NATIONAL: BUSINESS & ECONOMY / ARTS & CULTURE / G.I. Tags: UP now holds 02nd position in GI products as three more crafts bag coveted tag

While Tamil Nadu leads with 55 GI-tagged goods, UP and Karnataka follow with 48 and 46 GI products, respectively.

Uttar Pradesh now holds second position in the country in terms of having the maximum number of Geographical Indication-tagged goods after receiving GI tags for three more crafts.

The crafts that have received GI tags include Mainpuri tarkashi, Mahoba Gaura stone craft, and Sambhal horn craft.

While Tamil Nadu leads with 55 GI-tagged goods, UP and Karnataka follow with 48 and 46 GI products, respectively.

According to GI expert Rajni Kant, a Padma Shri awardee, and head of the Human Welfare Association (HWA) that facilitated these handicrafts to get the GI certification, of the 48 GI goods of UP, 36 products belong to the handicraft category. In the Varanasi region alone, 18 GI-tagged goods out of 23 belong to the handicraft category.

“Uttar Pradesh is not only the biggest exporter of GI-tagged products but it also involves the largest amount of manpower in this sector, making the highest annual turnover in the country,” claimed Kant.

Kant added that 20 more applications from UP for the GI certification are in the final stages.

He said that so far, his organisation has provided technical facilitation to file 175 applications in 18 states, out of which 46 products received GI certification.

“Maximum applications were filed during the Covid period after 2019,” he said.

“With the financial support of NABARD, Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, the HWA along with local producer organizations and the state government MSME initiative, prepared the technical documents of the three goods and sent them to the GI Registry in Chennai in 2019 during the difficult times of Covid, and after a long legal and technical process the GI tags were received in May 2023,” he said.

Sambhal horn craft

The horn-bone handicraft products made in Sambhal are immensely popular. The raw material used for making these craft items is procured from dead animals that makes this industry environment friendly. Sambhal’s horn and bone products are known all over the world. Sambhal offers a wide range of decorative horn-bone handicrafts that are available in different attractive looks, designs and patterns.

Mahoba Gaura stone craft

Mahoba is known nationwide for its exquisite Gaura stone craft. Gaura stone craft is made of radiant white-coloured stone that is predominantly found in this region. Gaura stone has a soft texture. It is cut into several pieces which are then used for making various craft items that are used for ornamental purposes.

Mainpuri tarkashi

Tarkashi is a technique of inlaying brass, copper or silver wires in wood. It is a unique and artistic product of Mainpuri district. It is used for decorating jewellery boxes, name plaques and other similar items. The amazing art of tarkashi can also be seen in door panels, trays and lamps, sandook (chest), decorative pieces, tables, flower pots.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)
 

From a broken spine to a broken auto-pilot, Cdr. Tomy sailed through it all to complete the Golden Globe Race

Commander Abhilash Tomy (Retd) returned to India in triumph after creating history as the first Indian to complete the Golden Globe Race on May 18.

Five years ago, he came back to India on a stretcher and went home in a wheelchair, having suffered life-threatening injury in the middle of the Golden Globe Race . On Thursday, Commander Abhilash Tomy (Retd) returned to India in triumph after creating history as the first Indian to complete the race, a solo non-stop circumnavigation of the globe without any modern technological aids, recreating sailing in the 1960s.

“This time, I had the dream team and it is because of them that I was able to do it,” he told journalists after being felicitated by the Navy on Friday. He finished the GGR 2022 in the second place after a gruelling 236 days alone at sea in a sail boat. South African sailor Kirsten Neuschafer took the first spot, becoming the first woman to win the race.

Three weeks before the start of the race, my boat got damaged, and everyone thought I would be disqualified. But with the support of the team, I was able to fix it and get in the race,” Cdr. Tomy said. “I learned that I needed a good team to support me. So this time, I had exactly the team I had dreamt of. I had a fantastic designer from the Netherlands, who helped me set up the boat. A team manager from the U.S., along with my family and a brilliant sponsor.”

