Venkatesh Iyer
Bhutan: India-Bhutan border trade via Bengal suspended thanks to lock-down in the Himalayan kingdom.
Bhutan has officially announced the first-ever nationwide lockdown due to an increase in covid related deaths. Bhutan shares its borders with the Indian states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal and Sikkim. With the lockdown now in force trade across the India-Bhutan border through Jaigaon in Aldipur district West-Bengal has been, temporarily halted following the imposition of a coronavirus-induced lockdown within the Himalayan kingdom.
The border gates between Jaigaon in India and Phuentsholing in Bhutan were closed after the complete lockdown came into force within the neighbouring country on Tuesday.
The border trade through Jaigaon has stopped; however, no vehicle has been stranded on either side of the border because the Bhutan administration had informed the Alipurduar district authorities, giving adequate time to authorities.
Even though three districts of West Bengal Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri and Kalimpong share a border with Bhutan, the main chunk of trade with the Himalayan kingdom happens through the Jaigaon-Phuentsholing section.
Jaigaon is a major, gateway for Bhutan to the remainder of India through Siliguri that lies around 150 km west of the border town. Bhutan mainly exports traditional dresses and ornaments, honey, ginger and milk products through Jaigaon, while it imports vegetables, food grains, medicines, textiles and tea from India, sources said.
Pakistan: Saudi Arabia ends a loan and associated oil supply to Pakistan following threats to separate OIC.
Saudi Arabia abruptly stopped a loan and oil supply to Pakistan thanks to Islamabad accusing Riyadh-dominated Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) not, doing enough on the Kashmir issue, signalling a further weakening of relations between the 2, allies. Pakistan secretary of state had even threatened to separate OIC if the group fails to assemble a stand-alone session on Kashmir.
Pakistan had to refund a Saudi loan of $1 billion; a part of a $6.2 billion package announced by Saudi Arabia in November 2018 and includes a $3 billion in loans and $3.2 billion through oil credit facility. The deals were then signed when prince Muhammed Bin Salman made an official visit to Pakistan in February last year.
Saudi Arabia is focusing on further intensifying partnership with India and has not shown any inclination to convene a stand-alone meet on Kashmir as it feels it is a domestic matter.
Pakistan’s position is backed by Turkey, which wants to challenge Saudi Arabia’s leadership in the Islamic world. The UAE, Oman, and a few North African and West Asian countries are among few Muslim-majority governments backing India on this. India also has unspoken, support from Indonesia, world’s largest Muslim nation, besides Central Asian states have also backed India.
Maldives: The Eco-tourism in Maldives will get a lift because of assistance from India as a part of the neighborhood-first policy.
A contract award ceremony was, held on Monday at Addu Council. The five eco-tourism zones, planned are in Addu – Hithadoo, Maradhoo, Feydhoo, Hulhudhoo & Meedhoo. The zones are being, built with aid from India and is being, developed under MoUs signed between the Indian High Commission (Maldives), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Addu City Council this February.
These projects are being, executed under the High-Impact Community Development project (HICDP) scheme which involves complete grant assistance of MVR 85 million ($5.5 million) to the Maldives. Presently, nine such high-impact projects are being, accomplished under this particular scheme. Of these, contracts fixing of three fish plants in Addu already have been awarded.
The Mobilisation advance for all nine projects was, handed over during a ceremony organised at the Foreign Ministry last month.
Maldives Foreign Secretary Abdul Ghafoor, senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Members of Parliament on behalf of Addu city, officials from President’s office and India diplomat Sunjay Sudhir partook in the ceremony.