Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation between India and Italy

The 20th India-Italy Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation (JCEC) took place in New Delhi on 26th and 27th February, 2019. It was co-chaired by Suresh Prabhu, the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry in India and Michele Geraci, Deputy Minister of Economic Development in Italy. The 19th session was held in Rome on 11th and 12th May, 2017. Issues of mutual interest related to economic and industrial cooperation (machinery, SMEs, energy, leather, pharma and investments) were deliberated upon.
 
The JCEC is an institutional mechanism for bilateral trade engagement, held at the ministerial level for Commerce and Industry between both countries. The agenda of the 20th session covered the following issues of mutual interest:

1. Economic developments in India and Italy
2. Bilateral Trade
3. Diversification of Trade
4. Bilateral Investment (including Startup India and Make in India)
5. Economic and industrial cooperation

Both countries reiterated their commitment towards the development of bilateral trade and economic relations though the facilitation of dialogue and enhanced cooperation across machinery, engineering, infrastructure, ICT, agriculture, digitalization and Intellectual Property Rights.
 
In 2017-18, Italy was India’s 5th largest trading partner in the European Union and the 25th globally, with a growth rate of 18.41% in bilateral trade. Exports to Italy grew at 16.47% (USD 5.71 billion) and imports from Italy grew at 20.48% (USD 4.71 billion). Despite a global slowdown in the last few years, trade between India and Italy has been rising.

2015-2016	2016-2017	2017-2018
USD 8.30 billion	USD 8.80 billion	USD 10.42 billion

India’s attractive foreign investment policy has been supported by numerous liberalization measures. Italy’s FDI in India is ranked 17th between April 2000 to December 2018, with total inflows valued at USD 2.72 billion.
 
Italy’s inherent strengths lie in skills training, manufacturing and design and innovation. On the other hand, India has a vast pool of skilled human resources, competitive wage rates and comparative advantage in sectors like auto components, leather, textiles as well as gems and jewellery.
 
Thus, Italy and India share crucial trade relations that have immense potential for cooperation and partnerships between industries, provided concerted efforts are made to further expand and promote bilateral trade.
 
Suresh Prabhu expressed gratitude for Italy’s submission of an evaluation report on Tricyclazole (TCA) in rice to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and removal of the alert on Indian Incense Sticks from the RAPEX portal. He further reiterated India’s commitment towards achieving an early and balanced outcome to the India-EU BTIA (Broad-based Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement) negotiations.
 
Michele Geraci expressed the interest of Italian companies in investing in India and the need to establish practical mechanisms, similar to the working group on agriculture that has been set up to facilitate investments and joint ventures in the agricultural sectors of both countries. He added that Italy is looking to work in areas like financial services, renewable energy, infrastructure, transport development in railways, construction and the automotive sector.
 
Both ministers highlighted the joint need of resolving issues of market access for business and investment, in order to positively impact trade relations between both countries. The overall tonality of the meeting was one of strategic partnership, underlined by the desire to strengthen economic and commercial ties based on mutual benefits and equity.
 
Both sides agreed to hold the 21st meeting of the Joint Commission in Italy in 2021.
 
Information and image sourced from link.
 
India Outbound
February 28, 2019
 
 

source https://indiaoutbound.org/joint-commission-for-economic-cooperation-between-india-and-italy/

Future 50 Foods: For planetary and human health

The projected increase in global population to 10 billion people by 2050 and the unsustainability of existing food production and consumption patterns, calls for a great food transformation. This is critical for nurturing human health and environmental sustainability. Importantly, the two main pivots of a great food transformation are healthy diets and sustainable food production.
 
Within this context, a report titled “Future 50 Foods” was released on February 20, 2019. This is a collaborative effort between the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), German brand Knorr and Adam Drewnowski, director of The Center for Public Health Nutrition at the University of Washington.This report aims to provide people more food choices to empower positive change, in a world saturated with advice about what not to eat.
 
50 foods have been identified, to inspire greater variety in what is cooked and eaten. These should be eaten more because they are nutritious, have a lower impact on the planet and are affordable, accessible and tasty. The search for nutrient-dense plants led to a rediscovery of heirloom plant varieties, ancient grains and uncommon crops. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has said that out of 20,000-50,000 edible plant species that have already been discovered, only 150-200 are regularly consumed.
 
According to April Redmond, Global Vice President at Knorr, “by joining together with our partners, we believe we can shift the way food is grown and the foods people choose to eat, delivering significant positive impact on the food system. Our mission is simple: make delicious, nutritious and sustainable food accessible to all.” At this point, not all 50 foods are easily accessible. However, collaborations between the partners can ensure these foods are commonly grown and widely eaten.
 
The 50 foods have been categorised into algae (2), beans and pulses (9), cacti (1), cereals and grains (9), fruits and vegetables (3), leafy greens (9), mushrooms (3), nuts and seeds (4), root vegetables (3), sprouts (3) and tubers (4). All the 50 foods can be used in savoury meals, since those contribute to most of the calories consumed.
 
The intention of this list is to enable three important dietary shifts. One, increasing intake of minerals, vitamins and antioxidants through a greater variety of vegetables. Two, reducing negative environmental impact by replacing poultry, meat and fish with plant-based sources of protein. Three, promoting agrobiodiversity with nutrient-rich sources of carbohydrates.
 
The report’s research is based on FAO’s data about crops that were grown in large-scale industrial farms from 1961 to 2014. The study revealed that while on a regional level, the varieties are increasing, they have dipped on a global scale after 1990. This shift has contributed to rising malnutrition and hidden hunger. According to the 2018 Global Nutrition Report, around 150 million children under the age of 5 are stunted, 50 million are wasted and 38 million are overweight.
 
The conscious choice of consuming these Future 50 Foods is a crucial step towards improvement in the global food system. Swapping staples like maize and white rice for fonio or spelt increases the nutrient content of a dish while contributing to greater agrobiodiversity, making our food supply more resilient. It also helps safeguard these ancient variants for future generations.
 
According to the report, “Future 50 Foods is the beginning of a journey and a way for people to make a change, one delicious dish at a time.”
 
Image and information sourced from report.
 
India Outbound
February 27, 2019
 
 

source https://indiaoutbound.org/future-50-foods-for-planetary-and-human-health/

Digital solutions to end hunger in India

Today, the world is facing a plethora of socio-economic crises that are threatening the survival of humanity and sustainability of the planet. Juxtaposed against this dismal picture, the world is also witnessing increasing technological advancements and digitalization, grounded in artificial intelligence (AI). This trend can either cause further damage to society globally or actually trigger social change in the form of innovative digital solutions for social and economic challenges. Within this context, data is a valuable resource for delivering social good, not just for measuring evidences of impact, but also to shape action in a more targeted and efficient manner as well as make informed decisions.
 
With this broader goal in mind, Welthungerhilfe, one of the largest non-profit, private aid organisations based in Bonn, Germany, along with employees of Microsoft Germany have developed an AI-powered smartphone application called Child Growth Monitor (CGM), which enables instant scanning and detection of malnutrition in children. This app aims to address a major challenge in tackling malnutrition i.e. inability to accurately identify malnutrition either through the human eye or conventional means.
 
There is a large workforce of field workers who conduct physical checks amongst children. However, most workers lack the required skills and equipment to manage data. Manual weight measurement scales often lack standardization, which leads to flawed and unreliable data around nutrition indicators. Measurements are manually written on paper, saved in log books and then transferred onto Excel sheets. This lengthy and time-consuming process is prone to human errors and result in absence of timely insights.
 
The app uses an infrared sensor to capture the exact 3D measurements down to the millimeter, of the child’s height, body volume, weight ratio, head/upper arm circumference etc. The process takes only a minute and thanks to Microsoft, the data is instantly available to us on cloud from anywhere,” says Markus Matiaschek, Head of Product Development, CGM. Nutritionists and IT specialists evaluate the scans to pinpoint the child’s dietary health. The experts then pump the data back into the app, in order to train the algorithm to become smarter with each measurement. Data privacy and security is maintained by Microsoft.
 