‘Most innovative repair’

Cdr Tomy sailed the last 10,000 miles after fixing a broken auto-pilot with a piece of wood from the anchor. “I think the toughest thing for me was when my self-steering broke close to Cape Horn… I remember I called my race organisers and informed about it to them. They in turn called my wife and told her that his second chance is over. Because a lot of people retired after their autopilot failed,” he narrated. “I immediately removed my toilet door, made a spear and fixed it but it also failed. I was left with a thought of what to do. I then cut my emergency radar and fashioned a spear out of it, but it did not fit. Then I finally took out a piece from the anchor and fixed it to the autopilot. From there, I sailed 10,000 miles. This was the most innovative repair I have done and I did not lose the race.”

The invitation-only race had 16 participants from 11 countries, and started on September 4, 2022 from Les Sables-d’Olonne in France.

Cdr. Tomy was unable to fulfil his long-cherished dream in the 2018 edition of the GGR when he suffered a severe back injury after the mast of his boat Thuriya broke, due to extremely rough weather and sea conditions. It took three days and a dramatic global effort by the navies of India, Australia and France to rescue him from the middle of nowhere. 

Surviving a broken spine

Recounting those tough moments, he said, “I got stuck in a storm because my name was written on it. When the boat capsized, I got separated from it, but I was holding on to the mast, and when the boat straightened I was on the top of the mast. But suddenly, I plunged from 5 to 8 metres height, resulting in a fracture in my spine, lying in the boat for three days before I was rescued. It all happened in the most remote corner area of the earth.”

He was stranded in the south Indian Ocean, approximately 1,900 nautical miles (nm) from Perth, Australia and 2,700 nm from Kanyakumari. Cdr. Tomy was in the third position out of 11 international participants, and had sailed over 10,500 nm over 84 days before the incident knocked him out of the race. 

On those three days at sea awaiting rescue, he said, “When I had an accident and I had nothing to do for three days except to wait for rescue, I was already making plans for the next race. I was figuring out which boat to buy and sponsorship for the next race. It was always in my mind and I was not willing to give up.”

In the surgery that followed, five vertebrae were fused into a single piece and two titanium rods were fixed to his spine. Cdr. Tomy began walking on crutches, did physiotherapy, and then started kickboxing to help regain his balance. He was back on duty and at sea in six months. In January 2019, he quit the Navy to focus on GGR 2022.

Recreating 1960s sailing

Participants in the GGR are required to sail around the world, single-handed and non-stop passing through the three Capes — Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, Cape Leeuwin in Australia and Cape Horn in Chile. The uniqueness of the race is that boat designs and technology newer than 1968 are not permitted; hence, the use of Global Positioning System (GPS), satellite communication and navigational aids are forbidden on the 30,000 mile journey. The sailors have a satellite phone and emergency locator beacons to be used for medical emergencies only.

The historic race is being conducted by Sir Robin Knox Johnston of the U.K. to commemorate the world’s first solo non-stop circumnavigation undertaken by him in 1968, onboard the Indian-built boat, Suhaili.

To his credit, Cdr Tomy is the only Indian to complete solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the globe in 2012-13 onboard the Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Mhadei covering 53,000 nm miles under sail. 

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: HEALTH & MEDICAL SERVICES: First Time India saw Record over 15,000 Organ Transplants in 2022: Union Health Secretary

Rajesh Bhushan says there has been a fast resurgence in organ transplant activities post Covid, and for the first time, the country has achieved more than 15,000 transplants a year.

India has witnessed a fast resurgence in organ transplant activities post COVID-19 and, for the first time, achieved more than 15,000 transplants a year in 2022, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said on February 19.

Along with this, there was an annual increase of 27% in the transplant numbers, Mr. Bhushan said at the “National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) Scientific Dialogue 2023”, organised by the Union Ministry of Health.

The event was organised to bring all the stakeholders under one roof to brainstorm ideas about interventions and best practices in the field of organ and tissue transplant that can be taken up for saving lives.

Mr. Bhushan said there has been a fast resurgence in organ transplant activities post Covid, and for the first time, the country has achieved more than 15,000 transplants a year (2022). There was an annual increase of 27% in the transplant numbers, he added.

The Health Secretary underlined three priority areas — programmatic restructuring, communication strategy and skilling of professionals.

Highlighting the need to update the existing structures and guidelines, he said, “Though we have existing structures at various governance levels like NOTTO at the national level, SOTTOs at the State level and ROTTOs at the regional level, it needs to be ensured that they work as a well-oiled machinery while performing their mandate.” Mr. Bhushan welcomed the changes that have taken place, such as updated guidelines and the domicile requirement being done away with.

