A point of access to nuclear market, India has planned investments of millions

New Delhi, 21 August 2008. - A point of view open the doors of the international nuclear market, India is planning investments of 300,000 million dollars for a civil nuclear program that seeks to alleviate the energy shortage which hampers their growth.
The country is currently operating 17 reactors with an output of 4,120 megawatts theoretical, 15,180 who will become the new projects it has set the Atomic Commission of India until 2020.
"Nuclear power in the country is 3 percent of total energy production. We hope to reach 10 percent in 2020, "he told Efe Sudhinder Thakur, executive director of nuclear public consortium of India (NPCIL).
Expansion projects and new reactors have a value of 300,000 million dollars and is estimated to create 100,000 jobs, but do not address the main structural deficiency in the nuclear India: lack of uranium.
The capacity of 4,120 megawatts is just a theoretical value, in fact, India produces only 1,790, due to technical problems "temporary", reactor maintenance or lack of political permission to access new uranium mines, according to experts.
This is where staging the "nuclear deal", as known in the country the agreement reached in 2007 with the United States, which will allow India access to international nuclear market in return for separating its military nuclear facilities from civilian ones.
The agreement required the signature of safeguards with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and still requires the approval of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, to which India presents its case today in Vienna.
"What will the nuclear deal will bring extra resources. We have so much uranium in India to cover 100 percent of our needs. So I see this as a trade, "the spokesman told Efe the Indian Atomic Commission, Anil Malhotra.
"The agreement will be important for international nuclear trade. Come foreign reactors. Companies in India will manufacture components. Here the costs are cheaper, so many international companies may be inclined to settle here, as happened to the cars, "he said.
According to Secretary of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Amit Mitra, quoted by IANS, the nuclear deal will bring technological improvements will create opportunities for 400 companies in the country and help alleviate the power shortage.
India is the fifth country in the world with more generation, but the output per capita trivial forcing tens of millions of people to light candles or oil lamps after dark, and frequent power cuts cause losses to the industry.
With an annual production of 653.172 million kilowatt-hours, the country carries an energy deficit of 73,050 million, which the atomic pact will not remove unless carried to India five times its current nuclear capacity (about 17,000 million).
The agreement has not been without controversy: to backup in the West raises the fact that India has not signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, the Indian government had to join a faction inside that put on the ropes.
After months of endless discussion, the Government in July had to overcome a confidence vote had two arguments of the opposition: Communists did not accept the deal with the "American Friend" and the BJP's Hindu radicals accused him of jeopardizing the independence of the strategic military program.
"It was the result of misinformation. Is a trade agreement that we do not tie the hands. Our sovereignty will not be compromised, it will only civilian reactors under control. In the military, we can continue to use the plutonium, "continued Malhotra.
India can only use the uranium abroad in the 14 reactors will be under IAEA monitoring l, but scientists applaud the end of "nuclear apartheid" in effect since the country started the atomic race in 1974.