According to Jochen Moninger, innovation director at Welthungerhilfe, “the idea to develop the CGM app was born in India. We’d been pondering on how to address the challenge of inaccurate measurement and bring about a behavioural change in people in terms of nutrition consumption. That is when the idea of an AI-powered app struck us.” Thus, India is the first country where the CGM is being piloted by Welthungerhilfe and its partners Action Against Hunger, MGSA and Darshna Mahila Kalyan Samiti.
 
This project is being piloted in Anganwadi centres of three states i.e. Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra with 150 field workers across 12 teams. According to Dr. Shivangi Kaushik, Program Manager at Action Against Hunger, “having Child Growth Monitor on board will hugely impact the early identification of children suffering from malnutrition, thereby reducing the treatment time.It is crucial to provide early treatment and reduce mortality due to wasting.” The field workers from Action Against Hunger have scanned more than 7000 children so far and are aiming to complete 10,000 scans by March 2019.
 
Welthungerhilfe aims to contribute towards the efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal of zero world hunger by 2030, by transforming the manner in which government bodies, non-profit entities and social impact agencies discover cases of malnutrition amongst children at a global level. The development of CGM is a part of Microsoft’s AI for Good initiative, which aims to extend its technological expertise in AI and data science with selected humanitarian organisations through investments, financial grants and partnerships.
 
Together, they have envisioned the emergence of CGM by 2021, as a recognised global solution to be used by humanitarian organisations, thereby enabling the redirection of funds that are currently being utilised for manual measurements. In India, this could free up hundreds of millions of dollars for reinvestment.
 ‘
This is yet another example of collaboration between civil society and the private sector to contribute to the government’s efforts of resolving the problem of malnutrition and hunger in the country.
 
Representative image and CGM information sourced from Microsoft.
 
India Outbound
February 26, 2019
 
 

source https://indiaoutbound.org/digital-solutions-to-end-hunger-in-india/

Deconstructing Maharashtra’s nutrition story

An EPW article titled “What can we infer from Maharashtra’s Nutrition Data?” lays emphasis upon the relatively new policy focus upon the issue of malnutrition in the last few years, given that several states have undertaken large-scale initiatives to address this. The launch of the National Nutrition Mission reiterates the government’s priority accorded to malnutrition.
 
Within this context, Maharashtra is cited as a success story for its State Nutrition Mission and reduction in stunting by 15% points between 2006 and 2012 (Haddad et al 2014). However, Maharashtra’s nutritional story is replete with paradoxes and has been in the news for the high prevalence of severely and moderately malnourished children (SAM and MAM) in several regions.
 
The question that warrants attention here is whether or not, the drastic reduction brought within a short period of six years, will be long-lasting and sustainable. This becomes even more pertinent given the fact that there has been a rise in the incidences of wasting. Wasting is a short-term measure of malnutrition and reflects interruptions in access to food and increased risk of death.
 

PERIOD	STUNTING %	UNDERWEIGHT%	WASTING%	SEVERE WASTING%
2005-06	46.3	37	16.5	5.2
2015-16	34.4	36	25.6	9.4
Decline in % points	11.9	1	-9.1	-4.2

Source: National Family Health Surveys 3 and 4

 
Lack of focus on long-term structural change
 
This divergence in data related to the multiple indicators of malnutrition is underscored by the rigidity of the structural barriers, systemic constraints and institutional barriers in Maharashtra, which have been bypassed by the ongoing nutrition interventions. Technical capacity and expertise are found lacking and local institutions remain alienated from programme design and government actions. In such a context, the dependence on donor agencies is rather high.
 
The interventions targeted towards child malnutrition in Maharashtra have been grounded in a quick-fix approach that ignores the critical sustainability criterion. These are short-term and target-oriented, focused on meeting numbers and have sidelined the development of nutrition infrastructure. This focus on measurable change entails an absence of consideration of the deeply embedded structural requirements and involvement of the local government institutions.
 
Thus, the credibility of the data claiming 40% decline in child stunting has been questioned, given that other indicators have remained stagnant or their prevalence has in fact increased. Even if the data is true, beyond this, any reduction will strictly hinge upon holistically addressing the issue of development in overall infrastructure.
 
Nelson Mandela’s reflection upon health interventions in Africa resonates with Maharashtra’s nutrition scenario. The targeting of reductions in rates of maternal mortality lead to an acceleration of the trend towards narrow and vertical interventions, which are calculated to move the Millennial Development Goals (MDG) targets, without providing sufficient attention to effective systems that could provide healthcare critical for maternal health.
 
Neglect of urban and equity dimensions
 
The incidences of hunger and malnutrition become matters of great concern in urban areas, due to the substantial difference in population. Despite being higher in these regions as compared to their rural counterparts, nutrition interventions remain disproportionately focused on rural areas. Moreover, the indicators for malnutrition in urban areas are more resistant to change i.e. show downward rigidity (IFPRI 2017, FAO 2012, Crush and Frayne 2011, Haddad et al 1999). This trend is especially problematic for an urbanized state like Maharashtra.
 
Impact of “identity” on access to nutrition
 
The EPW article uses Mumbai as an example to discuss this factor. The city’s slums and other informal settlements, at the periphery of the city’s prosperity, face chronic malnutrition and starvation (Yadavar 2017, Barnagarwala 2016, Bhavsar et al 2012). This is a result of institutional alienation, as local nutritional institutions and the municipality (implementation actors) reluctantly claim responsibility over them. This exclusion is not exogenous but is rather a product of local sentiments, biases and informal influences that work against specific communities.
 
Formal institution designs have ignored these and have contributes to selective programme failures, thereby leading to a further accentuation of the divide in access (Choudhary 2015, 2017). For instance, the ICDS centres set up to cater these groups, after reportage of hunger deaths, partially track child malnutrition indicators and the quality of nutrition provided remains questionable. Thus, identity mediates the way institutional structures function and contribute to nutrition outcomes.
 
In a nutshell
 
In Maharashtra and other states in India, rather than use a top-down approach, the local governments must be involved in the processes of nutrition planning and interventions, in order to integrate them better within ground-level institutions. The challenges of equity and sustainability must be systematically accounted for. Unless the structural issues outlined above are accommodated in the functioning of the National Nutrition Mission, it will fail to meet its mandate. This calls for a reformulation of the hunger problem in India with the aim of invoking transformative change to improve the nutrition scenario in the country.
 
India Outbound
February 25, 2019

source https://indiaoutbound.org/deconstructing-maharashtras-nutrition-story/

Making breastfeeding convenient in urban spaces

The act of breastfeeding in public is a phenomenon that is subject to myriad forms of overt or subversive regulation and control in society today. It may be rendered visible or invisible, sexualized or naturalized and revered or declared disruptive. The spatial practices of breastfeeding in public urban spaces has in recent times especially, become a matter of a great contention, given the prevalence of stigmas and taboos, coupled with associated discrimination and ill-treatment.
 
There exists a cultural discomfort with women nursing their infants in public, often being grounded in notions of privacy. In this scenario, it is imperative that women have access to nursing facilities within larger urban spaces, which are clean and comfortable. This need has sparked demands for improved infrastructural support, to enable women to breastfeed their infants easily, as they navigate public spaces in their daily lives.
 
Within this context, the Delhi High Court has issued a directive to the central and local government in response to a PIL (public interest litigation), as well as the local authorities (civic bodies, land-owning agencies etc.), to devise a plan for the provision of separate rooms in public places and buildings for the mothers. The absence of such facilities amounts to a violation of the women’s right to privacy and the child’s dignity of life.
 
Such facilities are being put into place not just outside India, but within the country as well.Kochi is one such example. This month, breastfeeding pods were opened in four metro stations in the city, so that these could serve their 700 women employees as well as the mothers waiting for their trains. These pods are 4 ft * 4ft fibre-reinforced plastic cubicles and include a light, fan, bench seat, in-use locks for privacy and other basic facilities like hand sanitizers and charging point.
 

Source: Kochi Metro/Facebook
 
Designed by a wellness start-up called “I love 9 months”, these pods cost INR 1.5 lakhs and are equipped with information about breastfeeding. The mothers will also be able to contact the virtual support team from the wellness startup for reporting issues or feedback. These breastfeeding pods have been funded by the CSR (corporate social responsibility) initiatives of CIMAR Hospitals.
 