He stressed the need for a rational use of the country’s technical manpower and training and channelising them efficiently, along with optimal utilisation of the physical infrastructure and equipment, such as in tertiary care facilities.

Underscoring the changing demography of the country, the Health Secretary noted that India has a growing geriatric population and to ensure quality of life for them, it is critically important to update the communication and awareness strategy, so that potential organ donors come forward.

He suggested wide orientation and re-orientation through training programmes, newly-designed courses and digital interventions for healthcare professionals and domain knowledge experts. He further added that “along with training programmes, wide publicity and awareness through not just print and electronic media but engaging with local stakeholders and non-governmental organisations [NGOs] can be taken up”.

Thus, he pushed for a multi-stakeholder exercise for communicating effectively and making people realise their contributions towards a greater good.

Highlighting the need for capacity building of the country’s medical institutions, Mr. Bhushan said, “Despite having 640-plus medical hospitals and colleges, transplants remain a specialised service limited to some hospitals only. There is a need to expand the number of institutions where surgeries and transplants are undertaken.” Thus, to increase the number of surgeries and transplants in the country, along with sensitisation and training for healthcare professionals, the physical infrastructure must be optimally utilised, he said, adding that there is also a need to identify the high-caseload institutions and bring them under the NOTT programme network.

The Health Secretary suggested that consultations and discussions can lead to memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and consequentially, creation of centres of excellence at the State and regional levels where these specialised services can be provided to the needy.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: INFRASTRUCTURE FOR CITIZENS: Now Track, Block Lost Mobile Phones via Sanchar Saathi Portal 

After the identity verification, the portal will interact with law enforcement agencies and telecom service providers and block your lost mobile phone.

People will be now able to block and track their lost or stolen mobile phones across India via the Sanchar Saathi Portal launched by the Department of Telecom on Tuesday.

Union telecom minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that through Sanchar Saathi Portal, people will be able to block, track and check the genuineness of a used device before buying them.

“First leg of Sanchar Saathi portal is CEIR (Central Equipment Identity Register). If you lose your mobile phone, then you can visit this portal. There will be some identity verification, requirement of undertaking and immediately after this the portal will interact with law enforcement agencies and telecom service providers and block your lost mobile phone,” Vaishnaw said.

He said that Prime Minister has a clear vision that a lot of attention needs to be paid to user safety and the facilities under Sanchar Saathi portal are aligned to his vision.

When asked about measures that the government is taking to check fraud through calls on WhatsApp, the minister said that Meta owned app has agreed to deactivate services linked to any mobile phone number engaged in fraudulent activities.

“We have actively engaged with WhatsApp and they have agreed that customer safety is most important. All the OTT platforms are actively cooperating to deregister the users which have been detected as fraud users,” Vaishnaw said.

He said that 36 lakh mobile connections have been disconnected for fraud and simultaneously their WhatsApp account has been blocked.

The minister said that there is Know Your Mobile facility Sanchar Saathi which help users verify the genuineness of second-hand mobile phone before buying them.

“We feel confident that at least with these reforms, at least the rising trends in cyber frauds will be seriously controlled and we will be able to bring them down,” Vaishnaw said.

He said that there is TAFCOP facility on Sanchar Saathi to help people check if there are other mobile numbers working in their name without their permission or knowledge.

The Sanchar Saathi facilities have been developed by C-DoT.The technology development arm under the Department of Telecom has been able to add feature to check use of cloned mobile phones across all telecom networks.

The government has made it mandatory to disclose IMEI– a 15-digit unique numeric identifier of mobile devices before their sale in India. The mobile networks will have access to the list of approved IMEI numbers which will check the entry of any unauthorised mobile phones on their network.

Telecom operators and CEIR system will have visibility into IMEI number of the device and mobile number linked to it and the information is being used in some states to track your lost or stolen mobiles through CEIR. One of the common practices is that miscreants after stealing mobile phone change IMEI number of the device which prevents tracking and blocking of such handsets.

The CEIR will be able to block any cloned mobile phones on the network with the help of various databases. C-DOT has been running the pilot of the technology in some of the telecom circles including Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka and North East.

Recently, Karnataka Police recovered and handed over 2,500 lost mobile phones to their owners using the CEIR system.

Apple already has a system to track lost mobile phones with the help of Apple id but major issues have been around Android mobile phones.

