Chennai: India and Australia have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in training farm workers that could grow to 12-15 million in the coming decades. The training will be an industry-oriented one. The MoU was signed between the Agriculture Skills Council of India and AgriFood Skills, Australia. It also aims to set benchmarks for certification and information.
A brainchild of the Prime Ministers of both the countries, the MoU is part of a larger collaboration in other fields such as telecommunication, retail, mining, media and entertainment. Satender Arya, CEO, Agriculture Skill Council of India, and Arthur Belwitt, CEO, Agrifood Skills Australia, signed the partnership pact in the presence of Patrick Suckling and Dilip Chenoy, CEO of the National Skills Development.
Success in my Habit
Friday, May 24, 2013
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Reliance Jio to roll out 4G services in metros by March
Kolkata: Reliance Jio Infocomm, the Telecom arm of Reliance Industries, plans to roll out fourth generation (4G) services in Metros by the end of this financial year. The company aims to do so at affordable prices, a senior executive said here on Wednesday.
“Kolkata will be among the first few cities where we will launch 4G services. The roll-out will happen simultaneously in Delhi, Mumbai and Jamnagar. Our aim is to start 4G services in metros by the end of the first quarter of 2014,” said Tarun Jhunjhunwala, business head and state mentor (East), Reliance Jio. “We want to take this technology to your living room at a very affordable price. We will change the game.”
Jhunjhunwala, however, didn’t provide details of the pricing strategy.
The company might also offer devices supporting 4G services to its customers, at nominal costs. It is in discussions with manufacturers to identify appropriate devices. It is likely 4G services would be available on smartphones, smart televisions, internet dongles and tablets.
To launch 4G services in eastern and northeastern states, the company would invest about Rs 7,000 crore through the next two to three years.
“We plan to invest Rs 3,000 crore in West Bengal. We will also invest Rs 3,000-4,000 crore to launch 4G services in other eastern and northeastern states,” Jhunjhunwala said. He did not disclose the company’s investment plan to roll out 4G services across the country.
In West Bengal, the company plans to lay optical fibre cables across 5,500 km. It would use 3,500 telecom towers to support its 4G services in the state. “The work has already started. We have laid cables across 300 km. We expect to create around 5,000 jobs in West Bengal,” Jhunjhunwala said.
He added Reliance Jio might take on lease 25-30 per cent of its telecom infrastructure requirements from Reliance Communications.
“Kolkata will be among the first few cities where we will launch 4G services. The roll-out will happen simultaneously in Delhi, Mumbai and Jamnagar. Our aim is to start 4G services in metros by the end of the first quarter of 2014,” said Tarun Jhunjhunwala, business head and state mentor (East), Reliance Jio. “We want to take this technology to your living room at a very affordable price. We will change the game.”
Jhunjhunwala, however, didn’t provide details of the pricing strategy.
The company might also offer devices supporting 4G services to its customers, at nominal costs. It is in discussions with manufacturers to identify appropriate devices. It is likely 4G services would be available on smartphones, smart televisions, internet dongles and tablets.
To launch 4G services in eastern and northeastern states, the company would invest about Rs 7,000 crore through the next two to three years.
“We plan to invest Rs 3,000 crore in West Bengal. We will also invest Rs 3,000-4,000 crore to launch 4G services in other eastern and northeastern states,” Jhunjhunwala said. He did not disclose the company’s investment plan to roll out 4G services across the country.
In West Bengal, the company plans to lay optical fibre cables across 5,500 km. It would use 3,500 telecom towers to support its 4G services in the state. “The work has already started. We have laid cables across 300 km. We expect to create around 5,000 jobs in West Bengal,” Jhunjhunwala said.
He added Reliance Jio might take on lease 25-30 per cent of its telecom infrastructure requirements from Reliance Communications.
Mumbai best for realty investment
New Delhi: Mumbai is the best city in India for commercial real estate investment, with returns of 12-19 per cent likely in the next five years, according to a study by Knight Frank.
Bangalore and Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) come second and third on the list, with returns of 12-12 per cent and 8-11 per cent, respectively, according to the report, Top Business Districts in India to invest In.
In Mumbai, central and suburban business district (SBD)-west have grabbed the top two spots, according to Knight Frank.
