Annual Report 2011 - 2012

Annual Report 2011 - 2012
Georgia
Relations with Georgia remained cordial during the year.
Attention was focused on the operationalisation of the
agreements concluded in the previous year. In addition, an
agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the
Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income
and on Capital between India and Georgia was signed, on
24 August, 2011, which came into force on 8 December,
2011, Similarly, an MoU to establish an ICCR Chair of
Contemporary Indian Studies at the Tbilisi State University
was signed on 12 April, 2011, with the Chair becoming
operational in October 2011.
Various collaborative steps and measures were taken, in
consultation with the Government of Georgia to ensure the
welfare and safeguard the interests of the Indian community,
including students and businessmen, whose size has grown in
the past few years.
Bilateral trade with Georgia in 2011 was valued at US$ 74.6
million as against US$ 106 million in the preceding year.
Kazakhstan
India-Kazakhstan relations witnessed a new high with the
visit of the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, to Astana
on 15-16 April, 2011. The Prime Minister held wide-ranging
discussions with Mr Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of
Kazakhstan, and Mr Karim Massimov, the Prime Minister of
Kazakhstan.
Seven agreements were signed during the visit. These included
a package of three agreements between ONGL Videsh
Limited (OVL) and KazMunaiGaz JSC (KMG) on the
Satpayev Exploration Block, which included a Participating
Share Assignment Agreement transferring 25 per cent stake
from KMG to OVL; a Carry Agreement; and a Joint
Operating Agreement. The others were an Agreement for
Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy; a Joint
Action Plan (Road Map) for furthering the Strategic
Partnership between the two countries' governments for the
period 2011-14; an MoU between the Indian Computer
Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), and Kazakhstan
Computer Emergency Response Team (Kz-CERT); a Treaty
on providing Mutual Legal Assistance in Civil Matters; a
Cooperation Agreement in Agriculture and Allied Sectors;
and an Agreement on Cooperation in Healthcare between
the Healthcare Ministries of India and Kazakhstan.
The External Affairs Minister, Shri S M Krishna, led the
Indian delegation to the 10th Anniversary Summit of the
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Astana from
14-15 June, 2011.
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The 9th Session of the India-Kazakhstan Inter-Governmental
Commission (IKIGC) on Trade, Economic, Scientific,
Technological, Industrial and Cultural Cooperation was held
in Astana from 11-12 October, 2011. The Indian delegation
was led by Shri R P N Singh, Minister of State of Petroleum
and Natural Gas. The Kazakh side was led by Mr Sauat
Mynbayev, Minister of Oil and Gas. A protocol on the
outcome of the IKIGC was also signed on the occasion.
Bilateral trade with Kazakhstan in 2011 (April-October)
stood at US$ 184.7 million as against US$ 306.3 million
the previous year.
Kyrgyzstan
India-Kyrgyzstan relations saw an increase in bilateral visits
during 2011. The Defence Minister, Shri A K Antony, led a
high-level delegation to Kyrgyzstan from 4-6 July, 2011. During
the visit, he inaugurated the India-Kyrgyz Mountain Bio-
Medical Research Centre in Bishkek along with the Kyrgyzstan
President, Ms Roza Otunbaeva. He also met Kyrgyzstan's
Defence and Health Ministers, and discussed bilateral
cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
As part of bilateral defence cooperation, a four-member
Indian Army Training Team participated in the training of
Kyrgyz military personnel at Osh and Batken, for UN Peace
Keeping Operations.
The Kyrgyz Defence Minister, Major General Abibila
Kudayberdiyev, visited India, from 8-10 September, 2011
and held discussions with the Minister of Defence, Shri A K
Antony, on bilateral military cooperation, including defence
research and development.
A 20-member special task force of the Defence Ministry of
Kyrgyzstan visited India, from 29 November-21 December,
2011 to take part in joint commando training.
A 14-member delegation of Indian pharmaceutical
companies from PHARMEXCIL, participated in a 'Buyer-
Seller-Meet,' on 12 December, 2011 in Bishkek.
Bilateral trade with Kyrgyzstan in 2011 (April-October) was
US$ 13.9 million as against US$ 23.5 million in 2010-11.
Tajikistan
Bilateral relations between India and Tajikistan received a
fillip during 2011, with visits of the following delegations
from India:
Air Marshal Kishen Kumar Nakhor, Vice Chief of Air Staff
visited along with a delegation (11-12 August). He met
Defence Minister Colonel-General Sherali Hairulloev,
Foreign Minister Zarifi, and Prime Minister Oqil Oqilov.