With the new system in place, it will be futile to use stolen mobile phones. The system developed under Sanchar Saathi can also help in curbing the smuggling of phones.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

REGIONAL: ARTS & CULTURE / CINEMA: Bangladesh Audiences see First Indian Movie in 50 years

Cinemas used to be a mainstay of Bangladeshi social life.

Thousands flocked to cinemas in Dhaka on Friday as Shah Rukh Khan’s blockbuster “Pathaan” hit the big screens, the first Bollywood movie to get a full release in Bangladesh in more than half a century.

The action-packed spy thriller smashed box office records when it opened in India in January and the star has a huge fan following around the world.

But Dhaka banned films from its neighbour soon after its independence in 1971, in the face of lobbying from local movie-makers, despite India backing it in its independence war with Pakistan.

“I am so excited because a Hindi film is being released in Bangladesh for the first time,” said Sazzad Hossain, 18, at a cineplex in the capital.

“We are all Shah Rukh Khan fans. For the first time I’ll watch Shah Rukh Khan on a giant screen.”

Bangladeshi cinemas have gone into steep decline, with poor-quality local films unable to match Bollywood’s glitz and glamour or draw audiences, and the ageing Shakib Khan its only bankable star.

Some movie houses even switched to illegally showing pornography to try to remain viable, but more than 1,000 have shut their doors in the last 20 years, many of them to be converted to shopping centres or apartments.

At the Modhumita Cinema Hall, once Dhaka’s most luxurious movie theatre, heroin addicts sat outside this week in front of posters for Jinn, a newly released Bangladeshi movie.

“I haven’t seen such a poor crowd in many years,” said one theatre employee. “Only a few rows have been filled up. Nobody watches these local art movies or films with poor storylines.”

Cinemas used to be a mainstay of Bangladeshi social life.

“This hall was like a great meeting place of the Old Dhaka community,” Pradip Narayan told AFP at the Manoshi Complex, a 100-year-old movie theatre turned into a market in 2017.

“Women used to come in the night to watch films here. Our mothers and sisters from neighbouring areas would come here, and when the show ended at midnight or 12:30 at night, it looked like a fair here.

“A woman even gave birth to a child in this cinema hall. Such was the craze for movies back then.”

Authorities attempted to lift the ban on Indian movies in 2015 when two Bollywood hits — “Wanted” and “The Three Idiots” — were screened, but protests by local movie stars forced theatres to stop the shows.

The government finally issued a decree last month allowing the import of 10 movies a year from India or South Asian nations.

“In Pakistan the number of cinemas came down to 30-35 once. Then they allowed importing Indian Hindi films,” said information minister Hasan Mahmud.

“The number of cinemas has since risen to about 1,200 and the standard of Pakistani films also improved.”

“Pathaan” was released in 41 theatres across the country and many shows in the capital were already sold out, said distributor Anonno Mamun.

Allowing the screening of Bollywood movies would prove to be a “game-changer”, he told AFP. “Everyone loves Hindi movies here. Many also love southern Indian movies,” he said.

The Modhumita cinema’s owner Mohammed Iftekharuddin — a former president of the Bangladesh Motion Picture Exhibitors Association — is hoping for a business turnaround.

“I think 200-300 more cinema halls will reopen after this,” he said.

“Monopoly destroys business. When there is competition, there will be business.”

But Bangladeshi filmmakers are alarmed at the prospect, with some threatening to protest by wearing white shrouds of death to symbolise the demise of the local industry.

“Don’t they know about the Nepalese film industry?” asked director Khijir Hayat Khan.

“Don’t they see that the Mexican film industry was destroyed after opening the market (to Hollywood’s products)?”

Nonetheless, there is undoubtedly unsatisfied demand among audiences.

Forest department official Raj Ahmed, 30, travelled 250 kilometres (155 miles) from Khulna in southern Bangladesh to see “Pathaan”, but could not secure a ticket.

“I feel very bad,” he said. “I was waiting for many days to watch Shah Rukh Khan on a big screen.”

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: REGION – ASIA /SPORTS : Asian U18 Athletics Championships 2023: India Finish Campaign with 24 Medals

Indian athletes won six golds, 11 silvers and seven bronze at the Under-18 championships. Know all medal winners.