Based on feedback, more of these breastfeeding pods will be installed. The startup is also in discussions with the Indian Railways to set up breastfeeding pods across major stations from Kanyakumari to Thissur. A search for a uniform sponsor is currently underway.
 
“I love 9 months” is an all-women led startup that was incubated as part of the Kerala Startup Mission. This startup has also designed larger “lactation pods” for working mothers. These pods come equipped with a mini-fridge to store the breast milk and breast pumps. The first set of these lactation pods were inaugurated at Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram, home to IT companies.
 
The United States of America legalized breastfeeding in public only in 2018. This has been a society that has historically been hostile to mothers nursing in public. However, it is interesting to note that the stigma of breastfeeding is relatively new in India. With the advent of globalization and the adoption of Western attire and attitudes, including increasing sexualization of the woman’s body, breastfeeding mothers are more likely to be stared at or shamed today, than before the 1980s.
 
People in India are advocating for the acceptance of breastfeeding in public as well. However, until mindsets change, such initiatives are imperative to ease the conditions in public spaces for breastfeeding mothers and need to be replicated at a larger and more widespread scale throughout the country. The Kochi Metro’s initiative is an example of utilising public-private collaboration to make urban spaces more inclusive.
 
India Outbound
February 22, 2019
 
 

source https://indiaoutbound.org/making-breastfeeding-convenient-in-urban-spaces/

Defense and security cooperation between India and Saudi Arabia

Indian engagements in the Gulf region have been increasingly shaped by the rise of extremism, the rise of China as a formidable global force and the decline of American power. India and Saudi Arabia, particularly, have a strategic economic and security partnership. Both have remained trading partners, with India importing almost one-fifth of its crude oil demand from the country.
 
Other than being a source of energy for India, Saudi Arabia has displayed a willingness to cooperate on multiple issues including joint military exercises, intelligence sharing, counterterrorism, anti-money laundering and terror financing.
 
Amongst these, counterterrorism is a critical aspect of the bilateral relations between India and Saudi Arabia.
 
A peek into history
 
2006: King Abdullah visited India and signed the Delhi Declaration laid the groundwork for their close and active cooperation towards fighting against terrorism.
 
2010: During former Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh’s visit to Saudi Arabia, the Riyadh Declaration was signed to establish cooperation on exchanging information on terrorism.
 
2014: During His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud’s visit to India in February, an MoU on Defence Cooperation was signed
 
2016: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Saudi Arabia further solidified this relationship. He was also conferred with the highest civilian honour in the country, which is the Sash of King Abdulaziz.
 
An evolving approach today
 
From 19-20th February 2019, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of Saudi, made his first official state visit to India. Both countries welcomed the recent developments in their cooperation across the defense sector, particularly related to exchange of training and expertise, especially the outcomes of the 4th Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation in Riyadh on 2-3 January, 2019.
 
Both leaders mutually agreed upon the following, under defense and security cooperation:

• Conduct joint naval exercises at the earliest
• Joint defense production of spare parts and supply chain development for Naval and Land systems, for mutual benefit
• Work together and collaborate with other Indian Ocean Rim Countries for enhancing maritime security, vital for the security and prosperity of both countries and safe passage for international trade
• Ground regional connectivity projects in international law, specifically respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of states
• Need to create the necessary conditions for resumption of comprehensive dialogue between India and Pakistan

 
A “Comprehensive Security Dialogue” will be constituted with National Security Advisors to set up a Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism, for enhanced collaborative efforts and real-time intelligence sharing for mutual benefits. This is in addition to the ongoing efforts across a range of security issues, including maritime security, law enforcement, anti-money laundering, drug trafficking, human trafficking, illegal migration, and other transnational organized crimes.
 
In order to address the grave concerns over the misuse of cyberspace as a medium of promoting subversive and extremist ideologies, both sides signed an MoU on Technical Cooperation in Cyber Space and Combating Cyber Crime, to promote cooperation, including prevention of the use of cyberspace for terror, radicalism and incitement to disturb social harmony.
 
Broadly, they stressed upon the importance of securing regional stability and good relationships with neighboring countries. Both sides rejected any attempts to link the universal phenomena of terrorism and extremism to a region or culture. They also reiterated the need to for concerted action by the international community through comprehensive sanctions and UN resolutions against terrorist organisations and the early adoption of the UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. The leaders also discussed the regional and international security situation in the Middle East (based on the Arab Peace Initiative) and West Asia, given their mutual goals of global stability, peace and security.
 
India Outbound
February 21, 2019
 
 

source https://indiaoutbound.org/defense-and-security-cooperation-between-india-and-saudi-arabia/

AI Solutions to save India from NCDs and potential economic loss of $4.58 trillion

The article discusses how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help address the emergence of NCDs, a dominant health issue in India, supported by national-level quality data collection efforts.
 
The increasing incidence of the NCDs (Non-Communicable Diseases) in India is adding to the country’s disease burden and is posing a serious threat to the health and finances of both rural and urban India. NCDs are estimated to account for 63% of all deaths in India, of which 27% deaths are due to cardiovascular diseases and 26% deaths are caused by maternal, perinatal and nutritional conditions.
 
According to a report published by the World Economic Forum and the Harvard School of Public Health, India stands to lose $4.58 trillion before 2030 due to NCDs and mental health conditions. The exorbitant and lengthy treatment of NCDs trap the population in poverty cycle, impact economic growth and stifle development.
 
To deal with and contain the impact of NCDs, the governments, private players and researchers are focusing on reducing the risk factors associated with the diseases. Investing in better management of NCDs is important. Early detection methods, screening and better primary health care are a part of early intervention exercise. This can result in effective and timely treatment. However, the Indian healthcare system is impeded by lack of viable infrastructure, accessibility and affordability.
 
In this light, discussions about convergence of IT in improving the livelihoods of the Indian population has been gaining traction and promises to ensure sustainability and scalability of solutions across the nation. Artificial Intelligence is one such creative way to tackle issues that are fundamental to healthcare, livelihood and economic growth.
 
The recent announcement in the Interim Budget for the year 2019-20 about the establishment of the National Centre on Artificial Intelligence and development of the National Artificial Intelligence portal has ensured India’s long-term commitment towards AI. In 2018, NITI Aayog released a paper enlisting healthcare as one of the main focus areas for the government, as it can be seen to rapidly change and benefit from the advent of AI. With the escalating burden of NCDs in India, AI can prove beneficial in early diagnosis, prevention, delivering patient-centered care, monitoring and containing chronic conditions.
 
Some of the technologies that can address the incidence of NCDs include usage of algorithms to identify high-risk pregnancies, anemia patients, preterm deliveries, screening tools, patient’s pulse data, etc. Simulations from natural language processing, image and voice recognition, intelligent agents, computer vision, machine learning, chatbots, etc. are useful for the hospital, healthcare providers, researchers and social scientists to improve the delivery of care, patient health outcomes, while being cognizant of associated costs.
 
WHO, in its Global action plan for the prevention and control of NCDs 2013-2020, has urged governments globally to generate health-related data to effectively promote healthcare. However, most of the current healthcare data in India is highly fragmented, unreliable and outdated. To effectively and sustainably address the epidemic of NCDs, it is crucial that AI looks beyond hackneyed productions of garbage can models, toolkit methods while dealing with data collection in India.For the simulations to deliver long-term and safe results in healthcare, the data needs to be accurate, free of any bias and ethically collected. Thus, private players, hospitals, agencies, government and civil societies need to come together to collect reliable, structured and ethical data.
 
The public health impact of NCDs and the corresponding loss of productivity, aggravated often by lack of quality services and personalised healthcare, wreak havoc not only on the children and families, but also to the overall socio-economic performance of India. The WHO Global action plan for the prevention and control of NCDs 2013-2020 emphasises that every US$1 invested to tackle NCDs will have a return of at least US$7 by 2030.
 
Thus, improvement in healthcare delivery supported by AI can help India tackle the increasing burden of NCDs, provided it invests in quality and credible data collection mechanisms.
 