Appreciation of the rupee against the dollar, new headache for government

New Delhi, Sep 20, 2007. - Despite today initialed rapid appreciation against the dollar three decades, the Government views with concern the rapid rise of the rupee, which represents a danger for exporters and threatening the trade balance.
The Indian currency today broke the symbolic barrier of 40 rupees per dollar and closed at 39.91, a figure that is used to cap a rise above 10 percent since September 2006.
Guided by the strength of the Indian economy, the currency appreciation against the dollar in the past two days lies in part in the decision of the Federal Reserve to cut a half point in interest rates.
This measure, according to several experts in the market, could lead to new capital inflows on the floor Indian, because investors prefer to invest in higher-yielding currencies, such as the rupee.
"The rupee shows we have grown. Is the market that pushes and more market trust in the judgments of the Indian central bank or the finance minister, "said the consultant a few days ago Mecklai Jamal told the newspaper" The Times of India ".
The strength of the Indian currency and a weak dollar have caused an appreciation of the rupee by more than 10 percent in the last six months, the biggest increase in three decades.
But not only grows the rupee against the dollar between January and May this year, the value of Indian currency increased by 8 percent against the pound, 6.9 against the euro and 11.2 percent from the yen, detectable, however, cause headaches for Indian exporters.
Despite the pride of some investors, a survey by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) showed that 80 percent of exporters complained the appreciation of the currency, leaving them in a situation "very competitive".
The Government announced in July an aid package of Rs 14,000 million to help mitigate its effects, but this has not served to reduce their "concern" about the state of exports and rising trade deficit.
"Exports are an engine of growth and we must ensure that growth is not affected," he said about the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Kamal Nath, who refused today to revise down export forecast for this year, fixed at 160,000 million dollars.
But a government source who requested anonymity ahead of last July and that the goal is not only fulfilled, but also the appreciation of the rupee threatens 275,000 jobs.
"With an exchange rate of 40 rupees per dollar, try to keep the export figure of last year. Our best bet would be around 140,000 million dollars, "he said.
In their mad dash against the dollar, the rupee also has the support of the Sensex of the Bombay Stock Exchange, surpassing Wednesday for the first time the 16,000 points with a high rise in one day (653 points).
Most Asian currencies have risen against the dollar these days, but the rupee appreciation has the highest recorded in recent years, behind only the Brazilian real.
"In the past, transaction costs and lack of good infrastructure, coupled with limited government support for exporters, have threatened their benefits," said ASSOCHAM President, Venugopal N. Dhoot, the Indian agency IANS.
Now, with the fields of jewelry, furs and textiles (whose exports fell by 25-40 percent in April and May) suffering the effects of a strong rupee, exporters appear to have a new problem.
While the export business experience, however there who takes advantage of the new situation: tour operators and consumers.
"More and more Indians traveling abroad. Prices of package tours abroad have fallen 10 percent, "he told" The Times of India "one of the leaders in the industry.
And waiting for the strong rupee reduce prices of imported products, consumers in the new middle class are prepared to fill their houses Japanese televisions, phones and computers European Americans.

Indian government is formed with new ministers sworn in without Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi, 28 may 2009. - The Government of India was now at last set by 79 members, following a second massive ministers and deputy ministers sworn in between is not considered an heir of the Gandhi dynasty and Party General Secretary Congress, the young Rahul.
The swearing-in ceremony began at 11.30 local (06.00 GMT) at the presidential palace delhi at the head of state, Pratibha Patil, and under the gaze of President of the Congress Party, Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Among the hundreds of guests.
There were 14 ministers and 45 deputy ministers, who, after hearing the national anthem, one by one they swore allegiance to the Constitution and promised to safeguard the sovereignty and integrity of India, but their portfolios were not assigned until hours later.
Singh was sworn in last Friday as part of a first group of 19 ministers, hoping to reach an agreement with its coalition partners about the final composition of the government and the allocation of portfolios.
Reached agreement, Singh, facing his second term, will head a government of only nine women and a high average age (age 62 touches), but highlights the presence of members of different religious, ethnic, regional and caste .
The new Cabinet is a "mixture of experience and youthful energy," said the prime minister after the ceremony, the Indian agency PTI.
"There are several factors as the availability of talent and other considerations that played a role," he added.
Not be in the Government finally Rahul Gandhi, the son of 38 years of Sonia and the late former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, who has preferred to continue commitment to strengthening the party outside the Executive, as he himself acknowledged today the media.
His place will be taken, as deputy ministers, some of the young party with the greatest, as Jyotiraditya Scindia (Commerce), Jitin Prasada (Petroleum) and Sachin Pilot (Information), all under forty years and also heirs of the dynasties who control Congress.
At the end of the day, the ruling alliance released the final distribution of portfolios, which included a surprise as the appointment of Kashmiri leader Farooq Abdullah, National Conference, as Minister of Renewable Energies.
A brand new signing party, Shashi Tharoor, who won his seat in this election after a long career within the UN for what came to be listed as candidate for secretary general, will be Deputy Foreign Minister, a department headed by SM Krishna.
Ambika Soni, a Congress-linked policy, leave Culture and Information assumes the portfolio, while Kamal Nath, former owner of Trade who aspired to high office, will head the Transport and Highways and Anand Sharma is no longer the "number two "to conduct foreign trade.
The United Progressive Alliance (UPA), led by Congress in the elections brushed the 272 seats that make a majority in the House, but exceeded this limit after winning the support of several smaller formations and independent candidates.
The Congress brings to the Council of Ministers 60 militants, including their own Singh, while the 19 remaining seats are held by different partners as part of the UPA.
The negotiations of the Congress Party with its partners for the distribution of stranded charges these days with the Tamil party Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), whose leader, M. Karunanidhi, came to threaten to give just one external support to the coalition government.
Finally, Karunanidhi has achieved the rank of ministers for his grand-nephew Dayanidhi Maran, Azhagiri MA child and senior A. Raja, plus get four posts of deputy minister.
They, like almost all of the new ministers, chose to wear traditional clothing during the ceremony today, Pratibha Patil wearing a blue and gold sari and guiding the representatives swear in English or Hindi, as appropriate.
The youngest deputy minister, Agatha Sangma, only 28 years and daughter of a veteran leader of the Nationalist Congress Party and now Deputy Minister of Rural Development, was the last to be sworn, before the Indian anthem terminated the ceremony as in the same way it started.
Singh had already allocated on 23 Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defense, Interior and Finance to his party heavyweights.

