Annual Report 2011 - 2012

Annual Report 2011 - 2012
nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Deepening of
cooperation in this key sector was explored during the visit
of the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, the
Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy, and the Chairman
of the National Power Cooperation of India Limited as also
some scientists from BARC to the Czech Republic in June
2011. Also in June 2011, Heavy Engineering Corporation
Ltd. (HEC), Ranchi, signed an MoU with Vitkovice, one of
the largest and most diversified industrial groups in the Czech
Republic.
The Indian Ambassador in Prague signed an MoU on behalf
of the ICCR in June 2011 for the establishment of a Chair
for teaching Hindi in the Charles University, Prague. A
number of cultural exchanges during the year strengthened
the people-to-people links.
Denmark
The Minister for Water Resources, Shri Salman Khurshid,
visited Denmark, on 8-9 June, 2011, at the invitation of the
Danish Minister of Environment, Ms. Karen Ellemann. On
an invitation from the President of the Danish Parliament,
the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Smt Meira Kumar, also visited
Denmark from 16-19 June, 2011, with a delegation of
Parliamentarians and Lok Sabha officials. During the visit,
the delegation called on the Queen of Denmark and also
had meetings with the Danish Presidium.
An MoU was signed in June 2011 between the Aarhus
University and the ICCR to establish a Rotating Chair of
Indian Studies. This is the second ICCR Chair in Denmark.
The Embassy, in cooperation with the ICCR and the
University of Copenhagen, celebrated the 150th Birth
Anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore by organising
exhibitions entitled 'Tagore in Advertisements' and 'Tagore
in Kantha' from 15-20 September, 2011. A seminar was
also organised in the University of Copenhagen, in September
on the works and life of Tagore.
Bilateral relations received a setback, after the Danish
Government decided not to appeal against the Danish High
Court decision of 30 June, 2011, to disallow the extradition
of the Danish national Niels Holck, aka Kim Davy, to India.
He is accused of having masterminded the Purulia arms drop
in India and the Government of India maintains that he must
be sent to India to face the consequences of his terrorist acts.
Estonia
Bilateral relations between India and Estonia are warm and
friendly, and were further strengthened and diversified
during the year through a number of high-level visits from
the Indian side. The progress is reflected in Estonia's in
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principle decision to open a Resident Mission in India in
2012.
A 10-member goodwill delegation of the Indian Parliament,
led by Shri P K Bansal, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs,
visited Estonia on 28 June, 2011.
The Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises,
Shri Praful Patel, met the Minister of Economic Affairs and
Communications of Estonia, Mr Juhan Parts, during his
visit to Tallinn, on 3 October, 2011.
Shri Kapil Sibal, Minister for Communication and
Information Technology, and Human Resource
Development, visited Estonia on 19 September, 2011. He
called on Mr Andrus Ansip, Prime Minister of Estonia, and
met the Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications,
Mr Juhan Parts. He and the Estonian Minister of Finance,
Mr Jurgen Ligi, signed the Double Taxation Avoidance
Agreement during the visit.
A 10-member Bihu dance group from Assam, sponsored by
ICCR, visited Estonia and participated in the cultural festival
in Tallinn in July 2011.
Finland
Finland and India have traditionally enjoyed warm and
friendly relations. In the recent past, the level of interaction
and engagement, both political and commercial, has been
significantly enhanced.
Mrs Tarja Kaarina Halonen, President of Finland, visited
India during 1-3 February, 2012, to participate in the Delhi
Sustainable Development Summit (DSDS). During the visit,
she met the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh. The two
leaders expressed satisfaction at the growing India-Finland
cooperation, particularly in innovation and environment.
There have been several Ministerial visits from both sides,
cementing the excellent bilateral relations. The visits from
the Finnish side in 2011 include those of their Minister of
Migration and European Affairs, Ms Astrid Thors, in
January; of the Minister of Environment, Ms Paula
Lehtomaki, in February; of the Minister for Economic
Affairs, Mr Jyri Häkämies, from 24-26 September, 2011.
Mr Häkämies was accompanied by a 50- member business
delegation. During his visit, he inaugurated an office of
FinNode in Delhi, which will facilitate transfer of technology
from Finnish companies. Ms Heidi Hautala, Minister for
Development Cooperation, visited India from 2-5 February
to participate in the DSDS. Secretary (ER) hosted a luncheon
meeting with her to exchange experiences regarding
development cooperation.