On February 14, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually addressed the fourth edition of SAMVAD (the Global Hindu-Buddhist Initiative for Conflict Avoidance and Environmental Consciousness). He attended the event from the United States, where he was on an official visit from February 12 to 13 (February 14 in India). The SAMVAD conference will be held from February 14 to 17 in Bangkok and Ayutthaya, Thailand. Ayutthaya, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has strong cultural ties with India, as its name is derived from Ayodhya. It was established in 1350 CE by King Uthong, who eventually took
The Assam government plans to sign two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Japan and Singapore at the Advantage Assam 2.0 investors' meeting, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated on Saturday. Speaking at a news conference in Guwahati, CM Sarma said that Japan is interested in hiring over 50,000 qualified professionals from Assam. Meanwhile, Singapore is eager to attract nurses from the state, expanding its employment chances abroad. Reflecting on Advantage Assam 1.0's achievements, he highlighted two key infrastructure projects: the Paradeep to Numaligarh crude pipeline and th
Malaysia and Indonesia have reaffirmed their commitment to increasing bilateral and regional cooperation in agricultural and food security. In a statement issued today, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security emphasised the importance of bilateral collaboration. The debate occurred during a courtesy visit by Indonesia's Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Arif Havas Oegroseno, to Malaysia's Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister, Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup. Both sides looked into methods to improve food security efforts and agricultural alliances to ensure long-term viability.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron inaugurated India's new Consulate General in Marseille, a significant step towards boosting bilateral relations. PM Modi dubbed it a "historic moment" and emphasised the longstanding ties between Marseille and India. Marseille was an important part of India's history, acting as a major base for Indian troops during World War I and having close ties to freedom warrior Veer Savarkar. The decision to create the consulate was made during Prime Minister Modi's July 2023 visit to France. The new mission will offer co
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is in Singapore for a two-day visit, where he will engage in high-level discussions to deepen economic and strategic partnerships. On Tuesday, he met with Singapore's President Tharman Shanmugaratnam to discuss potential new alliances in semiconductors, urban planning, and green energy. Sarma emphasised Assam's rising contribution to India's Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Singapore. He emphasised Assam as a vital hub for trade, business, and technology. In a post on X, he recalled Singapore's close relationship with Assam and fondly rememb
Singapore and Indonesia have renewed their commitment to maritime excellence by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for another two years. This agreement aims to train government marine authorities, improve sea safety, and increase environmental protection activities. The extension, signed on February 7, 2025, marks the 20th anniversary of the fruitful collaboration between Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) and Indonesia's Directorate General of Sea Transportation (DGST). Over the last two decades, this relationship has been critical in training marine officials and imp
According to Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE's Minister of State for Foreign Trade, the UAE and Japan plan to finish discussions for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by the end of 2025. According to Dr. Al Zeyoudi, the agreement represents both countries' strong commitment to strengthening economic ties, expanding trade relations, and opening up new possibilities for investment and commercial partnerships. The UAE is Japan's most important trading partner in the Arab world, accounting for almost 37% of overall exports to the area. Meanwhile, Japan is one of the
At the request of French President Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for France on Monday, February 10–12, 2025, for a three-day visit. This visit, which will focus on important topics including commerce, defence, nuclear energy, and AI, is important for enhancing India-France ties. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri emphasised during a press briefing in New Delhi that PM Modi and President Macron will co-chair the AI Action Summit on February 11 as a key event during the visit. The summit's main focus will be AI governance, which guarantees the development of AI responsibly
On February 5, the military forces of Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and the United States conducted a multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone. This collaborative endeavour demonstrates a common commitment to regional security and strengthens international collaboration for a free and open Indo-Pacific. Building on past MCAs, this exercise improves the interoperability of the participating nations' defence forces. It improves cooperation in doctrines, tactics, techniques, and processes, resulting in seamless joint operations for
Argentina and the UAE used a high-level economic seminar in Abu Dhabi as a forum to discuss potential new trade and investment opportunities. Prominent government representatives and corporate executives from both countries attended the event, which was co-organized by the UAE Ministry of Economy and the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Talks focused on Argentina's recently implemented Incentive Regime for Large Investments, a calculated move to draw in foreign investment, especially from investors in the UAE. Tax incentives, regulatory stability, and long-term predictability ar