UN denounces a "bloodbath" civil fighting in northeastern Sri Lanka

New Delhi, 11 may 2009. - The recent fighting in the stronghold of the Tamil Tigers in northeastern Sri Lanka have caused this weekend a "bloodbath" as the UN reported today, which stood at 380 civilians killed One hundred of them children.
"We give good data by government doctors in the area, which reported the death of 380 people. Over 100 children are among the dead, "he told Efe by telephone UN spokesman in Sri Lanka, Gordon Weiss.
Weiss said the UN "does not confer" responsibility for the killing of the government and guerrillas accuse each other, but recalled that the organization and "had warned that there would be a bloodbath" for civilians are among the fighting.
The Sri Lankan army launched a few weeks ago its final offensive against the last redoubt of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a northern coastal strip on which are crowded between 50,000 and 100,000 civilians, according to UN although the government says are between 15,000 and 20,000.
An aid worker in Sri Lanka told Efe that is "impossible" to know what is happening in the combat zone because there are no observers in it, but recalled that the only side "with the military capacity to bomb from the air is the Government ".
On 27 April the Sri Lankan government ordered the army to limit their operations and end the use of heavy weapons and aerial bombing, although he had previously repeatedly denied the use of such weapons.
Despite the order, the fighting continued and escalated this weekend in Mullivaaykaal areas and Vadduvaakal, the last under guerrilla control, surrounded by troops in an area of about four square kilometers.
The head of the Organization for the Tamils ​​Rehabilitation (TRO)-also linked to the guerrilla, Lawrence Christy, said today that more than 3,200 civilians have been killed since Sunday afternoon and called for international intervention to stop the "genocide ".
A portal related to the guerrillas, Tamilnet, allegedly published photographs taken this weekend with victims of bombing and burning buildings.
The allegations of the guerrillas have been denied by the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence, which said today that it is the LTTE which is attacking the Tamil population in the area under their control to promote international intervention.
"They are bombarding their own civilians with heavy weapons to lay the blame on the Sri Lankan forces. In their calculation, they believe that this will lead other countries to throw a lifeline to redeem their souls, "Defence said in a statement.
The "Tigers" Tamils ​​"are powerless to resist the forces of Sri Lanka. They need their international friends and will resort to anything to attract them. So again civilians are targeted, "he added.
In recent weeks there has been growing concern about the status of civilians trapped, who, according to Efe said Red Cross spokesman in Sri Lanka, Sarasi Wijeratne, face an acute shortage of water, medicine or medical personnel to attend .
"Since last February we brought into the Area 2,350 tons of food. That amount is insufficient to meet even basic needs of people trapped, "said the source.
According to the spokesman, the Red Cross has pulled out of the area from February to 13,769 civilians injured or sick in 31 naval evacuation operations, which sometimes have been hampered by the constant fighting.
The Government of Sri Lanka has so far rejected all international calls to halt its offensive against the Tamil Tigers, fighting for more than 25 years for an independent state in the east and north of the island.
Both the LTTE and the government maintained an active propaganda to gain support in the conflict, but most of the claims lack independent verification because it is forbidden access to the front lines.
The organization Human Rights Watch has asked the Security Council and an investigation into whether they are producing "war crimes" in Sri Lanka, end on which the UN spokesman refused to comment.

