Oman India Fertilizer Project Inaugurated At Sur, Oman

Shri Vayalar Ravi assumed charge as Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs here today. On his arrival at Akbar Bhawan, he was received by Shri S. Krishna Kumar, Secretary, M/o Overseas Indian Affairs and other senior officers, who briefed the Minister about the activities of the Ministry. Later, talking to the mediapersons Shri Ravi said that his first priority would be to focus on addressing the problems of the Indian workers, particularly in the Gulf, who constitute nearly 4-5 million of the Indians serving overseas. Efforts will also be made to modernize the office of the Protector General of Emigrants and streamline its working with a view to making the process of migration transparent, and orderly.

Responding to a question with regard to difficulties faced by poor Indian workers, particularly in the Gulf, as a result of the prohibitive cost of air travel, the Minister said he would take up this issue with the Civil Aviation Ministry to find suitable solution. The Minister said that there are estimated to be 25 million Overseas Indians spread across 110 countries in the world. The Overseas Indian Community represents a significance post today and the focus of the Ministry today is to be a friend and guide. He said that the intention of the UPA Government in forming this Ministry was to give mainstream attention to the vast Overseas Indian Community. He drew attention to the fact that the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh himself is closely monitoring the progress being made by the Ministry.

Underlining that the demand for voting rights for the NRIs was genuine, Shri Ravi said that the M/o Overseas Indian Affairs has already initiated action in this direction. He himself would very soon pursue with the Law Ministry to work out the modalities and to bring this matter before the Union Cabinet for an appropriate decision at the earliest, he added.

Shri Ravi also indicated that he would have interaction meetings with Overseas Indian Associations to understand the concerns as well as the areas of interests of the Indians living abroad. He also referred to the institutional arrangements made by the Government of Kerela, in form of `NORKA’, to give exclusive attention to Overseas Indians and indicated that he would have meetings with State Governments also to encourage them to establish similar departments/cells to give special attention to Overseas Indians from the State concerned.

The Minister underlined the fact that the intention of the UPA Government in forming the M/o Overseas Indian Affairs was to give mainstream attention to the vast overseas Indian community. He reiterated the commitment of the UPA Government to take forward the Overseas Citizenship of India Scheme launched recently. He stated that all steps would be taken to make sure that this scheme is implemented effectively and all eligible Overseas Indians benefit from becoming Overseas Citizens of India. The Minister emphasized that Overseas Indians today represent knowledge resources and that efforts would be made to build partnership with the Overseas Indian Community to engage them in the process of country’s development.

Gulf Jyoti International to set up manufacturing facility at Dubai Investments Park

Facility to have most advanced technology and equipment to achieve production capacity of 33,000 MT per annum

January 30, 2006 Gulf Jyoti International LLC (GJI), a joint venture company between Gulf Investment Corporation, Kuwait and Jyoti Structures Limited, India, has announced the setting up of a state-of-the-art transmission tower manufacturing facility at Dubai Investments Park. The new facility will have the latest technology and equipment that will enable the plant to achieve a production capacity of 33,000 Metric Tons (MT) per annum on a two-shift basis. The presence of a world-class manufacturing facility of this kind in the UAE is expected to significantly contribute to the country’s diverse business potential.

Khalid J. Kalban, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Investments, said, “Over the years, Dubai Investments Park has been attracting several leading regional and international companies, who have successfully set up operations and tapped the market potential of the region. The range of facilities and services available at the Park has been one of the factors that have attracted a diverse portfolio of clients”

“GJI’s technologically advanced facility will aid critical power transmission infrastructure development in the region and contribute to its overall economic progress. The company will have several strategic advantages by operating from Dubai Investments Park, which offers its tenants a range of benefits such as quality infrastructure facilities and support services. We will offer GJI all the assistance they require in successfully carrying out their operations from Dubai Investments Park. One of the main objectives of the Park is to support the manufacturing sector in the region and provide a base for industrial development” added Khalid Kalban.

Commenting on the new facility, Mohammed Al-Melhem, Chairman, Gulf Jyoti International, said, “Our decision to set up this modern transmission tower manufacturing facility at Dubai Investments Park is certain to pay rich dividends as the Park is a comprehensive, self-contained business zone. The proximity of the Park to the Jebel Ali port is another factor that will smoothen our operations here. We will be adopting the most advanced technology in our new facility which will help us achieve an excellent production capacity.”

The infrastructure facilities at Dubai Investments Park include an extensive and well-planned road network, electricity and water network, state-of-the-art telecommunications services, wastewater treatment plants and irrigation and fire fighting network. Dubai Investments Park has tenants from diverse industrial sectors such as pharmaceuticals, property development, metal treatment and insulation materials, water purification, boiling and distribution, heavy duty steel fabrication, cold storage, building systems, distribution of TV satellite equipment and the manufacture of cast steel valves for oil, gas and water industries as well as plastic pipes and accessories. The park consists of four business zones including the Industrial Zone, Commercial Zone and the Residential and Recreational Zone. It also hosts leading international schools, thus making it like a mini-educational zone.