Pallavi Karnatak
February 19, 2019
 
 

source https://indiaoutbound.org/ai-solutions-to-save-india-from-ncds-and-potential-economic-loss-of-4-58-trillion/

Trends in Anemia Reduction in India

India has the largest burden of anemia in the world. In the last 50 years, policy and programmatic efforts have been made to reduce the rates of anemia prevalence, however, progress has been slow. In fact, the prevalence of anemia remains high amongst children and pregnant women. Anemia poses multiple health risks, including maternal mortality, low absorptive capacity of other micronutrients (folic acid, vitamin B), motor and mental impairment in children, low work productivity amongst adults and even death. Iron-deficiency anemia is also the leading cause of disability in India. Anemia poses a loss of 4% of the GDP for adults and children combined.
 
The poor progress in reduction of rates of anemia is underscored by the persistent gaps in the coverage of essential nutrition and health interventions, especially in the first 1000 days of the child, amongst other factors. Within this context, the medical journal, BMJ Global Health, released a study in August 2018 that explores the trends and drivers of change in the prevalence of anemia among one million women and children in India, between 2006 and 2016.
 
According to data from the 1999 and 2006 National Family Health Survey (NHFS 2 and 3) in India, the prevalence of anemia increased from 74% to 79% amongst children 6-36 months and 52%-56% amongst women aged 15-49 years. This is particularly surprising because the economic growth in India was rapid during this period and it is expected that economic development spurs reduction of anemia rates in developing countries. In addition, the limited progress in anemia reduction has not been uniform across states.
 
However, the National Family Health Survey-4 has revealed that between 2006 and 2016, improvements in nutrition and health interventions were the biggest drivers of anemia reduction amongst children. For pregnant women, the key drivers included improvements in maternal schooling and socio-economic status (SES). Other driving factors included higher maternal body mass index, greater consumption of animal-source food, sanitation and less children per household.
 
Despite some success in the past decade, anemia remains a persistent public health concern in India. For instance, the traditional approach of fortifying foods (wheat) with iron or providing iron supplements fell short because of low uptake and lack of attention to other drivers.
 
ICDS primarily focused on food supplementation (this implies receipt not consumption) rather than high quality nutrition education and healthcare services. Moreover, the food provided through social welfare programmes is not necessarily rich in micronutrients required to combat anemia. Increase in the consumption of dark green leafy vegetables, if not meat and fish, as critical sources of nutrients, is one way of combating anemia. With renewed focus on fortification of foods in India, the private sector in the food industry can play a crucial role in ensuring far-reaching impacts to reduce anemia prevalence.
 

 
Overall, India’s limited success in reducing anemia can be attributed to implementation challenges, poor distribution channels as well as poor coverage and targeting. In order to accelerate reductions in anemia, it is critical to gather evidence around the individual, household and community-level factors that could explain changes in prevalence of anemia over time. In the absence of such evidence, the policy-makers in India are challenged to determine the investments with greatest impact on anemia reduction.
 
A holistic approach is required to reduce widespread prevalence of anemia.Amongst children aged 6-59 months, the interventions must be directed towards pregnant/lactating women, the mothers and children (ICDS), This includes consumption of iron and folic acid (IFA) tablets, deworming, full immunisation and Vitamin A supplementation. However, in 2016, the coverage of nutrition and health interventions in the form of IFA consumption was at 30%, deworming during pregnancy (18%) and early childhood (32%).
 
In case of non-pregnant women, the poor progress can be attributed to the fact that there is inadequate policy focus on this segment of the population. Most national-level anemia programmes, or any nutrition/health related interventions ae usually focused upon young children, adolescents and pregnant/lactating women. This reflects the importance accorded to the reproductive potential of women, as bearers of future human capital in the country.
 
The guidelines under the 2018 Anemia Mukt Bharat haveunderline an integrated approach to strengthen coverage and implementation. These centre around IFA supplementation but also lay emphasis upon behaviour change communication to improve pill-taking compliance, deworming, education on appropriate dietary choices and child feeding practices, promotion of delayed cord clamping, mandatory provision of fortified foods in public health programmes as well as screening and treatment of non-nutritional causes of anaemia with a focus on malaria.
 
However, the socio-economic status and education of women, along with the levels of household sanitation, remain the most critical determinants underlying the reduction of anemia prevalence in India. Women must be enabled to make improved dietary choices for themselves and their families. They must be provided with access to timely and high-quality health services, regardless of their socio-economic stature. Broader goals include creation of livelihood opportunities for poor households to boost their socio-economic conditions and improving sanitation and hygiene practices in society.
 
India Outbound
February 18, 2019
 
 

source https://indiaoutbound.org/trends-in-anemia-reduction-in-india/

Confused with UK and US and EU XS (Extra Small), S (Small), L (Large), M (Medium), L (Large), XL (Extra Large), XXL (Extra Extra Large) and so on? Things are about to change in India. #apparel #textile https://t.co/OPZD4ccO5S

Confused with UK and US and EU XS (Extra Small), S (Small), L (Large), M (Medium), L (Large), XL (Extra Large), XXL (Extra Extra Large) and so on? Things are about to change in India. #apparel #textilehttps://t.co/OPZD4ccO5S

— India Outbound (@india_outbound) February 19, 2019

from Twitter : https://twitter.com/india_outbound

One “Indian” Size Fits All

In January 2019, at the Textile Conclave of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit in Gandhinagar, Union Textile Minister Smriti Irani announced that the textiles and garment industry will soon have a standard India-specific apparel size. The Ministry has already sanctioned the “Size India” project under the Research and Development Scheme. The National Institute of Fashion Technology is the implementation agency for rolling out the project across India and will develop the Indian size charts.
 
According to Irani, “our country has a capacity to cater to huge demands, both domestic and overseas. But, never before in the history of our country was a study done to ascertain the strength and the magnitude of our domestic market. The Centre will soon embark upon a statistical study to actually categorise the domestic demand of the market so that it becomes a base for the creation and strengthening of the industry”.
 
Currently, the Indian textile sector follows a universal standard of size measurement, categorized as XS (Extra Small), S (Small), L (Large), M (Medium), L (Large), XL (Extra Large), XXL (Extra Extra Large) and so on. But after the completion of this project, the entire country will have a standard reference point for the ready-to-wear industry and all Indian brands will have the same sizes available for people. The support of Indian and international experts who have been involved in national sizing surveys is being taken for the project.
 
Under the project, NIFT plans to measure 25,000 people between ages 18 and 65 years, using 3D whole body scanners, across six different regions in the country i.e. North (New Delhi), South (Bengaluru), East (Kolkata), West (Mumbai), Central (Hyderabad) and North-East (Shillong). The National Sizing Survey will cost approximately INR 30 crores. The Ministry is contributing 21 crores and NIFT is pitching in 9 crores. This project will take 2-3 years.
 
Last year, at a press conference held at the NIFT-New Delhi campus, Noopur Anand, a professor at NIFT-Delhi and principal investigator of the project said, “this would be a scientific exercise where anthropometric data will be collected from a sample population of 25,000 to create a database of measurements that will culminate in a standardised size chart, truly be representative of the Indian population, which can then be adopted by the entire apparel industry. “The final outcome will be in numerical value. We don’t know yet, if we would be having just a single numerical marker or the more than one. Also, about 120 different anthropometric elements, including, height, weight, waist-size, hip-size, bust-size, would be included in the survey.”
 
The underlying idea of this project is to address the challenges of the export segment of the textile industry and the global Indian diaspora. Moreover, it will reduce the production costs and the waste inventories of the industry, thereby enabling the manufacturers and retailers to benefit the consumers by adjusting the prices accordingly.
 
14 countries in the world have their own national sizing charts. The United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe (France, Spain, Germany, Italy), Australia, Japan, Korea and China have their own sizing standards. Other countries adjust the size requirements according to these. India will soon join the ranks of the US, UK and Europe within the textile and garment industry.
 
India Outbound
February 15, 2019
 
 

source https://indiaoutbound.org/one-indian-size-fits-all/

Greening of Planet Earth: A Striking Phenomenon

In a world that is otherwise facing a plethora of severe environmental crises, there is a glimmer of optimism provided by a study published in the journal, Nature Sustainability, based on data from the NASA Earth Conservatory. In the last 20 years, the world has literally become a greener place to live in and the largest sources of this increase in foliage are India and China. This appears to be counterintuitive, given that both countries host the highest populations globally and are undergoing rapid urbanisation, industrialisation and development. These trends are typically associated with massive deforestation and land degradation.
 