India finished with a rich haul of 24 medals at the Asian U18 Athletics Championships 2023 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Sunday.

Indian athletes won six golds, 11 silvers and seven bronze medals at the Under-18 championships.

China led the overall medals tally with 15 golds ahead of India. China also claimed seven silvers and two bronze, earning 24 medals in all. Kazakhstan were third with three golds, six silvers and five bronze (14 medals)

Sprinter Rezoana Mallick Heena headlined India’s campaign by winning three medals – two golds (Indian girls team relay and girls 400m) and one silver (girls 200m) at the Asian youth athletics meet.

Rezoana Mallick Heena won the girls 400m event with a time of 52.98s and in the process, broke the Under-18 400m national record previously held by Jisna Mathew (53.14s in 2015).

Rezoana Mallick Heena also broke the eight-year-old meet record by Bahrain’s former world champion Salwa Eid Nasser (53.02s). The youngster was just 0.02 seconds off the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) qualification standard for Asian Games 2023, set at 52.96.

Runner Bapi Hansda, meanwhile, won the silver medal in the 400m hurdles with a personal best time of 51.38 seconds on the last day.

With the win, Bapi Hansda became the first Indian in history to win a silver in the men’s 400m hurdles event at the competition. His timing was also better than the previous meet record of 51.96s.

India started the campaign by winning four medals, including a gold, on day one.

Priyanshu won a gold in the men’s 1500m with a time of 3.57.37s. Rahul Sarnaliya clocked 3.59.43s to finish second for a silver in the same event.

Aarti added a bronze to India’s medals tally after clocking 24:29:14s in the girls 5000m race walk.

Mubassina Mohammed from Lakshadweep won a bronze in the girls long jump event with an effort of 5.90m. In the boys 3000m, Aman Kumar won the gold medal with a time of 8:39.15s while Yogeshwar R clinched the silver with a time of 8:39.85s.

Vanshika, meanwhile, bagged the gold medal in the in the girls 3000m event with a time of 10:15.16. Anju Bala finished her course in 10:22.86 for a silver.

In the boys hammer throw event, Narpat Singh bagged bronze with an effort of 67.27m.

Incidentally, India finished with the exact same tally of 24 medals – six gold, 11 silver and seven bronze – at the 2022 edition of the continental championships held in Kuwait.

Asian U18 Athletics Championships 2023: India’s medal winners

Indian girls team – gold medal in medley relay

Vanshika – gold medal in girls 3000m

Rezoana Mallick – gold medal in girls 400m

Aman Kumar – gold medal in boys 3000m

Priyanshu – gold medal in boys 1500m

Pooja – gold medal in girls high jump

Rezoana Mallick – silver medal in girls 200m

Anju Bala – silver medal in girls 3000m

Yogeshwar R – silver medal in boys 3000m

Rahul Sarnaliya – silver medal in boys 1500m

Arjun – silver medal in boys javelin throw

Abinaya Rajarajan – silver medal in girls 100m

Ryan, Abhay, Charan and Navpreet – silver medal in boys medley relay

Mohur Mukherjee – silver medal in girls heptathlon

Ritik – silver medal in boys discus throw

Sumit Rathi – silver medal in boys 2000m steeplechase

Bapi Hansda – silver medal in boys 400m hurdles

Narpat Singh – bronze medal in boys hammer throw

Arti – bronze medal in girls 5000m race walk

Babendra Singh – bronze medal in boys 10,000m race walk

Mubassina Mohammed – bronze medal in girls long jump

Abhay Singh – bronze medal in men’s 200m

Anupriya – bronze medal in girls shot put

Sandeep Vinodkumar Gond – bronze medal in boys 110m hurdles

source/contents: olympics.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: SPORT / ATHLETICS : Praveen Chithravel Walks the Talk, Breaks National Record in Cuba

ATHLETICS

The Tamil Nadu triple jumper qualifies for World Championships, moves to No. 2 in this year’s World list’

With the country’s top triple jumpers in great form last year, three months ago triple jumper Praveen Chithravel predicted that the National record could fall early this season.

In 2016 when Renjith Maheswary broke the National record, raising it to 17.30m in Bengaluru a month before the Rio Olympics, many rubbed their eyes in disbelief.

But Chithravel spoke of much bigger things in a chat with this writer from his training base, the JSW Inspire Institute of Sport, in Ballari in February.