Shri Anand Sharma assumed the office of the Minister of State for External Affairs, here today. Born on 5th January, 1953 at Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) to Late Shri P.A. Sharma & Smt. Prabha Rani Sharma, he is a Lawyer by Profession. He is a student of R.R.P.C.S.D.B. College, Shimla and Faculty of Law, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla. Shri Sharma is married to Dr. Zenobia Sharma and has two sons.

Shri Sharma was first elected to Rajya Sabha in 1984. He has served a number of Parliamentary Consultative Committees. He has been associated with a number of social, sports organisations and an All India NGO in disability sector. His hobbies include Cricket, hiking, travelling, reading books on philosophy and history, listening to Indian and Western classical music. Widely travelled, Shri Sharma has visited a number of countries which include U.S.S.R., G.D.R., Hungary, Algeria, U.S.A., Switzerland, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Tunisia, Angola, South Africa, Tanzania, Namibia, Australia, Spain, Sweden, U.K., China, France, Germany, Nicaragua, Malaysia, Italy, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. Shri Sharma has held a number of important positions including that of the Chairman of the First Non-Aligned Youth Conference. Besides, he has been taking active part in various national and international events. Shri Anand Sharma is well conversant with parliamentary and legislative procedures as well as international law. He has considerable experience in handling media matters.

The Union Minister of Tourism and Culture, Smt. Ambika Soni assumed charge of her office here today. She was introduced to the senior officials of the Ministry of Tourism by the outgoing Tourism Minister, Smt. Renuka Chowdhury, who has now assumed charge of the Department of Women & Child Welfare. The Secretary (Tourism), Shri A.K. Misra briefed the new Minister about the major schemes and programmes of the Ministry and also apprised her of the future tasks to be completed.

Speaking on the occasion, Smt. Ambika Soni underlined the need to place the country as the high class tourist destination and emphasized that every effort should be made to take advantage of the awe and curiosity India inspires amongst people all over the world because of its ancient diversified culture, world heritage sites, wildlife sanctuaries and national parks and the great variety that it offers from the mighty Himalayan Mountains, the deserts of Rajasthan to the wonderful beaches and islands of the country.

Smt. Soni said that she would ensure the continuation of important initiatives taken by the Tourism Ministry in last eighteen months and directed the officials to workout an effective Plan of Action for future in order to realize the potential of this sector both for growth and employment generation. The Minister noted that the Tourism Ministry has to interact constantly with other Ministries such as External Affairs, Civil Aviation, Home, Health, Railways, Shipping, Road Transport & Highways and the State Governments and called for better coordination with all of them in order to sustain the high rate of growth in the tourism sector.

DUBAI – Angered by the serious setback received in the recently held elections to the Kerala Social Centre, the party patronised socio cultural organisation in Abudhabi, Pinarayi Vijayan, the single individual who is leading the Communist Party of India from one disaster to another, has instructed his followers in the Gulf not to accept the outcome of the election at any cost and sabotage the election result. The Ongoing tussle within the mighty communist party of Kerala has its repercussions everywhere with caderes in different parts of the state and outside getting polarized into those who support the dominant Pinarayi group and others who support the weak V S Achuthananthan group. Kerala Social Centre, a CPM supported socio cultural association in Abu Dhabi has been a government recognized body and a group who claim to oppose the dictatorial tendencies within the association functioning have emerged victorious in a much publicized election in which majority of the KSC members have participated

According to the winners, underground work is in progress to sabotage the KSC election result and prevent the new office bearers from assuming power. It was a panel led by former KSC President and General Secretary K B Murali won the election. According to the group, the joint panel presented by them was rejected by Pinarayi Vijayan and supporters who thought that they would win the election. Now forces supporting V S Achuthananthan have started regrouping in different parts of the UAE and other Gulf countries.

The official group has been trying various means to prevent supporters of V S Achuthananthan to gain strength. Even though it is depicted as a Pinarayi versus Achuthananthan groupism, well wishers of the communist party see V S Achuthananthan as a lone fighter against the evil doers of party headed by the Pinarayi side. The official side is supported by the business community members who close to some communal parties and the ruling party.

The silence of Pinaray group about various issues, especially corruption charges and his readiness to go for an electoral alliance with the DICK at any cost are seen as desperate moves to safeguard the interest of the group that is supporting him from within and outside the country. The KSC election result is a clear indication that there is a considerable segment that are unhappy with the policies adopted by Pinarayi Vijayan and his group to silence criticism and eliminate V S Achuthananthan and his supporters. Now Pinarayi wants all those who have competed against the official panel!!! According to one group, members of SNDP group have penetrated the voters list. The powerful official group may not recognize the election result with an official reasoning. The names of SNDP and an association in the Gulf linked to that association is also dragged to the controversy. The official wing is astonished at the election outcome and fear the same story may be repeated in other party supporting groups in UAE and other GCC countries. These setbacks are yet to force any changes in the working style of any of these associations.