The greening phenomenon was first detected in the mid-1990s, but at that time, it was unknown that human activity (land use management) was a key and direct contributor. This new insight emerged from a 20-year long record of data from a NASA instrument called the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrodiometer (MODIS) that orbits the Earth on two satellites with intensive coverage across space and time. MODIS has enabled researched to procure high-resolution shots, yielding accurate and detailed data and information about what is happening to vegetation on the planet, as close as 500 meters from the ground.
 

China’s ambitious tree planting programs for conserving and expanding forest cover to mitigate impacts of climate change, air pollution, soil erosion, land degradation as well as intensive agriculture in both, India and China are primary causes of this greening of the planet. This increase in the leaf area of trees and plants, of more than 2 million square miles per year, is equivalent to the coverage by Amazon rainforests. The lead author of the study has said that “China and India account for one-third of the greening, but contain only 9% of the planet’s land area covered in vegetation.”
 
According to Rama Nemani, research scientist at NASA and co-author of the study, “this long-term data lets us dig deeper. When the greening of the Earth was first observed, we thought it was due to a warmer, wetter climate and fertilization from the added carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, leading to more leaf growth in northern forests, for instance. Now, with the MODIS data that lets us understand the phenomenon at really small scales, we see that humans are also contributing.”
 
China accounts for 25% of the global net increase in leaf area with 6.6& of global vegetated area. Forests and intensive cultivation of croplands have contributed 42% and 32% respectively. In India, greening can be attributed mostly to croplands at 82% and forests contribute a minor 4.4%. Since 2000, food production in both countries has increased by more than 35% due to increase in harvested area and yield, based on multiple cropping patterns, fertilizer usage, multiple rounds of replantation annually and ground/surface water irrigation. The production of grains, vegetables, fruits have increased by about 35-40% since 2000 to feed the increasing populations.
 
The dominant indirect drivers include CO2 fertilization effects and climate change, amidst other factors like nitrogen deposition and recovery from natural disturbances. Along with the direct human influence, these can be factored into existing climate models to make improved predictions about the changing nature of different natural systems and take suitable actions. Their future is dependent on numerous global and local factors and changing environmental circumstances and losses.
 
Overall, 33% of the world’s vegetated lands are becoming greener while 5% of those are growing browner. Moreover, the increase in greenness in India and China has not offset the damage caused due to loss of natural vegetation across tropical regions in Indonesia and Brazil. Thus, concerns related to the consequences of loss in biodiversity and sustainability remain. Understanding of this striking greening trend can highlight the necessity of developing realistic representations of how human land-use practices impact Earth system models and can then be applied across countries for widespread environmental sustainability.
 
India Outbound
February 14, 2019
 
 

source https://indiaoutbound.org/greening-of-planet-earth-a-striking-phenomenon/

Spearheading Digital Dictatorship in China

China will launch a controversial lifelong points program by 2021, across multiple cities including Beijing, to monitor its 22 billion citizens, using personalized ratings that will be assigned to each resident, based on their social behaviours. This “personal integrity” project has been piloted, starting late 2017, in Hangzhou, a city in Eastern China with a population of 9.5 million. The monitoring program will be fully operational by 2020. When the pilot was launched, the Chinese government said the intention was to “guide the citizens to be honest and promote the socialist core values.”
 
The system is relatively straight forward. Those people who follow the rules set by the Chinese Communist Party and exhibit pro-social behaviours (volunteer work, blood donation etc.), attitudes and reputations will earn good social credit and be rewarded with “green channel” benefits (easier access to gyms, jobs and university applications, VIP treatment at hotels, cheaper loans). Those in violation of the laws would pay a “heavy price” and be “locked out” of society, in the form of blockage from booking train and plane tickets, denial of access to government jobs or credit etc.
 
This monitoring program will be enforced via the high-tech surveillance systems in China. These will pool information for myriad government agencies and transit authorities, using tracking technologies that would link databases to create a detailed picture of citizens and interactions across different services and networks of social apps and mobile phones.
 
As rules that obligate internet providers and social networks to remove anonymity of users get enforced, policing bodies will be able to improve their blacklist systems. Tracking of individual behaviour has already become simpler with the virtual and centralised nature of economic activities i.e. making payments, organising transport etc. Online accounts are generally linked to mobile phone numbers, which require government IDS.
 
The government’s 200 million cameras that monitor activity in open public spaces will enable the use of facial recognition technology, body scanning and geo-tracking. Moreover, big data from traditional sources of information like state security, financial, government, educational and medical records/assessments will be fed into individual scores.
 
Trial social credit systems are now in multiple stages of development in a dozen cities across China. The final version of the national social credit system is uncertain. Several companies are collaborating with the state to nationalize them by configuring the technology and finalizing requisite algorithms, to determine the individual national citizen scores.
 
According to the official Party outline, this project will “allow the trustworthy to roam freely under heaven while making it hard for the discredited to take a single step.” The Chinese state is not new to systems that have experimented with grading its citizens, rewarding acceptable behaviour with streamlined services and punishing unacceptable action with penalties and restrictions.Within China, there is a lack of public debate about the implementation of this system. A lot of people do not grasp fully, the consequences of such all-encompassing control. In private, some people have challenged this social credit model as reducing citizens merely to character assessment scores.
 
The Chinese do not accord the same premium to privacy as the West does.Chinese citizens are accustomed to the state interference in their personal affairs since China is primarily a surveillance state. In fact, due to the higher value given to community good over individual rights, social credit is defended for being a step towards creating a more secure, stable and safer society, especially for the children of parents with stellar scores.
 
This is probably the largest social engineering project that has ever been attempted, in order to control and coerce over a billion people. If China succeeds, it will essentially spearhead a form of digital dictatorship in the country, via this system of privileges and punishment.This digital dictatorship exemplifies a deepening of the Foucauldian conception of mass surveillance (panopticism) in the digital era and historian Yuval Noah Harari’s gloomy projection of a third grand revolution, based on control of data by governments, corporations or both.
 
India Outbound
February 13, 2019
 
 

source https://indiaoutbound.org/spearheading-digital-dictatorship-in-china/

Asia’s dynamic geopolitical balance

India is a rising Asian and global power, however, its transformation is tempered by the China’s rapid ascension as a formidable source of political and economic clout. Within this context of power dynamics, India must secure and promote its national interests strategically in a grossly unbalanced Asian environment. India faces challenges from China in the following domains:
 
Military might: Chinese military forcespose a formidable threat, given its critical geographical advantages and superior communications/transportation infrastructure, especially since both countries have persistent border disputes and the emerging threat of China’s naval foray into the Indian Ocean. The disparities between the military might and spending of both countries is likely to widen, considering Chinese proclivity to use military force (for example, South China Sea dispute).
 
Diplomatic sway: Beijing’s significant influence in established international institutions like the UN Security Council, Nuclear Suppliers’ Group etc. and role in setting up organisations like the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank or shaping the BRICS, accords opportunities to China to hamper India’s foreign policy goals, interests and voice regarding multilateral reforms and larger global issues. In 2016, China thwarted India’s entry into the NSG.
 
Regional influence: China’s alignment with Pakistan (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor; bolstering Pakistani military capabilities), deepening relations with other South Asian countries (Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal), provision of financial assistance and balance against India etc. has challenged India’s dominance in South Asia, amongst their neighbours.
 
Economic power: Chinese economic clout (aid and trade policies) globally can be used to pressure other countries to India’s detriment in international politics, especially in scenarios of clashing interests. In the past, Beijing punished Norway and South Korea with economic boycotts for being deemed unfriendly to Chinese interests and used to aid to further its foreign policy objectives in relations with Philippines.
 
Broadly, India has various potential strategic options and policy choices i.e. non-alignment, hedging, building indigenous military power and capabilities, forming regional partnerships and alignment with China or the United States. Ideally, India should pick the best out of these imperfect choices as a primary strategy and supplement with other complementary approaches as required.
 
Non-alignment as a strategy, hedging or alignment with China is unlikely to serve Indian national interests, considering Chinese power, proximity and policies already threaten India’s foreign interests and national security. The other choices i.e. building indigenous military power and forging regional partnerships can become necessary and complementary means of countering China, but are by themselves insufficient, because China is already wealthier and stronger than India or any combination of other Asian powers.
 
