Overview of Cabinet Approval with Foreign Countries on Jan 22, 2020

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs(CCEA) chaired by the Prime Minister(PM) Shri Narendra Modi approved the following proposals with the foreign countries on January 22, 2020.The approval in detail are as follows:MoUs among India, Tunisia and Papua New Guinea for cooperation in electoral management approved:
The CCEA has approved the proposal of legislative Department in allowing the India’s electoral commission to enter into Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with Independent High Authority for Elections of Tunisia (ISIE) and the Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission(PNGEC) for elections for cooperation in the field of electoral management and administration.

Benefits:

i.Bilateral cooperation would be benefited through the MoU. The electoral management and administration will also help in more improvised conduct of elections.

ii.Technical development of electoral process; support in exchanging information, institutional strengthening and capacity building, training of personnel, holding regular consultations etc will be done according to the MoU.

India’s election commission:

i.The election commission of India conducts the largest electoral exercise in the world by organising fair elections for about 85 crore voters in the country

ii.Previously, the Election Commission sent a proposal to the legislative dept. of the Ministry of Law and Justice (MoL&J) to enter into MoU with Election Commission of Maldives on cooperation in the field of electoral management and administration.

Model MoU with foreign countries for recognition of Certificates of Competency of seafarers approved:
The CCEA has approved the Model MoU for unilateral/bilateral recognition of Certificates. These certificates are for the competency of the seafarers and will be pursuant to Regulation 1/10 of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) for Seafarers, 1978 which has been amended to be signed between govt of India’s Director General of shipping and counterparts in foreign countries. The approval in this regard will be given by Minister-in-charge of Shipping and the Minister of External Affairs(MEA).

Model MoU benefits:

i.The certificates issued by another country to the Indian seafarers will be recognised and will also not seek a similar certificate recognition by India to the same Indian seafarers.

ii.Thus Indian seafarers will be placed on duty in ships under the flag of that country (country which issues certificate) for employment leading to employment generation.

iii.Maritime education and training, endorsements, documentary evidence of training, medical fitness certificates etc will be mutually recognized.

Cabinet approval between India and Brazil: 
A total of 4 agreements/MoUs were between India and the Federative Republic of Brazil were approved by the CCEA. The MoUs were on legal assistance in criminal matters, cooperation in oil and natural gas sector, cooperation in the field of early childhood and cooperation in the field of geology and mineral resources. These approvals in brief are as follows:

i.Cooperation on legal assistance in criminal matters:
Through cooperation in providing legal assistance to criminal matters effectiveness in investigation and prosecution of crime will be enhanced. It will also help in tracing, restraint and confiscation of proceeds and instruments of crime etc.

ii.Cooperation in the field of oil and natural gas sector:
Cooperation in oil and natural gas sector would help both the nations to work on establishing cooperation in the exploration & production (E&P) initiatives in Brazil and India; explore collaboration in Liquefied Natural Gas (LPG) projects in Brazil, India and third countries; collaboration in oil energy etc.

• The MoU is expected to be signed during the visit of President of Brazil Jair Messias Bolsonaro to India later in January 2020.

iii.Cooperation in the field of early childhood: 
The cooperation in the field of early childhood will be between the Ministry of Citizenship of the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Ministry of Women & Child Development of the Republic of India.The Mou will increase the bilateral cooperation on issues related to early childhood care and will also exchange the best practices between them.

iv.Cooperation in the field of Geology and Mineral Resources:
The MoU which has been approved by CCEA for cooperation in the field of Geology and Mineral Resources was signed between Geological Survey of India (GSI), Ministry of Mines of the Republic of India and Geological Survey of Brazil – CPRM, Ministry of Mines and Energy Brazil.

• Institutional mechanism will be provided through the MoU for cooperation.

About Tunisia:
Capital- Tunis.
Currency- Tunisian dinar.
President- Kais Saied.

About Papua New Guinea:
Capital- Port Moresby
Currency- Papua New Guinean kina
Continent- Oceania.
Fact- Recently Bougainville islands has voted for independence from Papua New Guinea and became the world’s newest nation.

About Brazil:
Capital– Brasilia.
Currency- Brazilian real.
Largest city- Sao Paulo.
President- Jair Bolsonaro.