“The goal is to do more than 17.40m this year. I need to jump something like 17.40 or 17.50m, that sort of process is going on and it’s going good,” Chithravel, the Asian indoor silver medallist, had told The Hindu then.

The 21-year-old walked the talk in Cuba on Saturday, breaking the National record comfortably at the Prueba de Confrontacion athletics meet in Havana with a gold-winning 17.37m. The Tamil Nadu youngster had three jumps over 17m (17.14 first jump, 17.07 fourth, 17.37 fifth) during that stunning series that saw him climb a rung, to second, in triple jump’s World list this year. That also saw Chithravel qualify (qualification standard 17.20m) for the World Championships in Budapest in August.

With Selva Prabhu Thirumaran — the Tamil Nadu youngster had won the under-20 Worlds silver medal in Colombia last year — finishing fourth with a personal best 16.59m, improving his previous best by 44cm, it was a nice day for Indian athletics. However, Asian Games champion Arpinder Singh had a disappointing 15.03m and finished sixth in the same event.

It was not clear whether Chithravel went through a dope test, an Athletics Federation of India criterion to ratify national records, after his Saturday stunner.

“We normally approve a record only after a dope test. Whether they had a dope control (in the Havana meet), I will have to collect all those details,” National chief coach Radhakrishnan Nair told The Hindu on Sunday afternoon.

“We also had national records in the men’s and women’s 5000m (Avinash Sable and Parul Chaudhary at the Sound Running Track Fest in California, a World Athletics Continental Tour-Silver event). There, dope test was done.”

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: DEFENCE: Indian Navy Test-Fires BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile

BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd, an India-Russian joint venture, produces the supersonic cruise missiles that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or land platforms.

A BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was successfully test-fired from the Indian Navy’s frontline guided missile destroyer INS Mormugao, officials said on May 14.

The missile firing demonstrated the Indian Navy’s firepower at sea, they said.

“INS Mormugao, the latest guided-missile destroyer, successfully hit ‘bulls eye’ during her maiden BrahMos supersonic cruise missile firing,” a Navy official said.

“The ship and her potent weapon, both indigenous, mark another shining symbol of ‘AatmaNirbharta’ and Indian Navy’s firepower at sea,” the official added.

The location of the test-firing of the missile is not immediately known.

BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd, an India-Russian joint venture, produces the supersonic cruise missiles that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or land platforms.

BrahMos missile flies at a speed of 2.8 Mach or almost three times the speed of sound. India is also exporting the BrahMos missiles.

In January last year, India sealed a $375 million deal with the Philippines for supplying three batteries of the missile.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: ‘6th Indian Ocean Conference’ Dhaka May 2023 : Better Connectivity respecting Sovereignty should be priority, says Jaishankar in Dhaka

“Let me underline, for India, an effective and efficient connectivity to ASEAN will be a game changer,” Jaishankar said in his keynote address at the inaugural session of the two-day 6th Indian Ocean Conference in Dhaka.

Improving and enhancing connectivity should be the priority of the countries in the Indian Ocean region; and for India, a land connect to SouthEast Asia and a multi-model one to the Gulf and Central Asia could be challenging but the nations should work collectively for a smooth connectivity, Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said on Friday.

“Let me underline, for India, an effective and efficient connectivity to ASEAN will be a game changer,” Jaishankar said in his keynote address at the inaugural session of the two-day 6th Indian Ocean Conference in Dhaka.

“Connectivity is a crucial issue as the era of imperialism disrupted the natural linkages of the continent and created regional silos that served its own end. Restoring and enhancing flows between distinct regions is of utmost priority. Improving and enhancing connectivity should be our priority.

For countries like India, a land connect to SouthEast Asia and a multi-model one to the Gulf and Central Asia offers its own distinct challenges but the more we work collectively on a smooth connectivity, we will be better off.  But we need to respect sovereignty and territorial integrity. So let me underline, for India, an effective and efficient connectivity to ASEAN will be a game changer,” he said.

At the session, addressed also by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Mauritius President Prithviraj Singh Rupun, Maldives Vice President Faisal Naseem among others, Jaishankar stressed on the need for the countries to take the long view of cooperation as any nation disregarding the legal obligation or violating long standing agreements could damage trust and confidence among the member nations.

