development Bank (ADB) approved a $ 100 million Ind to strengthen a key Irrigation system and improve water management in the Vertnar subbasin of the Cauvery delta in Tamil Nadu on June 8, 2016.
- The project will strengthen the embankments of six major irrigation water channels In the Vennar system to make them more resilient to floods and upgrade water regulators, sluices and pump stations.
- The Vennar irrigation network is no longer able to meet the needs of many of its poorest farmers, The work Is expected to be completed la December, 2020.
Nepal’s Deputy Prime Minister Visited India
- Nepal’s Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa landed in New Delhi on June 10, 2016 on a three-day visit to India.
- This is the fifth visit to India by Nepal’s Minister. Deputy Prime Minister had ‘High Level Political Meetings’ in New Delhi.
- The two nations signed nine agreements in areas of transport, connectivity and cooperation in the energy sector.
Government of India and Asian Development Bank Sign Loan Agreement
- The government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $ 120 million loan agreement to improve irrigation and water management infrastructure in Odisha on June 7, 2016.
- The financing will be used for modernizing seven irrigation subprojects resulting in improved irrigation in over 100000 hectares, and strengthening of Water User Associations (WUAs) and the institutional capacity of Odisha’s Department of Water Resources.
Hamid Ansari Visited Morocco and Tunisia
- Vice-President Hamid Ansari returned India on June 5, 2016 after concluding his five-day visit to Morocco and Tunisia during which he met the top leadership of the two countries and discussed a range of issues of mutual interest.
- This was the first visit by an Indian Vice-President in 50 years to the two nations. On the last day, Ansari addressed a gathering at the Tunisian Institute of Strategic Studies and called on Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi.
- Ansari visited Carthage Ruins situated on the eastern side of the Lake of Tunis and Sidi Bou Said a town located 20 km from the capital.