Government rejects ceasefire offer unilateral Tamil Tigers

New Delhi, April 26, 2009. - The Government of Sri Lanka did not take half an hour today or reject a cease-fire announcement of the Tamil Tigers, which is produced in full visit by a UN envoy and hours after the Sri Lankan Army to snatch his junior guerrilla stronghold.
"The LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) is not in a position to ask or demand anything. Intend to declare a cease-fire as long ago have sunk the knee, "Efe said by telephone from Colombo Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary, Palitha Kohona.
The guerrillas had announced in a statement minutes before a unilateral ceasefire and an end to offensive operations in northeastern Sri Lanka, where he is surrounded by the army in a small coastal strip along with tens of thousands of civilians.
"Given the unprecedented humanitarian crisis and in response to calls by the UN, European Union, the Governments of the United States, India and others, the LTTE announced a unilateral ceasefire. All offensive operations will cease with immediate effect, "said the guerrillas in the note.
On Saturday, the LTTE had denounced a situation of "starvation" to "165,000" people in the areas under their control, but the UN estimates that there are actually some 50,000 Sri Lankan Government and the estimates are between 15,000 and 20,000.
And today, the guerrillas warned that "starvation" imminent, accusing the government of deliberately blocking food supplies and medicines and continually attacking civilians trapped in rebel territory.
Complaints, however, that were described by Kohona as a "cynical effort" aimed at UN Undersecretary for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes, who arrived last night to the island to check the situation of civilians affected by conflict.
Holmes today called "urgent" the LTTE to abandon their weapons and enable the output of civilians, and urged the Government to limit the use of heavy weaponry in its offensive against the guerrillas.
"We need a new humanitarian pause to get aid and aid workers in the combat zone," the official was quoted by the Ada Derana TV channel.
The army launched on Monday a bloody offensive that resulted in the move to government areas of around 110,000 civilians housed in camps by the Government for that purpose in the north of the country under very precarious conditions.
"They have been arrested and are in concentration camps where they are subjected to torture in violation of all international conventions. Not allowed to return home this population. Some are used as human shields, "the LTTE.
Holmes, who has defended a "pause" in the conflict and access to the areas of humanitarian personnel, is scheduled to travel to Vavuniya (north) to verify "in situ" the situation of civilians, Efe said UN spokesman in the country, Gordon Weiss.
In recent days have increased diplomatic pressure and international concern about the fate of those trapped in the combat zone, but the Sri Lankan government seems determined to finish the LTTE militarily, fighting for more than 25 years to get a independent state for the Tamil minority.
A few hours before the announcement of the guerrillas, the army said in fact the penultimate making people in rebel hands, Valayarmadam, and the capture of 23 suspected guerrillas, the "rescue" of about 700 civilians and killed 12 rebels in a naval battle.
"They have about 500 guerrillas, who also dressed as civilians so as not to distinguish. They are just 6 square kilometers, "said Efe by telephone military spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara.
Convinced of his victory, the Government today also rejected a request from U.S., EU, ​​Japan and Norway, the so-called "Tokyo Quartet" - to offer an amnesty to the guerrillas, who asked to surrender to a third party.
"There will be no amnesty for the LTTE. They will have to surrender or face removal by the Sri Lankan forces, "he was quoted by different means the Secretary of Defense Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.
In a very different side, the combat strategy is seen by analysts as one of the keys to the overwhelming victory today was the ruling Alliance People United for Freedom (UPFA) in regional elections in the West-including the capital, Colombo.