Over 25 ministers, state ministers or deputy ministers are participating in the conference jointly organised by the Bangladesh foreign ministry and the India Foundation, a New Delhi -based think tank.

There are distinct challenges, aspirations and agenda for each country in the region and that there are their distinctive pathways to progress, he said. Citing the example of the BIMSTEC under which “the members are cognisant of the challenges they have in governance and modernisation  but dealing with them through deeper cooperation and shared efforts,” the Indian foreign minister said the Indian Ocean cooperation should build up by nurturing such building blocks.

According to him, the nations require to simultaneously address the needs of the Indian Ocean, the Indo-Pacific and its constituent regions. “These are not alternatives but actually self-supporting activities. Naturally there are aspects of specificity, but equally there are broader principles that apply to all. For example, the importance of adhering to law, observing norms and respecting rules is a natural convergence point. It is not possible to build a stable international order without these prerequisites. It is especially so in a continent that has seen so much growth, so much change,” he said.

When a nation disregards the legal obligation, violates long standing agreements, it damages the trust and confidence. It is therefore essential for all the nations to take the long view of cooperation, Jaishankar said.

Another concern for the countries in the region is the unsustainable debt generated by unviable projects. “There are lessons from the last two decades. If we encourage opaque lending practices, exorbitant ventures and price points that are unrelated to the market are bound to bite us back sooner than later. Especially so when sovereign guarantees have been proffered,” he said.

Jaishankar  said  while the world has seized the larger domain of the Indo pacific the issues and challenges of each core constituents or each nation in the Indian Ocean cooperation should not be underplayed. Pointing out that many nations at the Indian Ocean still address developmental challenges that may longer be relevant even while impressing the essential coherence of the Indo Pacific, Jaishankar said those in the Indo Pacific should focus determinately on the Indian Ocean nations and their challenges.

He also said many nations in the region today are confronting consequences of our own past choices.

The Indian foreign minister also urged the nations in the Indian Ocean region to see that maritime security is a shared responsibility.

“We must discharge that global good should not be sacrificed at the altar of any national dominance,” he said. “Diplomacy cannot rest merely by articulating a position that equally needs practical action,” he added. The minister also stressed on climate action and counter terrorism initiatives. “We must also be conscious of the threats to social fabrics posed by extremism and fundamentalism taking advantage of democratic openness. Cost of not doing so is also starkly apparent to all of us today.”

Jaishankar said India is committed to the wellbeing and progress of all nations of the Indian Ocean. Pointing out that the country has dedicated bodies like the Indian Ocean Rim Association or the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium with specific mandate, he said: “We expand on that belief through the ‘neighbourhood first’ policy, the SAGAR outlook and our approach to the extended neighbourhood.”

India Foundation president Ram Madhav made the welcome speech.

The two-day Indian Ocean Conference — with the theme Peace Prosperity and Partnership for a Resilient Future — is being held in Dhaka to discuss how the countries of the Indian Ocean region can promote economic development while maintaining peace and stability.

During the day, there were panel discussions on a roadmap for an economically sustainable future in the Indo Pacific, forging partnership for peace and prosperity, and dealing with non-traditional security challenges for a peaceful and sustainable Indo-Pacific.

source/contents: indianexpress.com (headline edited)

GLOBAL: MEDICAL SERVICES / SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY: India Emerging as Favourable Destination to Conduct Global Clinical Trials: Report by USA India Chamber of Commerce & PwC India

According to the report, the private sector is a well-suited channel for the top biopharma to conduct more efficient clinical trials with easier and faster access to investigators and patients.

India has the potential to increase global clinical trials in the country by five times in the coming years, a report has said, with experts highlighting the significant opportunities for biopharma companies to leverage India’s rich diversity and robust healthcare infrastructure to develop innovative treatments.

The joint report by the USA India Chamber of Commerce & PwC India titled, “Clinical Trial opportunities in India” which will be released at the virtual edition of the 17th annual BioPharma & Healthcare Summit 2023 to be held on Wednesday in Boston also indicates that through several key drivers, India is emerging as a favourable destination to conduct clinical trials.

According to the report, the private sector is a well-suited channel for the top biopharma to conduct more efficient clinical trials with easier and faster access to investigators and patients.

According to the report, India has the potential to increase global clinical trials in the country by five times in the coming years.