Helping Hand to Fight Sex Crimes in Kerala

KOZHIKODE: A resolution adopted at a mass convention held here on Sunday demanded an investigation into the circumstances under which prime prosecution witnesses in the Kozhikode ice-cream parlour sex scandal case had retracted from their earlier statements and turned hostile. The resolution read out by Anweshi president K. Ajitha appealed to members of civil society to be aware of the crossroads at which Kerala society now stood, and the unprecedented onslaught of a nefarious mafia which sought to ride the crest of power and hold control over everything, including natural resources of the State. The people of Kerala must be consciously aware of the dangerous turn of events in the Suryanelli and Kiliroor cases, and how the law was being subverted to protect the powerful.

DUBAI - The argument of having class struggles within the organization of CPM is really a part of deliberate attempt to insult a party which plays a role of leadership for the liberation of working class. The preceptors of globalisation are making every effort to implement their agenda. History gives ample evidence that only CPM can raise resistance against the evil effects of globalisation. CPM, as a committed and responsible party, is in the forefront of the figh to save the nation from the clutches of imperialism, says Mr.Veliyankodu Narayanan, a CPM supporter in reaction to the report quoting P.Surendran." Imperialism has very well diagonised the forces of resistance and the hurdles on their path.. Mr Surendran seems to be playing to the tune of the imperialist agents,' says Narayanan Veliyancode, a veteran CPM member. Read the full Report

Another journalist killed in Ramadi, the 79th killed in the country since March 2003

Reporters Without Borders today strongly condemned working conditions for journalists in Iraq after yet another journalist, Iraqi TV cameraman Mahmoud Zaal, working for the satellite station Baghdad TV, was killed on 24 January in a clash between US troops and armed men in Ramadi. It called on Iraqi and US authorities to investigate. Zaal was the 79th journalist to die in Iraq since fighting began in March 2003,

The worldwide press freedom organisation said it was "becoming ever harder and more dangerous for journalists and media staff to work in Iraq and the toll is very worrying, with four media workers killed in less than a month. We urge US troops involved in this clash to make a thorough and speedy enquiry to determine whose gunfire killed the journalist.

Zaal was caught in crossfire as he filmed an insurgent attack on two buildings occupied by US troops. Baghdad TV, owned by the Sunni Iraqi Islamic Party, said it was looking into his death, as did the US army.

Nagham Abou Zahra, a presenter on the Iraqi TV station Al Sharkiya, meanwhile jumped out of a second-floor window of her apartment building to escape a group of masked gunmen trying to kidnap her after breaking into her home. She survived the fall with many fractures.

The Oman-India Fertilizer Project (OMIFCO), was formally inaugurated by His Excellency Ahmed Bin Abdul Nabi Macki, Minister for National Economy and Supervisor of Ministry of Finance, Sultanate of Oman in the gracious presence of Shri Ram Vilas Paswan, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers and Steel today at Sur, Oman. Speaking on the occasion, Shri Paswan stated that the project is a very successful joint venture in the field of fertilizers and would be of mutual benefit for both the countries. Shri Paswan also said that Oman and India has a long age old historic ties and this relation could be further strengthened in various fields.

On this occasion, His Excellency Maqbool Bin Ali Sultan, Minister of Commerce and Industry, the Sultanate of Oman lauded the technical competence of the Indian partner in completing the state-of-art project and emphasized the importance of the project in providing employment to Omani nationals. Present on the occasion was Shri Prithvi Raj Chauhan, Minister of State, Prime Minister’s Office, Shri Madhukar Gupta, Secretary, Fertilizers and Shri Ashok Kumar Attri, Ambassador of India in Oman and a number of other senior officials from the Government of India and Sultanate of Oman. The occasion was also graced by His Excellency Shri Maqbool Bin Ali Sultan, Minister of Commerce and Industry and ten other Ministers from the Sultanate of Oman. Besides a large number of dignitaries and delegates from the private sector also attended the inaugural function.

During the visit, the Indian delegation led by the Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers and Steel will be meeting His Excellency Sayyid Fahad Mahmood Al-Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Council of Ministers, Sultanate of Oman and would focus discussion on areas of mutual interest including supply of gas for Ratnagiri Project. The OMIFCO project for which the MOU was signed in 1994 was approved by the Government of India in December,1997. It is a Joint Venture project with equal equities between Indian and Omani entities. The Indian Equity of US $160 million is shared equally between IFFCO and KRIBHCO. The project implementation commenced from 15/08/2002 and was completed on 15/07/2005 i.e 35 months from the date of commencement. The project envisages Urea offtake at pre-determined prices for 15 years period for entire Urea by the Government of India and for Ammonia by IFFCO at fixed prices for 10 years. The plant has a capacity of 16.52 Lakhs MTs per annum and will help in meeting the increasing the increasing demand for fertilizers in India. The project is also being provided with manpower and technical services by both IFFCO and KRIBHCO.