Montek Singh Ahluwalia

India's Planning Commission is one of the traces of the socialist economy that led to India for decades since independence. With the 1991 reforms, however, lost no strength: still setting budgetary allocation lines of India in its "Five Year Plans", controls the execution of programs and ensures intersectoral linkages in the economy. Gives an idea of their importance that is chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh . Although it is on a par: the strong man of the Commission has always been the vice president, as happened with Nehru and the legendary Mahabalanobis. Today, that position is occupied by Montek Singh Ahluwalia, who is projected as the next Indian Minister of Finance if the Congress Party wins the elections. Singh Ahluwalia spoke in his spacious office of Yojana Bhawan administrative block in the heart of New Delhi.

After decades of mistrust, has changed its relationship with the private sector?

We interact all the time, for example in the infrastructure sector, which is one of the major initiatives of the Government: try public-private partnership. With a necessary investment of 500,000 million dollars. India is facing many challenges, but one thing is clear: if we want to grow fast, have to improve massively infrastructure . And there is another big challenge, which is to provide education to train skilled workers.

According to experts, India is facing a serious training.

This problem has emerged now, in the sense that when we were growing at 4 percent, we had a surplus of skilled workers, with 6 per cent, would be fine, but with an increase of 8 who aspires to be 9, we have a serious problem of shortage of skilled workers.
And unless we can take internal measures to reform the education system and training, we can not achieve our goals. There is much expansion of this system as planned, but we need to do more. Many of our universities produce people that somehow, they resort to academic training, and it is right to join the civil service, but is not oriented to the development of specific skills to the world of work.
These problems can be solved, giving these people programs and courses of three or six months, which would allow them to develop skills "market". But otherwise, this is true: it is a program that will require three or four years ...

But what would the number of workers needed?

Is dependent on each sector, and I have a number. But certainly we see that in the past two years are required machine operators, people able to operate machines with computers, computer experts ... Our need is rising sharply and is more difficult to retain your workforce. That, employers tell us. But on the other hand, has lowered the number of people who went abroad. And many who are out again. None of our work will pay as well as in the United States, but people are willing to accept much lower wages if working at home.

The threat of recession also plans on development box ...

We are less dependent on the global economy than some other countries. But not independent: and many of the benefits we have had in the last few years are a result of greater integration. So if the world down, we. This is evident even now. In the past two years grew more than indicating the potential. This year we think we can grow at a rate of eight, and some believe that we will go even lower. Whatever will be a high growth rate, and much will depend on how the global economy reacts. We are less dependent to USA, but more dependent on an overall pattern. While the outlook for the U.S. are looking very grim.

Will they have any effect on the reforms the Indian elections?

Until the elections, no new reform can be expected, but has been little implementation. Things have already started, but had to complete before the election. All areas of infrastructure, for example, where we have initiatives under way and we must prove that the public-private partnerships can work. There are many projects in the system and make sure that these projects are carried out.
And there are other areas such as the promotion of education: announcing a new number of universities and institutions last week. Among them there will be some world-class universities, IIT, IIM, but now we must determine the place and convince regional authorities to put the necessary land. The more specific these decisions are, the more they can show their interest in supporting them. The Government of India has already said he wants to have 30 universities, but now we have also indicated where they should be. The assignment could be delayed two years or it could be done in two months. So our goal is to put on a tight schedule to be done.

It seems that the buzzword of this term has been "inclusion."

It's a long story and we have a whole five-year plan dedicated to it. But at length, we need a boost of agriculture, which has not fared well in recent years. So if we can make the evolution of agriculture in a better story, part of the road would be done.
We need a stronger base of qualified development and spread education, because this opens up opportunities and can make a difference. We also need better growth of manufacturing sector to reverse in employment. In recent years, the services sector grew much more than manufacturing. And higher education services tend to require a more specialized education.

But it will be difficult to shift from agriculture to services, so suddenly.

If you want to transform people from rural areas to farm employment, with limited capacities in two, three or six months, then it simply can manufacture what they teach. So we need that manufacturing growth is faster.
I believe that manufacturing did not grow much as they should because our infrastructure was not good and there was a lack of competitiveness. Some also say that this was due to our labor laws, which are a bit too rigid and limited flexibility. To have employees, you need the consent of the regional government, and what has happened over time is that the law has been implemented with more flexibility.