Given the current global scenario, India’s strategic interests will probably be best served via closer alignment with the United States. The US is the only country relatively stronger to China and both India and US share a common interest of counterbalancing China. In recent years, India has already been cultivating a deeper strategic relationship with the United States. This policy instinct has been a sound one, and such a partnership should be advanced even more. If forging closer ties with the United States becomes difficult, India could possibly secure a regional balancing strategy with other powers in the Indo-Pacific as an alternative approach. Such regional partnerships could potentially supplement an augmented U.S.-India alignment.
 
India Outbound
February 12, 2019
 
 

source https://indiaoutbound.org/asias-dynamic-geopolitical-balance/

Indian-Peruvian negotiations over FTA

India and Peru established bilateral diplomatic relations in March 1963. These have traditionally been cordial and since the 1990s, have focused on increasing business, economic and trade ties. Both countries cooperate on multiple multilateral issues. For Peru, India is significant due to APEC membership and its interest in the Asian region. Moreover, India is perceived as a technologically advanced, democratic and developing country. Peru is a member of G-77 and NAM.
 
One of the most talked about aspects of Indian-Latin American diplomacy are the free trade talks between Peru and India. This would mark the first time that India would negotiate a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) with a Latin American country. Both countries set up a Joint Study Group (JSG) in January 2015 in order to conduct a feasibility study. Concluded in October 2016, it gave the go-ahead for discussions on trade across goods, services and investments.
 
From the Peruvian perspective, an FTA with India would consolidate its economic position globally by contributing to its South-South trade initiatives, which include participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and interest in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). In 2012, Peru entered the “billion-dollar club” in annual trade with India, alongside Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Venezuela and Brazil.
 
In the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region, Peru ranks 3rd amongst export destinations for India. Bilateral trade between both countries increased from USD 1.77 billion in 2016-17 to USD 3.13 billion in 2017-18. India exports cars, motor vehicles, iron and steel products, fabrics and cotton yarn and imports ores, bulk minerals, zinc, crude oil, fertilisers and gold.
 
According to the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), “the FTA would help boost our exports. South American markets such as Peru hold huge export potential for India. The only issue is logistics cost, which the FTA should look into to facilitate shipments.” A free trade deal is expected to increase Peruvian exports to India by 12%. Peru’s abundance in natural resources and India’s technological capability and heavy industries are sources of mutual interest for both countries respectively.
 
The first round of trade negotiations was concluded successfully in August 2017, addressing issues like tariffs, technical trade barriers, rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, movement of people, services, customs, investment, trade facilitation, cooperation, institutional matters, trade remedies, dispute settlement etc. Both countries are holding the fourth round of negotiations in Peru in March 2019, to build on the previous round of talks.
 
Both countries are aiming to liberalise trade norms and deepen investment, to expand their respective trade baskets, especially across agricultural products and earth minerals. With the growing uncertainties in traditional markets like the US, Europe etc., India is keen to enhance commercial engagements with South America, Africa and Central Asia.
 
India Outbound
February 11, 2019
 
 

source https://indiaoutbound.org/indian-peruvian-negotiations-over-fta/

The 2019 U.S. Chamber International IP Index

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Global Innovation Policy Centre champions intellectual property rights around the world, as crucial for jobs creation, saving lives, advancing global economic growth and generating breakthrough solutions to global challenges. It annually releases the International IP Index and in its 7th edition, it shows how intellectual property (IP) systems have been a driving force behind transformation and enrichment of human lives.
 
Effective IP protections foster a climate of innovation and creativity, based on legal frameworks of rights and responsibilities. Governments are increasingly investing in such regulatory frameworks, by embracing robust IP protection and enforcement to spur innovation and create 21st century content for knowledge-based economies. This trend coexists with populist resistance that threatens the core of IP rights in major markets. In this context, the 2019 U.S. Chamber International IP Index, titled Inspiring Tomorrow, benchmarks the IP frameworks of 50 global economies, to create a roadmap for countries to strengthen their IP, as they aspire to foster economic growth and global competitiveness.
 
The Index evaluates the IP infrastructure in each economy based on 45 unique indicators, which are critical to the growth of effective IP systems. The indicators span 8 categories of IP protection: patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, commercialization of IP assets, enforcement, systemic efficiency, and membership and ratification of international treaties.
 
In endorsing a robust IP system, the Index highlights several socio-economic benefits:

• Increased global trade and investment
• The creation of an innovation-driven economy through more high-skilled workers and increased R&D activity
• Greater competitiveness of human capital
• Stronger global competitiveness
• Increased production and export of knowledge-intensive products, among others

Global technology transfers are crucial drivers of innovation. IP frameworks for market entry and licensing rights can facilitate or disrupt technology diffusion and access to innovative technologies and products. Thus, this year, the Index has included four new indicators vis-à-vis the commercialization of IP assets:

• Barriers to technology transfer
• Registration and disclosure requirements of licensing deals
• Tax incentives for creation of IP assets
• Direct government intervention in setting licensing terms

The Index also covers two new indicators on protection of trade secrets (criminal sanctions) and targeted incentives for creation and use of IP assets for SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) to bolster systemic efficiency.
 

Some developing countries have bolstered their IP protection.

• India’s score has improved, as it has climbed eight places in the rankings, from 44th in 2018 to 36th in 2019. This can be attributed to an increase in specific reforms that align the domestic and international IP systems better than before.
• In Brazil, the government used incentives and programs to help SMEs create and register IP assets.
• The Argentinian government streamlined the patenting process as well as increased international cooperation, transparency and stakeholder engagement on IP

Other governments have continued to undermine the reliability of IP patents as a vehicle for return on investment:

• Chile, Colombia and Peru are considering the utilization of compulsory licenses to address price concerns for Hepatitis C medicines. These can reduce legal certainty and jeopardize the availability of innovative medicines in the Latin American region
• Similarly, the Russian government has issued a compulsory license on a biopharmaceutical product and continues to utilize localization requirements to further the country’s industrial policy agenda

Ongoing IP challenges, at the heart of global trade dispute between US and China, have drawn attention to long-standing issues that significantly challenge IP-intensive industries globally.

• The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) has laid the foundation for 21st century IP in FTAs (free trade agreements) by including provisions to harmonize and strengthen IP protection across North America:10-year term of regulatory data protection for biologics, more effective trade secrets protection, stronger enforcement mechanisms against counterfeit goods, including those in transit
• Over the course of additional trade negotiations with Japan, UK and EU, other areas need to delved into: secondary liability, statutory damages obligationsand injunctive-style relief
• The U.S. previously ranked 12th due to ongoing unpredictability around validity of patents, is now placed 2nd due to reforms, alongside Japan and some EU countries

The Index concludes with a reiteration of the direct linkage between the strength and enforcement of IP rights in a country and its ability to capitalize upon domestic innovative and creative capacity as well as access to global innovations. The world started from a low global IP standard with slow and inconsistent progress. However, broader measures have improved systemic efficiency of IP rights administration and the ability of IP owners to leverage their rights to finance innovative and creative activities. Notwithstanding continued political threats to undermine IP rights for populist purposes, there is evidence that the world is becoming an IP believer, inspired by the possibility of a better tomorrow.
 
Source: Executive Summary of the Index
 
India Outbound
February 8, 2019
 
 

source https://indiaoutbound.org/the-2019-u-s-chamber-international-ip-index/

Joint partnership to tackle the contradictory challenge of hunger and food waste

Zomato and Feeding India are on a mission to collaboratively solve the challenges of malnutrition, hunger and food wastage. They aim to target each source of food wastage in the country i.e. farms, supermarkets, hotels, restaurants, events and corporates. The Zomato network is seeking to plug into the existing models of Feeding India to focus on sustainably feeding people who suffer from hunger.
 
Feeding India was set up with the aim to end hunger and malnutrition in India by providing food to vulnerable people, who have limited access to nutritious food. They redistribute excess food, that is good and nutritious and would otherwise go to waste, to people in need. They also cook fresh food through innovative kitchen models that supports people, especially women and children. Feeding India has also initiated a #FightFoodWaste movement to create awareness and address the annual wastage of food valued at INR 58,000 crores, which is thrown in landfills and emanates an environmentally harmful methane gas, while millions go hungry at night.
 
