1) PM Modi unveils bust of Gandhi
PM Narendra Modi on 12th April unveiled a bust of Mahatma Gandhi at Hannover and said his teachings and principles were the appropriate answer to challenges like terrorism and global warming that the world faces.
The shadow of terror is bent upon eliminating humanity. In this situation the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi like non- violence and `Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam` (the world is one family) are appropriate answers to this challenge," Modi said in the city of Hannover, on the first day of his three-day visit to Germany.
2) PM Modi gifts `Tree of Life` painting to French President
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who winds up his first visit to France, gifted President Francois Hollande a painting titled `Tree of Life` which reflects the traditional societal respect for nature in India. The painting, pigments on silk, has been done by an artist, Bhaskar Mahapatra of Raghurajpur in Puri district of Odisha.
3) No retrospective taxation: PM
The Prime Minister has said that his government has removed a lot of regressive taxation and assured the foreign investors that it will not resort to retrospective taxation. Mr Narendra Modi said if such issues do arise, it will be reviewed at the highest level.
In Germany visit, in the Indo-German Business Summit in Hannover, Modi said his government has taken bold steps of not dragging the litigation in a few cases where it felt that the steps of the previous government were not on right lines. Advising the German businessmen to come and feel the change in India’s regulatory environment, he asked them not to go by old perceptions.
4) India-Canada sign key agreements
India and Canada have signed several significant agreements. The agreements were signed after delegation level talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Stephan Harper at Ottawa, Canada on 14th April. The areas in which agreements were signed include civil aviation, rail, education and skill development, space and supply of uranium for India`s nuclear power plants.
- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought Canada`s cooperation and investment in every area of India`s national development priority- Energy and Infrastructure, Manufacturing and Skills, Smart Cities and agro-industry, and Research and Education.
- The Prime Minister said, the road map to conclude the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement will be implemented by September 2015.
- Liberal Visa policy for Canadians: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a liberalized visa policy for Canadian nationals visiting India.
- The new visa policy will support greater engagement and people-to-people contacts between India and Canada. India will issue Electronic Visa Authorization for tourist visas for Canadian nationals. They will also now be eligible for 10-year visas.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has gifted the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, a miniature painting titled Guru Nanak Dev. Painted in the traditional Indian miniature style, this composition shows Guru Nanak Dev with his two disciples Bhai Mardana and Bhai Bala, sitting beside him.
5) India, Belarus to enhance bilateral ties
India and Belarus have agreed to enhance their bilateral ties especially in the field of trade and economy. India also discussed regional and international issues of mutual interests with Belarus, during the meeting of Belarus Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on 14th April.
Belarus Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei is on a three-day visit to India, He along with his Indian couterpart Sushma Swaraj have discussed bilateral issues including high level political engagement, trade and investment, science and technology, defense, energy and culture.
6) India, Canada to expand bilateral cooperation in key areas
India and Canada have agreed to elevate their bilateral relations to a new level. Both nations have decided to take concrete measures to expand bilateral cooperation in key areas including the economy, trade and investment, civil nuclear cooperation, energy, education and skills development, defense and security and regional and global issues.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi held detailed discussions with Stephan Harper on full spectrum of bilateral relations and exchanged perspectives on a range of regional and international issues of mutual interest.
- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterpart have agreed to pursue specific measures to diversify and deepen bilateral trade and investment cooperation to increase the two way flow of goods and services.
- The two leaders recognized that early finalization of the Bilateral Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement is an important step in realizing the shared objective of enhanced trade and investment cooperation between the two countries.
- They reaffirmed the importance of intensifying and facilitating bilateral collaboration in the area of agriculture and agri-food, including continued collaboration in fertilisers, cold chain management, animal development, dryland farming, food processing technologies and agricultural sustainability.
Uranium for India:
Canada will now supply Uranium to India for its Nuclear Power Plants as the Cameco Corporation will supply 3,000 metric tonnes of uranium over five years to India at an estimated cost of 254 million USD and the supply will start from this year. Canada is the third country to supply uranium to India after Russia and Kazakhstan. The supplies will be under the International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced resumption of supply of fuel to India and declared their common intent to tackle the challenge of global terror.
- The signing of agreements announced a new chapter in Indo-Canadian relationship as the two countries left behind the past and rose to the occasion and announced the nuclear deal. Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Canada has what India Needs and announced his countries decision to resume supply to India. On his part, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the deal represents the confidence that the two countries share.
- Canada used to supply Uranium to India prior to 1970, but stopped it after pokhran tests. Now, with signing of the agreements, signals a new era in the bilateral relations between the two countries. Prime Minister Stephen Harper said that this visit indicates the strong friendship between Canada and India. Harper spoke of the growing relationship between the two countries especially the enormous trade potential.
- Sand stone sculpture handed over: 800 year old Indian sandstone sculpture of woman holding a parrot will reach to India. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper handed over to his counterpart, Narendra Modi. The sculpture dates back to the 12th century.
- It was returned in accordance with the 1970 UNESCO Convention. The painting is by Jaipur-based artist, Virendra Bannu.
- The three-foot high statue of ‘Parrot Lady’ turned up in Canada in 2011 in the possession of an individual who did not have proper documentation; it was seized under the Cultural Property Export and Import which controls antiquities and other cultural objects being imported from foreign states.