Office space in Mumbai had more than doubled between 2008 and 2012 from 47.4 million sq ft to 95.1 million sq ft. But demand remained bleak, the report said. Vacancy rose sharply from 4.3 per cent in 2008 to 23.2 per cent in 2012, and office rentals declined 10-40 per cent during this period.
Delhi-NCR was the biggest office market in India with 110 million sq ft, out of which 88 million sq ft was occupied, IT said. Information technology and information technology-enabled services (IT/ITeS); manufacturing; banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) and other service sectors accounted for 42 per cent, 22 per cent, 15 per cent and 21 per cent, respectively, of the occupied office space. The report covered 33 business districts.
Bangalore was one of the key office markets in southern India. A number of industries such as manufacturing, automobile and biotechnology have a stake in the economy of the city. But the IT/ITeS sector was the primary driver for office space demand, said the report. Of late, online retailing companies such as Amazon, eBay, Flipkart and Snapdeal have turned to Bangalore for their office space requirements.
IT/ ITeS accounted for 57 per cent of the office space in the southern city, followed by BFSI and manufacturing sectors at 18 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively. The office space stock in Bengaluru was 99.3 million sq ft, of which 86.3 million sq ft was occupied. A steadier demand during 2013-17 would ensure that the vacancy level reached 12 per cent by 2017 and rentals continued to be stable without much drastic variations, added the Knight Frank report.
Bangalore and Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) come second and third on the list, with returns of 12-12 per cent and 8-11 per cent, respectively, according to the report, Top Business Districts in India to invest In.
In Mumbai, central and suburban business district (SBD)-west have grabbed the top two spots, according to Knight Frank.
Office space in Mumbai had more than doubled between 2008 and 2012 from 47.4 million sq ft to 95.1 million sq ft. But demand remained bleak, the report said. Vacancy rose sharply from 4.3 per cent in 2008 to 23.2 per cent in 2012, and office rentals declined 10-40 per cent during this period.
Delhi-NCR was the biggest office market in India with 110 million sq ft, out of which 88 million sq ft was occupied, IT said. Information technology and information technology-enabled services (IT/ITeS); manufacturing; banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) and other service sectors accounted for 42 per cent, 22 per cent, 15 per cent and 21 per cent, respectively, of the occupied office space. The report covered 33 business districts.
Bangalore was one of the key office markets in southern India. A number of industries such as manufacturing, automobile and biotechnology have a stake in the economy of the city. But the IT/ITeS sector was the primary driver for office space demand, said the report. Of late, online retailing companies such as Amazon, eBay, Flipkart and Snapdeal have turned to Bangalore for their office space requirements.
IT/ ITeS accounted for 57 per cent of the office space in the southern city, followed by BFSI and manufacturing sectors at 18 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively. The office space stock in Bengaluru was 99.3 million sq ft, of which 86.3 million sq ft was occupied. A steadier demand during 2013-17 would ensure that the vacancy level reached 12 per cent by 2017 and rentals continued to be stable without much drastic variations, added the Knight Frank report.
Mobile data usage up 92% as telcos sweeten offers
New Delhi: Mobile data traffic has increased 92 per cent, as telecom companies offer low value packs for adding new users. A study carried out by Nokia Siemens reveals that 3G data consumption has gone up from 338 MB/month in December 2011 to 434 MB/month in December 2012. Data consumption on 2G has gone up from 87 MB to 115 MB during the same period.
“The 3G tariff reduction by operators in mid 2012 led to the significant growth in 3G data consumption across the country. 3G services generated one-third of the total mobile data in the country in the second half of the year — up from one-fourth in the first half,” Nokia Siemens said while releasing the study.
Telecom operators are going the sachet way, launching low-cost packs to woo the new cell phone-Netizen. From one rupee a day to Rs 25 for seven days’ usage, telecom service providers are coming up with novel plans to attract mobile Internet users.
Aircel, Idea Cellular and Vodafone India have launched, or are launching, inexpensive data packs aimed at students and those who have never logged in via their smartphone.
The Nokia Siemens study further reveals that there is a very strong tendency to access mobile data using smartphones. Forty nine per cent of the total data is accessed by smartphone users across the country. Tablet users account for only 3 per cent of data users, mostly concentrated in metro regions. This underscores the need for operators to make networks more smartphone friendly to ensure a better customer experience.
“The fact that data consumption by 3G users has tripled in one year clearly shows the rapid and steady increase in mobile data consumption in India. This translates into the need for high-quality mobile broadband services with improved speed and service quality to satisfy mobile broadband users,” said Sandeep Girotra, head of India region at Nokia Siemens Networks.