Indian states with high disease prevalence (e.g., cancer) also have the most number of tier-1 cities, with advanced medical infrastructure and availability of investigators. Targeting these states can provide biopharma companies with faster access to patients, sites, and investigators.

The total number of investigators has increased by twice between 2015 and 2020, with the majority of the increase occurring in the internal medicine and oncology specialisations. However, the growth in the number of investigators is largely restricted to tier-1 and 2 cities, the report said.

While the top 20 pharma activity for the major therapy classes in India has remained largely constant in the last decade, growth opportunities exist across key diseases (e.g., pain, epilepsy, cervical cancer) and orphan diseases (ß-thalassemia, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy), it said.

India has an overall clinical trial participation of three per cent but contributes upwards of 15 per cent to the global burden of most high prevalent diseases (e.g., respiratory infections, cardiovascular, diabetes, cervical cancer), representing an untapped potential for top pharma, the report said.

Top biopharma companies should align their strategy towards tier-1 cities (e.g., Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai) where the higher bed capacity, number of doctors, and presence of tertiary care multi-city hospitals can support enablement efforts of running faster and more efficient clinical trials, it said.

“This year, with India on track to become the world’s most populous country, our responsibility to ensure its people benefit from the innovations that improve human health has never been greater,” said Andrew Plump, President of R&D, Takeda and Chair, USAIC BioPharma & Healthcare Summit.

A critical part of this will be addressing the gap in clinical trial activity in India and identifying opportunities to collectively promote clinical research and help build infrastructure to support clinical trials in the country, he added.

Karun Rishi, president of USAIC, said that the growing interest in clinical trials in India presents a significant opportunity for biopharma companies to leverage the country’s rich diversity and robust healthcare infrastructure.

With a large and diverse patient pool, streamlined regulatory processes, and a highly skilled workforce, India offers a favourable environment for biopharma companies to conduct efficient and cost-effective clinical trials.

By tapping into this opportunity, companies can accelerate their drug development timelines, increase the efficiency of their research, and bring innovative treatments to patients in need, ultimately advancing global healthcare, he said.

“It is painful to see India’s share in the ongoing global clinical trials is less than 3.2 per cent. The global BioPharma companies need to do more to correct this situation from the science and ethical point of view,” Rishi said.

He said that with key data in hand, USAIC over the past year worked closely and engaged with the leadership of top BioPharma companies and CROs globally to brainstorm on this issue.

“Response from sponsors and CROs has been very encouraging. They are ready and want to do more in India. We see the potential to increase global trials in India by 5x in the coming years. This is India’s moment to capture this great opportunity. Three triggers which are under play in India’s favour are diversity, equity, access and inclusiveness in clinical trials; Russia-Ukraine conflict and China’s zero Covid policy,” Rishi said.

India, he said, has made good progress in streamlining the clinical trials regulatory processes.

“We encourage India to continue to focus on stable and transparent clinical trials regulations particularly involving clinical trial execution in India under International Council for Harmonisation (ICH) guidelines. India should enhance its clinical trial infrastructure including skills development and incentivize global BioPharma companies to conduct trials,” he said.

“Large-scale ethical clinical trials with high-quality data will lead to collaborations, investments, skill development, translational research, startups, employment generation of high paying jobs leading to GDP growth. Entire innovation ecosystem will be created in India and ultimately enhance Indian patients’ access to innovative medicines,” Rishi said.

Sujay Shetty, a partner and global health industries leader, at PwC, said that the clinical trial activity in India has been increasing steadily since 2014 due to several key regulatory reforms aimed towards global harmonisation, enabling open access to clinical trials in India.

The country’s diverse population, combined with its rapidly advancing healthcare infrastructure, provides a fertile ground for clinical trials to flourish.

This is an opportunity for top biopharma companies to develop a long-term strategy that focuses on the key enablers of innovation and strategic partnerships in India, he said.

Dr Naresh Trehan, CMD Medanta and USAIC advisory board member believes that India’s healthcare landscape is poised for transformation, with its vast and diverse population in need of innovative solutions to address a range of health challenges.

“The country’s potential for clinical trials presents a unique opportunity to leverage cutting-edge research and technology to drive meaningful improvements in patient outcomes and advance the frontiers of medical science.

By fostering a collaborative and dynamic ecosystem, India can lead the way in shaping the future of healthcare for the benefit of all,” he said.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)