On the other hand, as a food company, Zomato is striving to address each step of the food value chain, to foster transparency and quality. Zomato actively engages in pro-environment messaging to encourage use of biodegradable packaging. Within six months of its launch, Zomato Piggybank, its reward points program, has raised funds equivalent to 22 lakh meals.
 
In highlighting this joint initiative, the Founder and CEO of Zomato, Deepinder Goyal said, “we have so far, taken environmental issues head-on with non-plastic initiatives like preventing the consumption of single-use plastic cutlery and promoting biodegradable packaging for food delivery. As we welcome Feeding India into the Zomato family, we will take this battle a notch higher by helping them build a system where excess food is directed to those in need. As a start, we aim to activate the restaurants on our platform into the Feeding India network and help them use technology to scale their volunteer operations. Feeding India will become a core part of our DNA and a significant step in our mission to ensure ‘better food for more people’. My many conversations with Ankit and Srishti have convinced me of our belief in a shared mission, and I am confident that together we will make a positive impact on food wastage and hunger.”
 
According to Ankit Kawatra, the Founder of Feeding India, “our ambitious aim is to end hunger and food wastage not just in India, but globally. I’m delighted to strengthen this movement with Zomato, given its vision of ‘better food for more people’ and our shared mission to combat hunger and food wastage. We see this collaboration as a pivotal step against food insecurity. I believe that restaurants can play a transformational role in powering hunger-free cities, and I look forward to working with the Zomato network in the future.”
 
The EAT-Lancet report that calls for a Great Food Transformation in order to create healthy diets from sustainable food systems, emphasises upon the crucial need to massively reduce the global volume of food loss and waste. Such multi-sectoral collaborations are critical for resolving complex challenges of malnutrition in the country and achieving development goals, underlining Zero Hunger. Of course, it remains to be seen how successful this initiative is in translating its vision into reality and resolving the seemingly contradictory existence of massive levels of hunger and wastage of food.
 
India Outbound
February 7, 2019

 
 

source https://indiaoutbound.org/joint-partnership-to-tackle-the-contradictory-challenge-of-hunger-and-food-waste/

UNCTAD: The Pain and Gain in the American-Chinese trade war

In a new report, by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), titled Key Statistics and Trends in Trade Policy 2018: Trade tensions, implications for Developing Countries, it has been stated that India is one of the countries that stands to benefit from the ongoing “tit-for-tat” trade tensions between the world’s top two economies i.e. US and China. Other expected beneficiaries include the members of the European Union, due to a USD 70 billion increase in the bloc’s exports, as well as Japan, Mexico and Canada, due to increase in their exports by more than USD20 billion each. This will reflect in the global export and import patterns.
 
The American-Chinese trade tensions started in early 2018 when both countries, imposed tariffs on each other’s goods worth $50 billion. This escalated in September 2018 when the US imposed 10% tariffs on $200 billion-worth Chinese imports. In retaliation, China imposed tariffs on additional US imports worth $60 billion. This imposition was initially supposed to increase to 25% in January 2019. However, both countries decided in early December 2018, to freeze further tariff increase, until March 1, 2019.
 
According to the study, bilateral trade tariffs would be of no help to the domestic firms in their respective markets. Pamela Coke-Hamilton (head of the UNCTAD’s international trade division) said that, “because of the size of their economies, the tariffs imposed by Unites States and China will inevitably have significant repercussions on international trade.”
 
She also said that “our analysis shows that while bilateral tariffs are not very effective in protecting domestic firms, they are very valid instruments to limit trade from the targeted country. The effect of US-China tariffs would be mainly distortionary. US-China bilateral trade will decline and replaced by trade originating in other countries.”
 
The study has estimated that out of the $250 billion-worth Chinese exports that have been subjected to US tariffs, about 82% will be absorbed by firms of other countries, 12% will be retained by the Chinese firms and only 6% will be captured by the firms in the US. Similarly, about 85% of the $85 billion US exports will be captured by other countries, US firms will retain less than 10% and Chinese firms will capture about 5%. These estimates are consistent across multiple sectors, ranging from communication equipment, wood products and furniture, precision instruments and chemicals.
 
As the chart below reflects, Europe will benefit the most from this trade war, simply because bilateral tariffs alter the global competitiveness and economic capacities, in a manner favourable to firms that are not operating in the countries directly impacted by them. Thus, the European Union’s exports will probably increase the most, as it captures about $70 billion of the US-China bilateral trade i.e. $50 billion-worth Chinese exports and $20 billion-worth American exports.

These figures do not represent a massive chunk of global trade but US-China bilateral trade was valued at $640billion in 2017 and the tariff impositions have impacted more than half of this. Thus, for many countries, the resultant boost to their exports will be substantial. However, even for these countries, not all results will be positive and overall negative global effects are likely to dominate.
 
The report lists five macroeconomic factors over which the confrontations in international trade can have far-reaching consequences, given the fragile nature of the global economy and the economic interdependencies of the developing countries that may be less resilient to unfavourable conditions.
 

1. Global growth: disturbances in commodity prices, financial markets and currencies due to global economic downturn; the imposition of adjustment costs to international firms reflect upon investment decisions, profitability and productivity
2. Monetary policy and currency markets: risks of the trade tensions spiraling into currency wars given that the interlinkages of currency markets have already increased the volatility and downward pressures for many currencies, thus making the dollar-dominated debt tougher to service

   • Stagflation: increase in prices coupled with lower growth due to inflationary pressures and reduced efficiency, resulting in rising unemployment
   • Globally escalating trade tensions: more countries joining the bandwagon of protectionist policies
   • Domino effect of the “tit for tat” policies: of the two trade giants, in an interconnected global economy, beyond the targeted countries and sectors

Several examples have been given to illustrate these.In the soybean market, Chinese tariffs on American soybeans have caused trade distortionary effects that are advantageous for several exporting countries, particularly Brazil. Suddenly, Brazil has become the main supplier of soybeans to China. However, given the lack of clarity over the duration and magnitude of the imposed tariffs, Brazilian producers have shown reluctance in making investment decisions, in case the tariffs are revoked and they incur losses. In addition to this, the Brazilian firms that are operating in sectors (livestock feed etc.) that use soybeans as inputs, will lose their competitiveness due to rising prices, fueled by Chinese demand for the Brazilian soybeans.
 
Increase in tariffs penalize the suppliers along the value chains, in addition to the assembler of a specific product. Thus, the impact of the US tariffs on the high volume of Chinese exports is probably going to hit the East Asian value chains the most. UNCTAD estimates that they will suffer a contraction of about $160 billion.
 
The multiple rounds of retaliatory tariffs and protectionist policies adopted by US and China will not only result in trade spillovers and ripple effects that hurt weaker countries and economies, but will also have implications for the global trading system. Negotiations and settlements for the ongoing trade disputes are taking place bilaterally rather than within the ambit of the WTO. This indicates a weakening of the existing framework of the multilateral trading system.
 
The current rules of international trade might be in for drastic reform, given that the ongoing confrontations are underlined by disagreements over government subsidies, intellectual property rights and other types of non-tariff barriers that affect market access. However, it is left to be seen how conducive they will be in restoring balance to a well-functioning multilateral trading system, which can successfully defuse any protectionist impulses and maintain market access, especially for the poorer countries, while securing their interests.
 
All representative images and content sourced from the report.
 
India Outbound
February 6, 2019
 
 

source https://indiaoutbound.org/unctad-the-pain-and-gain-in-the-american-chinese-trade-war/

The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has released a report titled The State of Renewable Energy in India 2019. here's a closer look. https://t.co/dpqhPbENPe

The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has released a report titled The State of Renewable Energy in India 2019. here's a closer look.https://t.co/dpqhPbENPe

— India Outbound (@india_outbound) February 6, 2019

from Twitter : https://twitter.com/india_outbound

The World Obesity Federation has warned that obesity-related lifestyle diseases like cancer, diabetes and heart conditions will cost India a whopping $13 billion annually by 2025, in the wake of continued increase in childhood obesity. https://t.co/UClu0htFna

The World Obesity Federation has warned that obesity-related lifestyle diseases like cancer, diabetes and heart conditions will cost India a whopping $13 billion annually by 2025, in the wake of continued increase in childhood obesity.https://t.co/UClu0htFna

— India Outbound (@india_outbound) February 6, 2019

from Twitter : https://twitter.com/india_outbound

Anti-dumping duties: China and India

As of January 28, 2019, India has imposed an anti-dumping duty on 99 Chinese products to protect its domestic players from a glut of cheap imports in the local markets. These products include petrochemicals, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, machinery, yarn, fibres, steel and rubber. However, the Indian government has stated that it will not extend the anti-dumping duty on importing Chinese paracetamol, which is used in medicines.
 