The trend in mobile data growth in India is in line with other high growth mobile data markets around the world. According to Nokia Siemens, operators worldwide will need to be prepared to provide 1GB of personalised data per user by 2020.
“The 3G tariff reduction by operators in mid 2012 led to the significant growth in 3G data consumption across the country. 3G services generated one-third of the total mobile data in the country in the second half of the year — up from one-fourth in the first half,” Nokia Siemens said while releasing the study.
Telecom operators are going the sachet way, launching low-cost packs to woo the new cell phone-Netizen. From one rupee a day to Rs 25 for seven days’ usage, telecom service providers are coming up with novel plans to attract mobile Internet users.
Aircel, Idea Cellular and Vodafone India have launched, or are launching, inexpensive data packs aimed at students and those who have never logged in via their smartphone.
The Nokia Siemens study further reveals that there is a very strong tendency to access mobile data using smartphones. Forty nine per cent of the total data is accessed by smartphone users across the country. Tablet users account for only 3 per cent of data users, mostly concentrated in metro regions. This underscores the need for operators to make networks more smartphone friendly to ensure a better customer experience.
“The fact that data consumption by 3G users has tripled in one year clearly shows the rapid and steady increase in mobile data consumption in India. This translates into the need for high-quality mobile broadband services with improved speed and service quality to satisfy mobile broadband users,” said Sandeep Girotra, head of India region at Nokia Siemens Networks.
The trend in mobile data growth in India is in line with other high growth mobile data markets around the world. According to Nokia Siemens, operators worldwide will need to be prepared to provide 1GB of personalised data per user by 2020.
Govt opens up healthcare to private sector in a big way
Mumbai: The state government has entered into a partnership with global healthcare giant GE Healthcare for setting up advanced diagnostic and imaging facilities in 22 hospitals.
A consortium of Wipro GE Healthcare will run these 24/7 diagnostic facilities.
Patients from below the poverty line, orphan and senior citizens, will get free services at these centres. Also, patients admitted to these hospitals and outpatients can get the services at subsidized rates. But the private partner can charge private patients as per market rates. CM Prithviraj Chavan on Friday announced the arrangement and termed it a giant leap in advancing healthcare to people.
However, questions have been raised that the private partner was being allowed access at dirt-cheap rates. For 10 hospitals in the Marathwada belt, it will be paying the government Rs 22 lakh and Rs 32 lakh for facilities at the remaining 12 hospitals.
Public health minister Suresh Shetty said revenue was never the motivating factor behind the partnership. "Our intention is to provide quality diagnostic services at concessional rates to common citizens." He pointed out that the consortium was selected through a transparent bidding process.
Shetty also said that owing to a dearth of diagnostic facilities, patients from government hospitals were often referred to private clinics and ended up paying more. "A decision to outsource imaging facilities was taken three years ago owing to a dearth of such facilities and shortage of radiologists and technicians. Procurement of modern-day diagnostic facilities on its own would have cost the government Rs 200 crore," Shetty said.
A separate tender will be floated for hospitals in the Vidarbha region, which are not covered under this arrangement.
The public health department has 19 CT scans and X-ray machines at present. It does not have any MRI or mammography machine. Shetty said that the existing facilities will be shifted to rural and peripheral hospitals.
A consortium of Wipro GE Healthcare will run these 24/7 diagnostic facilities.
Patients from below the poverty line, orphan and senior citizens, will get free services at these centres. Also, patients admitted to these hospitals and outpatients can get the services at subsidized rates. But the private partner can charge private patients as per market rates. CM Prithviraj Chavan on Friday announced the arrangement and termed it a giant leap in advancing healthcare to people.
However, questions have been raised that the private partner was being allowed access at dirt-cheap rates. For 10 hospitals in the Marathwada belt, it will be paying the government Rs 22 lakh and Rs 32 lakh for facilities at the remaining 12 hospitals.
Public health minister Suresh Shetty said revenue was never the motivating factor behind the partnership. "Our intention is to provide quality diagnostic services at concessional rates to common citizens." He pointed out that the consortium was selected through a transparent bidding process.
