On November 6, 2019 the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi made certain approvals/ MOUs with foreign countries. The approval in detail are as follows,
MoU between India and Bangladesh on withdrawal of 1.82 cusec of water from Feni River by India:
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Indian and Bangladesh on the withdrawal of 1.82 cubic feet per second (cusecs) of water from Feni river by India. This is the first such agreement between the South Asian neighbours in more than two decades by India and Bangladesh.
Key Points:
i.Data exchanges and frameworks: Both the nations have agreed to exchange data and prepare water sharing agreement framework for 6 more rivers. These rivers are Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Gumti, Dharla, and Dudhkumar.
ii.This MoU would ease off the severe water scarcity in the border towns. A total of 54 rivers are present in India and Bangladesh but before the feni river MoU, there was only one agreement between them to share Ganga river water which was signed in December 1996.
iii.Bridge on river Feni: India and Bangladesh agreed to build a bridge over the Feni river which will provide access from tripura to Chittagong seaport in Bangladesh. India also proposed to build a special economic zone (SEZ) in Sabroom to operate as an export hub.
iv.Feni river: The Feni River originates in South Tripura district and flows through Sabroom town(Tripura) and then enters Bangladesh.
MoU between India and Paraguay on Tourism:
India and Paraguay has signed an MoU for strengthening cooperation in the tourism sector. The MoU in this regard was signed on 27th September, 2019.
Key points:
i.MoU benefits: The MoU would benefit India in increasing the foreign tourist arrivals from Paraguay and would thus enhance economic development and employment generation.
ii.Features and objectives of MoU: The salient features of this MoU are information exchange on data related to tourism, enhancement of bilateral cooperation, cooperation between tourism stakeholders, cooperation in Human resource development, exchange of experience in the areas of promotion, marketing destination, development and management etc.
MoU between India and Brazil
i. Health and medicine:The cabinet has approved co-oporation of India and Brazil in the field of health and medicine. The MoU in this regard is expected to be signed in November 2019.
ii. Protocol convention on tax evasion: The cabinet also approved protocol convention for the avoidance of double taxation and also on prevention of fiscal evasion regarding taxes on income. Through the updation of the Double Taxation Avoidance Convention’s (DTAC) provisions to international standards, the protocol will facilitate the elimination of double taxation. The tax evasion is an illegal activity in which a person or entity deliberately avoids paying a true tax liability.
About Double taxation avoidance:
The Double Taxation Avoidance is done to avoid or eliminate double taxation of the same income in two countries. Agreement in this regard is known as Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement(DTAA) and is also referred as Tax Treaty.
MoU between India and Switzerland on climate change and environment:
India and Switzerland signed MoU for technical cooperation in the field of climate change and environment. The MoU in this regard was signed on 13th September 2019.
Key Points:
i.MoU benefits: The two nations will be benefited in the field of environmental protection and natural resources management. The MoU would also enhance cooperation on better management of climate change and wildlife conservation through latest technologies.
MoU between India and Guinea on renewable energy:
The cabinet has given approval for India and Guinea to cooperate in the field of renewable energy.
MoU objective: The objective of the MoU is to encourage and promote cooperation in renewable energy on the basis of mutual benefit, equality and reciprocity between the parties.
Key points:
i.The areas of cooperation includes cooperation in the field of solar energy, wind energy, bio-energy, and waste to energy, small hydro storage and capacity build.
MoU between India and Maldives on capacity building programme:
India and Maldives have signed MoU in the field of Training and Capacity-Building Programme for Maldivian Judicial Officers in India.
Key Points:
i.The MoU would benefit cooperation between India and Maldives in judicial and law related areas and would also enhance knowledge and technology exchanges in training and capacity building.
MoU between India and German Agency on occupational diseases, rehabilitation and vocational training:
The union cabinet approved MoU between India and German agency DGUV (Deutsche Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung), which is a German statutory accident insurance agency. The MoU was on cooperation on occupational diseases, rehabilitation and vocational training.
Key points:
i.India and DGUV will work on Occupational Safety and Health(OSH) and social protection, and also help in exchanging information in areas related to medical, occupational and social rehabilitation of insured persons with disabilities and prevention, detection and treatment of occupational diseases.
About Bangladesh:
Capital- Dhaka.
Currency- Taka.
Prime Minister- Sheikh Hasina Wazed.
About Paraguay:
Capital- Asunción
Currency- Paraguayan guaraní.
President- Mario Abdo Benítez.
About Brazil:
Capital- Brasilia
Currency- Brazilian real.
President- Jair Bolsonaro.
About Switzerland:
Capital- Bern.
Currency- Swiss franc.
President- Ueli Maurer.
About Guinea:
Capital- Conakry.
Currency- Guinean franc.
President- Alpha Condé.
About Maldives:
Capital- Malé
Currency- Maldivian rufiyaa.
President- Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
About Germany:
Capital- Berlin.
Currency- Euro.
President- Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Chancellor- Angela Merkel.