That is, there are irregularities in the implementation of labor laws.

People find ways to do this [fire employees], but what would that make the law a rule easier and transparent. Left, in particular, is resistant to it. To be honest, if we continue on a path of high growth, and competition for skilled jobs continues to grow, it is easy to increase flexibility.
If you just asked the unions, "I want to change the labor law," there will be many protests. We need to focus on building infrastructure and will improve to some degree, the growth of manufacturing, the next step will then labor flexibility. But by then, the work will have seen the effect of changing India, so strongly that different regions follow different policies: the more progressive states introduced flexible working and people will see that employment expands, will be an expansion of good practices .

Former Finance Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram said India could grow to 11 percent if all people share in growth. Do you share this perspective?

We do much work with numbers, and frankly, when we project the limits of what is possible, is beyond the numerical analysis and rigorous. Chidambaram is what it says: "We are a poor country, China is a poor country. We have much to do and they. They are growing at 11 percent, why not us? ". I think one of the most positive things in India is that people have seen the benefits of China as a base to compete. For a long time, India did not grow fast. Now, India is the second fastest growing country, China still behind with some difference ... Why are they capable of? One reason is the political environment, totally different, but do not think anyone in India want to change the political environment. At the same time, democracy can not become the excuse for a poor performance. Authoritarians are licensed, move people, but democracy has its advantages.

The perspective is settling in America seems to be a strategy of using India as a counterweight to China.

T here is little interest in presenting India as a counterweight, but the prospect of India is: look, we are both poor countries and should be transformed. I think the world will be much better if India and China are prosperous countries simply do as well as they. The emergence of China has had a positive effect on India. People wonder why it can not be like Shanghai Bombay. We have businessmen in China, they invest in India, we buy more from one another, many more Indians have visited China and seen what is happening there ... When an Indian visiting Europe, learning is a bit like, yeah, in 200 years we will be well. But in China, the visitor thinks 20 years ago, these guys were as poor as us. There are more moral, and this is an important factor. Asia es una parte del mundo que crece rápidamente y que se ve a sí misma como parte de una historia de éxito, en el sentido de que el desarrollo está teniendo lugar, que las cosas están cambiando. Each country has had to solve their own problems and some can learn from others.

Pero la India debería aplicarse el cuento en cuanto al comercio regional. The SAARC still in its infancy, from the economic standpoint.

What we are very clear with the opening of trade, trade barriers have been falling, and we have always maintained that we must maintain a freer climate in the region. There are differences between the SAARC region and other regions, because India is a bit too big and our neighbors are all comparatively small, which usually leads to some concerns. And the lesson to be learned from this is that India should grant more benefits to integration unilaterally, and that will have a positive effect: and that is what we are doing. We have more benefits to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and Nepal in what we ask. Pakistan is different, because we depend more on political relations. But the idea about Pakistan is also having a freer trade. No discriminamos las importaciones de Pakistán como lo hace Pakistán; India no tiene un estatus de nación más favorecida en Pakistán, las tarifas que imponen sobre nosotros son más altas que las impuestas sobre otros países.

And another big economic battlefront is the Doha Round. La India está negociando con fiereza…

Overall, we strongly support the multilateral negotiations and believe that we must reduce barriers. Our disappointment with the Doha Round is that this was sold as if the key point was agriculture and with the expectation that U.S. and European Union were to reduce subsidies. But in reality subsidies on exports are distorting agriculture, but the massive domestic subsidies. Viendo cómo los precios mundiales han ido hacia arriba, tanto Europa como Estados Unidos deberían estudiar la reducción de sus subsidios nacionales sustancialmente. But for now the steps have been disappointing. Europeans and Americans, for a long time, gave the signal for a long time that this time they were serious about agriculture, but when the time came, everyone said the policy was very difficult. Y reconozco que hay dificultades… Nosotros hemos estado genuinamente a favor de bajar barreras, hemos hecho ofertas a los europeos y americanos en el apartado de manufacturas. Hoping that among both Europeans and Americans, a solution of these problems take place, to move forward.

