The 17th International Engineering & Technology Fair, IETF 2007, is being organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), from 13th to 16th February 2007 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, India.

The flagship event of CII launched in 1975, for the domestic industry, now serves as a platform for the global industry to make a foray into the Indian market. With the introduction of the “Partner Country” concept in the year, 1985, where Italy was the first Partner, the 17th edition has Japan as the Partner Country for the second time after a gap of ten years.

The other Partner countries included, Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Korea, Spain, South Africa, UK and USA.

The highlights of the fair include :

1. Biennial engineering fair with global recognition,
2. Only international fair in India, having nine concurrent sector specific shows,
3. Spread over an area of 50,000 sqms and showcased in twelve halls,
4. One of the few shows with a Partner Country concept, with a large participation,
5. Platform for a Partner Country to showcase its industry strengths in its entirety,
6. Supported by various Indian ministries,
7. A hall dedicated to country / regional pavilions,
8. Showcase of various industry strengths at one platform, thus giving the visitor a multiple choice,
9. Display of technology, services, innovations, design,
10. Dedicated hall for SME’s,
11. Supported by conferences, seminars, buyer seller meets, workshops etc.,
12. Visited by overseas delegations, individual buyers, government officials, domestic industry, corporate sector and public sector.

More details of the Partner Country participation and details of the sector specific shows can be seen at the website : www.ietfindia.in

It is indeed a proud moment for me as a Congressman to be here with you today to share my thoughts on peace, non-violence, empowerment and Gandhian philosophy in the 21st Century.

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The President of the Russian Federation, H.E. Mr. Vladimir V. Putin, paid an official visit to the Republic of India on January 25-26, 2007 at the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Republic of India Dr. Manmohan Singh. President Vladimir Putin is the first Russian Head of State who is participating as the Chief Guest at the celebrations on the occasion of the Republic Day. Besides a high level official delegation, President Putin was accompanied by a group of top Russian businessmen and industrialists representing diverse areas.

1. Joint Statement on the Outcome of the Official Visit of H.E. Vladimir V. Putin, President of the Russian Federation to the Republic of India.
Signed by H.E. Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of the Republic of India and H.E. Mr. Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation.

The 7th session of the India-Saudi Arabia Joint Commission was held on 18-19 January 2007 in New Delhi. The Hon’ble Finance Minister of India Shri P. Chidambaram and H. E. Dr. Hashim Abdullah Al-Yamani, Minister of Commerce and Industry of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia co-chaired the meeting. H. E. Dr. Al-Yamani was accompanied on his visit from 16 to 19 January 2007 by H. E. Mr. Abdullah A. Al Hamoudi, Vice Minister for Foreign Trade and a 32-member Official Delegation, a 36-member Business Delegation and an 18-member ICT Delegation.

The Ninth Round of talks between the Special Representatives of India and China, Shri M.K. Narayanan, National Security Adviser and Mr. Dai Bingguo, Vice Foreign Minister respectively, on the India-China Boundary Question was held in New Delhi from January 16-18, 2007. The two Special Representatives continued their discussions on a framework for the boundary settlement on the basis of the Agreement on Political Parameters and Guiding Principles. The talks were held in an open, friendly, cooperative and constructive atmosphere.

Good evening everybody. Let me start with an announcement. The President of the Russian Federation, H.E. Mr. Vladimir Putin, accompanied by Madame Lyudmila Putina, will pay an official visit to India on January 25-26, 2007. He will be the Chief Guest for the Republic Day celebrations on January 26, 2007. President Putin will be accompanied by a high level delegation consisting of senior Ministers and officials. During the visit, the two sides will review the whole array of bilateral relations – political, strategic, trade, investment, energy security, space, defence, high technologies, culture – and will also discuss international issues of mutual interest and concern. We will let you have the programme closer to the date.

Mr. Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri: It gives me great pleasure to welcome the Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee and giving me an opportunity to reciprocate the hospitality that he showed to me and my wife during my private visit to Delhi. Today, we had a long and productive session; first we had a one to one; then we had informal delegation level discussion and a short formal session in which the Excellency handed over to me an invitation.

Mr. Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri: It gives me great pleasure to welcome the Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee and giving me an opportunity to reciprocate the hospitality that he showed to me and my wife during my private visit to Delhi. Today, we had a long and productive session; first we had a one to one; then we had informal delegation level discussion and a short formal session in which the Excellency handed over to me an invitation.

I am happy to be here and this is my first visit to Islamabad. I am carrying the letter from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inviting H.E Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to attend the 14th SAARC Summit scheduled to be held in Delhi on 3rd and 4th April of this year.

External Affairs Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee visited Cebu, the Philippines, from January 10 to 11, 2007, to participate in the ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting and the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Luncheon. On the sidelines of these meetings he met with the Foreign Ministers of New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Philippines.

1. Extradition treaty between Government of the Republic of India and Government of the Republic of Portugal on behalf of the Republic of India by Shri Anand Sharma, Minister of State for External Affairs and on behalf of the Republic of Portugal by Professor Joao Gomes Cravinho, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

The First World Hindi Conference was held under the auspices of Rashtra Bhasha Prachar Samiti, Wardha in Nagpur on 10th January 1975. In a meeting of the Follow up Committee on World Hindi Conference held on June 8, 2005 under the chairmanship the then Minister of State for External Affairs, Rao Inderjit Singh, it was decided to commemorate 10th January as World Hindi Day every year. Accordingly World Hindi Day was celebrated for the first time on 10th January 2006.

Good afternoon everybody, I have a statement on India-Bhutan relations. It would be useful to read out to you.

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In September 2006, Cote d’Ivoire was affected by a serious problem arising out of the discharge of toxic waste at different locations of the country by a foreign registered vessel. The fumes emanating from the toxic waste led to hospitalization of approximately 9,000 residents in and around Abidjan, in addition to unconfirmed deaths. India was amongst the countries approached for supply of medicines for treatment of the affected population.

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My colleagues from the Cabinet,
Chief Ministers,
President CII, Shri Seshasayee,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

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