Shetty also said that owing to a dearth of diagnostic facilities, patients from government hospitals were often referred to private clinics and ended up paying more. "A decision to outsource imaging facilities was taken three years ago owing to a dearth of such facilities and shortage of radiologists and technicians. Procurement of modern-day diagnostic facilities on its own would have cost the government Rs 200 crore," Shetty said.
A separate tender will be floated for hospitals in the Vidarbha region, which are not covered under this arrangement.
The public health department has 19 CT scans and X-ray machines at present. It does not have any MRI or mammography machine. Shetty said that the existing facilities will be shifted to rural and peripheral hospitals.
Visa-on-arrival facility to be available at Hyderabad airport
Hyderabad: The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad is set to offer ‘visa on arrival’ facility, following an approval from the Centre.
International passengers travelling through the airport can now have a more convenient transit with this new offering.
Visitors from 11 countries will be eligible to get a visa on arrival with effect from May 31, an airport spokesman said.
The Government had introduced an Indian tourist visa-on-arrival scheme on January 1, 2010, at certain airports, which was initiated for citizens of five countries. Subsequently, it was extended to 6 more countries.
The ‘tourist visa on arrival’ with a maximum validity of 30 days and single entry facility shall be granted by the immigration officers at the airport to the citizens of 11 countries-- Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Philippines, Myanmar and Indonesia.
SGK Kishore, CEO-GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd, said, "The introduction of this ‘Visa on Arrival’ scheme will facilitate enhanced tourism opportunities to India and specifically to Andhra Pradesh. This initiative by the Government of India will position RGIA as a preferred point of entry for foreign tourists planning to visit India."
This facility falls in line with the airport’s strategy to transform itself into a gateway for passengers from south and central India. Recently, the airport has been ranked No. 2 by the Airport Council International in the Airport Service Quality survey in the 5-15 million passengers per annum category.
The airport was commissioned in March 2008 with an initial capacity of 12 million passengers and 150,000 tonnes of cargo handling capacity per annum. It has the flexibility to increase capacity to accommodate over 40 million passengers.
International passengers travelling through the airport can now have a more convenient transit with this new offering.
Visitors from 11 countries will be eligible to get a visa on arrival with effect from May 31, an airport spokesman said.
The Government had introduced an Indian tourist visa-on-arrival scheme on January 1, 2010, at certain airports, which was initiated for citizens of five countries. Subsequently, it was extended to 6 more countries.
The ‘tourist visa on arrival’ with a maximum validity of 30 days and single entry facility shall be granted by the immigration officers at the airport to the citizens of 11 countries-- Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Philippines, Myanmar and Indonesia.
SGK Kishore, CEO-GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd, said, "The introduction of this ‘Visa on Arrival’ scheme will facilitate enhanced tourism opportunities to India and specifically to Andhra Pradesh. This initiative by the Government of India will position RGIA as a preferred point of entry for foreign tourists planning to visit India."
This facility falls in line with the airport’s strategy to transform itself into a gateway for passengers from south and central India. Recently, the airport has been ranked No. 2 by the Airport Council International in the Airport Service Quality survey in the 5-15 million passengers per annum category.
The airport was commissioned in March 2008 with an initial capacity of 12 million passengers and 150,000 tonnes of cargo handling capacity per annum. It has the flexibility to increase capacity to accommodate over 40 million passengers.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Gulf Ispat to set up a Rs 3,500 crore integrated steel plant in MP
Bhopal: Gulf Ispat Limited will set up a Rs 3500 crore integrated steel plant in Madhya Pradesh, according to press release here on Monday. Company director Ayush Goyal met MP chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan here on Monday. The integrated steel plant would be located at village Ghughra in Jabalpur district.
Chouhan said that investors and investment are welcome in the state. Industry-friendly atmosphere is prevailing in the state. Transparent procedures have been laid down for investors coming to the state. Special attention is paid to ensure that investors do not face any problem.
Along with Goyal, BLA Power managing director Anoop Agrawal also met Chouhan. BLA power has set up a Rs 440 crore 135 MW thermal power plant in village Niwari in Narsinghpur district. It has commenced power generation in May 2012.
Chouhan said that investors and investment are welcome in the state. Industry-friendly atmosphere is prevailing in the state. Transparent procedures have been laid down for investors coming to the state. Special attention is paid to ensure that investors do not face any problem.
Along with Goyal, BLA Power managing director Anoop Agrawal also met Chouhan. BLA power has set up a Rs 440 crore 135 MW thermal power plant in village Niwari in Narsinghpur district. It has commenced power generation in May 2012.