According to a notification by the directorate general of trade remedies (DGTR),”the authority holds that domestic industry failed to provide any satisfactory evidence that the expiry of the said anti-dumping duty is likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping and injury to the domestic industry.” The Indian finance ministry had imposed the anti-dumping duty on Chinese paracetamol for the first time in 2002. This was extended in 2007 and 2013 for a period of five years. Before the expiry of the duty in October 2018, the Indian industry has approached the directorate in May 2018, to appeal for the continuation of the duty.
 
China has also imposed anti-dumping duties on the import of ortho dichlorobenzene (ODCB) from India and Japan, due to significant damage to the domestic industry. ODCB is used for the production of multiple chemical products, used widely in the manufacturing of dyes, medicines and pesticides. Duties ranging from 31.9% to 70.4% will be levied for a period of five years.
 
The imposition of anti-dumping duties is a means of ensuring fair trade practices and creating level-playing fields for domestic producers as well as foreign players. On India’s part, this is one of the steps taken as part of ongoing and sustained efforts to bridge the country’s trade deficit by lowering trade barriers for Indian exports to China.
 
During China’s trade policy review at the WTO in 2018, India demanded that efforts be made to lower trade barriers for Indian products like meat, rice, pharmaceuticals and IT products, in order to reduce the unsustainable trade imbalances and the $63 billion trade deficit between both countries. India is also seeking market access for multiple agricultural products, oil seeds, milk and milk products as well as animal feeds.Indian exports have been facing obstacles in accessing Chinese markets due to opaque, stringent, complex and onerous regulatory market requirements in case of exports of agricultural and pharmaceutical products.
 
During China’s trade policy review at the WTO in 2018, India demanded that efforts be made to lower trade barriers for Indian products like meat, rice, pharmaceuticals and IT products, in order to reduce the unsustainable trade imbalances and the $63 billion trade deficit between both countries. India is also seeking market access for multiple agricultural products, oil seeds, milk and milk products as well as animal feeds.Indian exports have been facing obstacles in accessing Chinese markets due to opaque, stringent, complex and onerous regulatory market requirements in case of exports of agricultural and pharmaceutical products.
 
In case of the services sectors, Indian companies faced challenges related to the complex criteria for participation and qualification for contracts with Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs). There is immense scope for collaborations between the Indian IT sector and Chinese SOEs to provide state-of-the-art and custom-designed solutions, if issues related to licensing and taxation are adequately addressed.
 
Both countries have signed a protocol for India to export fish oil, fish meal and non-basmati rice to China. The General Administration of China Customs (GACC) has also approved the import of rapeseed meal from six Indian mills. In addition to this, a protocol for the export of Indian tobacco leaves to China has also been inked. China is the largest producer and consumer of tobacco in the world.
 
All these efforts highlight that India is actively engaged in the reduction of its ballooning trade deficit with China. Bilateral trade between India and China has been rising despite military and political stand-offs. In 2017, it rose to a historical high of $84.44 billion and Indian exports to China saw a 40% increase. Before this, bilateral trade had stagnated at $70 billion for several years, despite setting a target of $100 billion by 2015. In the coming years, trade and investments are expected to be boosted further between both countries.
 
India Outbound
February 5, 2019
 

source https://indiaoutbound.org/anti-dumping-duties-china-and-india/

The State of Renewable Energy in India: CSE

The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has released a report titled The State of Renewable Energy in India 2019. Chandra Bhushan, the deputy director general of CSE states that the report, “takes a close look at where we stand now, what are the strengths of and the challenges facing the sector, and whether the sector can overcome these obstacles and emerge as a viable alternative to conventional energy sources”. The report is centered around understanding the logic behind India’s renewable energy target (175 GW renewable capacity target by 2022), since renewable energy is undoubtedly the future, but the question about how India will achieve this, remains.
 
Currently, the renewable energy capacity in India is 73 GW i.e. 20% of the country’s total energy capacity. According to Bhushan, “we believe that India needs a renewable energy policy that both de-carbonise the economy and provide access to large numbers of people who are energy-deprived. But a mere number target will not suffice. We need a clear vision going forward.”
 
As per the report, the renewable energy sector in India is a sunshine industry, given the combination of certain favourable policies and good market conditions. Solar has particularly made considerable progress since, large-scale solar has shown an average annual growth rate of over 70%, in the past four years. The installed solar capacity has seen an increase from 2.6 GW in March 2014 to 23.1 GW in June 2018. Priced on an average at less than INR 3 per unit, solar and wind energy has become cheaper than coal in India.
 
Yet, the CSE report lays down some key concerns plaguing the sector, given the slowdown witnessed in 2018, caused by the financial difficulties being faced by the distribution companies, due to import tariffs and subsequent tariff increases.
 

• Inconsistent policy: According to Priyavrat Bhati (advisor, Energy Group, CSE), “Nothing can be more disruptive for an emerging sector that seeks to attract global investors, than ad hoc and abrupt policy changes.” For instance, in the solar module manufacturing industry, the government had reserved auction capacity for domestic manufactures. After the WTO censured this, import duties were applied but later removed. At present, a safeguard duty of 25% has been levied on imported modules. In the wind industry, an auction-based regime for awarding bids from the feed-in-tariff process has been introduced.
• Underperformance by distribution companies (discoms): This has led to dampening of investor confidence and developers’ interest. The Ujjwala Discom Assurance Yojana, the latest attempt at reform, has failed to deliver desired results. The discoms are enduring financial stress, leading to delays in payments for developers, cancellation of auctions and lack of contracts’ enforcement.
• Failure of solar rooftop to make headway in a market skewed in favour of large-scale renewable energy: While India is aiming to achieve 40 GW of rooftop solar capacity by 2022, as of November 2018, only 1,334 MW of grid-connected solar rooftop systems have been installed. The preference for commercial and industrial installations had disrupted the uptake of rooftop solar, even though residential consumers hold immense potential, but account for less than 20% of installed capacity.
• Distributed energy pushed to the back-burner: Almost all schemes (like SAUBAGHYA), focus on grid extensions i.e. connecting un-electrified households to centralized distribution and transmission networks. However, this does not lead to consistent availability or supply of electricity. Thus, the government’s goal of ensuring universal energy access appears misplaced.

It is within the context of these concerns, that CSE has presented the following key recommendations:

• Need to look beyond INDCs (Intended Nationally Determined Contributions) to chart an ambitious low-carbon growth path way

• Need to increase the share of distributed (solar rooftops, mini-grids) renewable energy generation

• Need to encourage the use of “smart grids” (based on communications infrastructure, information technology and control systems) for efficient delivery

• Need to rethink the discom model, since discoms comprise the heart of the electricity market

• Need to invest in the development of inexpensive energy-storage capacity, based on indigenous research and policy support to improve the existing technology’s cost and performance and driving up the scale for the battery industry

• Need to make energy access a key priority for sectoral growth

 
Thus, in order to prevent the disruption of existing electricity markets and systems, due to increased renewable energy, there is a critical need to engage with distributed systems and evolve the current discom model (rethinking fundamental principles of business and institutional incentives), since a large-scale model alone will not suffice. The destabilization of the system actually presents an opportunity to reframe subsidies and target consumers effectively.
 
According to Bhushan, “we stand at the cusp of a momentous shift in the energy sector. For the first time, decarbonized electricity appears feasible in the foreseeable future; it is not an abstract vision. The question is, whether India will reach peak coal and 100 per cent renewable quickly and efficiently, or whether it will be a delayed process, merely egged on by global momentum.”
 
India Outbound
February 4, 2019
 
 

source https://indiaoutbound.org/the-state-of-renewable-energy-in-india-cse/