StanChart acquires Morgan Stanley’s local wealth business
New Delhi: Standard Chartered Bank will buy US-based Morgan Stanley’s domestic private wealth management business. The deal will be completed by the end of 2013, said Morgan Stanley.
The deal will boost Standard Chartered’s private wealth assets under management by 25 per cent or roughly $750 million (Rs 3,750 crore), a source in the know told Business Standard. The UK bank will buy Morgan Stanley’s private wealth business for about two per cent of its total assets, valuing the transaction at roughly Rs 75 crore, the source said.
A Standard Chartered spokesperson declined to comment on the financial details. Morgan Stanley officials also did not disclose the particulars. In an emailed statement, the Standard Chartered spokesman said, “The acquisition complements Standard Chartered Bank’s existing private banking onshore business in India.”
Morgan Stanley said the private wealth management business represented less than five per cent of its India revenue in 2012. The US bank, which had surrendered its banking licence in India earlier this year, will continue to focus on its core institutional securities, investment banking and asset management businesses in the country, it stated.
Morgan Stanley employs about 400 people across businesses, including capital markets, equity and fixed-income sales and trading, research, asset management and private wealth management. It had set up the wealth management unit about five years earlier. Standard Chartered started its private banking business in India in 2007. Wealth management sector officials said Morgan Stanley’s private banking arm was one of the biggest in India but the business had turned unviable due to high costs and absence of commensurate revenues.
Many companies, including foreign investment banks, have been pruning or selling their wealth management business in India and Asia in recent months. Private banks, which came to India on the expectation that they would grow 20 per cent every year by servicing the nation’s growing rich, have been disappointed at the pace of growth.
In October last year, Switzerland’s Julius Baer Group announced the acquisition of Bank of America’s wealth management businesses outside America.
It is not clear whether Standard Chartered would absorb all of Morgan Stanley’s wealth management executives as part of the deal. Wealth management officials said it would be imperative for the UK Bank to retain the staff, as relationship managers will be important for bringing in a major chunk of the assets of Morgan Stanley’s wealth management division.
Earlier, L&T Finance, a unit of engineering conglomerate Larsen & Toubro, was in talks to buy out Morgan Stanley’s wealth management business. The talks fell through, as L&T did not agree on the price Morgan Stanley wanted, said a person familiar with the matter.
The deal will boost Standard Chartered’s private wealth assets under management by 25 per cent or roughly $750 million (Rs 3,750 crore), a source in the know told Business Standard. The UK bank will buy Morgan Stanley’s private wealth business for about two per cent of its total assets, valuing the transaction at roughly Rs 75 crore, the source said.
A Standard Chartered spokesperson declined to comment on the financial details. Morgan Stanley officials also did not disclose the particulars. In an emailed statement, the Standard Chartered spokesman said, “The acquisition complements Standard Chartered Bank’s existing private banking onshore business in India.”
Morgan Stanley said the private wealth management business represented less than five per cent of its India revenue in 2012. The US bank, which had surrendered its banking licence in India earlier this year, will continue to focus on its core institutional securities, investment banking and asset management businesses in the country, it stated.
Morgan Stanley employs about 400 people across businesses, including capital markets, equity and fixed-income sales and trading, research, asset management and private wealth management. It had set up the wealth management unit about five years earlier. Standard Chartered started its private banking business in India in 2007. Wealth management sector officials said Morgan Stanley’s private banking arm was one of the biggest in India but the business had turned unviable due to high costs and absence of commensurate revenues.
Many companies, including foreign investment banks, have been pruning or selling their wealth management business in India and Asia in recent months. Private banks, which came to India on the expectation that they would grow 20 per cent every year by servicing the nation’s growing rich, have been disappointed at the pace of growth.
In October last year, Switzerland’s Julius Baer Group announced the acquisition of Bank of America’s wealth management businesses outside America.
It is not clear whether Standard Chartered would absorb all of Morgan Stanley’s wealth management executives as part of the deal. Wealth management officials said it would be imperative for the UK Bank to retain the staff, as relationship managers will be important for bringing in a major chunk of the assets of Morgan Stanley’s wealth management division.
Earlier, L&T Finance, a unit of engineering conglomerate Larsen & Toubro, was in talks to buy out Morgan Stanley’s wealth management business. The talks fell through, as L&T did not agree on the price Morgan Stanley wanted, said a person familiar with the matter.
Hexaware sets up onshore delivery centre in Texas
Mumbai: Mid-size IT solutions company Hexaware Technologies has set up an onshore delivery centre in Texas, US.
The centre, which has a capacity of 150 engineers, will support clients in all major services lines offered by the company.
Hexaware has commenced operations with two anchor customers in the banking and financial services domain, the company said in a press statement.
The company will commence recruitment from engineering schools next year for the centre. Hiring of experienced professionals will continue on an on-going basis from the local market, the statement said.
“Dallas is recognised as one of the fastest growing hubs for the hi-tech industry, providing us with access to a great talent pool to add to our global human capital,” said P.R. Chandrasekar, Chief Executive Officer & Vice Chairman, Hexaware Technologies.
The Texas centre will be the company’s third onshore delivery centre in the US. It already operates two centres in New Jersey.
The centre, which has a capacity of 150 engineers, will support clients in all major services lines offered by the company.
Hexaware has commenced operations with two anchor customers in the banking and financial services domain, the company said in a press statement.
The company will commence recruitment from engineering schools next year for the centre. Hiring of experienced professionals will continue on an on-going basis from the local market, the statement said.
“Dallas is recognised as one of the fastest growing hubs for the hi-tech industry, providing us with access to a great talent pool to add to our global human capital,” said P.R. Chandrasekar, Chief Executive Officer & Vice Chairman, Hexaware Technologies.
The Texas centre will be the company’s third onshore delivery centre in the US. It already operates two centres in New Jersey.
India and United Kingdom sign MoU on cooperation in health sector
New Delhi: Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare India, ShriGhulamNabi Azad and Secretary of State for Health, UK, Mr. Jeremy Richard Hunt signed an MOU on cooperation in the field of health sector last evening at Geneva between the Government of India and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Describing the agreement as a historic event and a great milestone, Shri Azad noted with optimism that this agreement is going to usher in a new era of cooperation in the health sector between the two countries.
Shri Azad stated that the agreement between India and UK will promote wide-ranging cooperation in the health sector between the two countries and spur the exchange of information and expertise for the common good of people.
The areas identified for cooperation in the MOU include:
Promoting exchange on healthcare policy in India and the UK;
Human resources for Health;
Regulatory issues;
Health technology development:
Primary healthcare;
Strengthening of public infrastructure and capacity;
Health security, including cooperation on infectious diseases, emerging infections and drug resistance.
It is worthwhile to mention that India is a strategic partner to the UK and has been a recipient of UK’s bilateral assistance in the form of grants since 1975. The aid agency of the UK is Department for International Development (DFID). The priority for the DFID (UK)- Government of India partnership has been improvement of maternal & child health and reducing the burden of communicable diseases.
Shri Azad also noted with satisfaction that Department of Health Research, GOI and National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE), UK are in the process of signing an agreement for collaboration in areas relating to medical and health technology assessment.
Recalling the historic relations that the two countries share, Sh Azad noted that the signing of this agreement demonstrates the commitment of both the countries to work closely with each other to further cement their strong relations.
Describing the agreement as a historic event and a great milestone, Shri Azad noted with optimism that this agreement is going to usher in a new era of cooperation in the health sector between the two countries.
Shri Azad stated that the agreement between India and UK will promote wide-ranging cooperation in the health sector between the two countries and spur the exchange of information and expertise for the common good of people.
The areas identified for cooperation in the MOU include:
Promoting exchange on healthcare policy in India and the UK;
Human resources for Health;
Regulatory issues;
Health technology development:
Primary healthcare;
Strengthening of public infrastructure and capacity;
Health security, including cooperation on infectious diseases, emerging infections and drug resistance.
It is worthwhile to mention that India is a strategic partner to the UK and has been a recipient of UK’s bilateral assistance in the form of grants since 1975. The aid agency of the UK is Department for International Development (DFID). The priority for the DFID (UK)- Government of India partnership has been improvement of maternal & child health and reducing the burden of communicable diseases.
Shri Azad also noted with satisfaction that Department of Health Research, GOI and National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE), UK are in the process of signing an agreement for collaboration in areas relating to medical and health technology assessment.
Recalling the historic relations that the two countries share, Sh Azad noted that the signing of this agreement demonstrates the commitment of both the countries to work closely with each other to further cement their strong relations.
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