Según la Comisión de Planificación, ¿qué sectores necesitan una reforma más imperiosa?

En el apartado de las manufacturas, ya está todo bien liberalizado…siempre se puede hacer algo más en algunos puntos, como los límites de inversión extranjera, que podemos intentar eliminar. Hemos hecho un poco, pero si preguntas a un observador extranjero… Estoy de acuerdo en que debemos reducir estos límites…

Uno mira el crecimiento anual y la cosa parece estar despegando. ¿Lo ve como un momento histórico?

Absolutely. En el año 1975, el club de Roma lanzó un informe en el que, con la más profunda consideración, aseguró que la India estaba muerta: que los indios no serían capaces de alimentarse a sí mismos. Y que no había siquiera que intentar ayudar a la India. If you're in a crowded boat, they said, or the whole world is sinking, or strip the people least likely to survive. Así que dijeron que no había por qué intentar ayudar a la India, porque era un país condenado. Today we are supposedly the cream of the month, desired by investors. Es un cambio cualitativo enorme, muy bonito. Nunca sabes qué es “histórico”, pero creo que hay una transformación muy profunda. The young Indians have a new sense of confidence. Esto es inevitable… Lleva tiempo salir de la mentalidad colonial. Pero ahora, cuando hay un problema, los jóvenes culpan a su propio Gobierno de él, y esto es bueno. They ask "why can not you do better."

Does it have something to do with globalization?

For India, globalization is worth, in the sense that the Indians see that gives them tremendous opportunities. And we are big enough for us not to be swept away culturally. If you are a small and poor country, you think that culturally missed. If India grows and develops, we will not be swallowed but culturally globalized. The other day I saw a story saying Armani has designed a "sherwani" (traditional Indian formal dress) for the Indian market. Esto es muy diferente de lo que pasó en Japón: Coco Chanel no diseñó ningún kimono. Our designers will e "indianizarán" European suits, Europeans will design things for the Indian market and in general, people will appreciate it.

And for the next few years, what will be the biggest challenge?

Ugh, many. Cambio climático… Nombre uno y acertará. All countries have the same goals for the future. If we survive the objective of maintaining rapid growth over the next four or five years we'll be better able to face the future. An average of nine percent over the next five years, but with a definite sense of greater inclusion.

De nuevo la palabra inclusión.

Is that in the long term, we must maintain the growth that we have, and above all, create the feeling and conviction that is inclusive. And this is a great challenge. Because if it is not inclusive, social acceptability and legitimacy of these policies will not occur. On the other hand, if we create a sense of inclusion, and this does not mean that problems will be resolved around the world, will always be people with deep problems-if people perceive that economic changes are associated with social mobility will be important . because people do not necessarily want to improve your own life if he becomes convinced that their children's lives better. A 45 year old man does not want high inflation, want high wages, but if lower-middle class, known not to be rich. But if you know your child might be, that's a motivation. I think we should judge ourselves by how much social mobility are able to provide.

Lead to a kind of Indian dream.

It is. It really is an old Indian dream, but perhaps we're seeing now. Or they always said, but never had.

Sonia Gandhi

Born in Lusiana, Italy on November 9, 1946, Antonia Albina Maino Edvige-better known as Sonia Gandhi is the president of the Indian Congress Party and widow of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. It is also the president of the United Progressive Alliance coalition, which rules the country.

Its influence on Indian politics gives an idea that was named the third most powerful woman in the world by Forbes magazine in 2004 and sixth in 2007. Time magazine ranked among the 100 most influential people in 2007 and 2008.

As a matter of incompatibility had to abandon their membership in parliament, but in 2007 managed to return after winning a by-election in his district Rae Bareilly by a margin of 400,000 votes.

Origen. In 1964, Sonia went to study English language school in Bell Educational Trust in Cambridge. While in this course met Rajiv Gandhi, who studied at Trinity College, the famous university city. Sonia and Rajiv were married in 1968, after which Sonia moved to the house of his mother and then Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi.

The couple had two sons, Raul Gandhi (1970) and Priyanka Gandhi (1972). Although family influence Nehru, Sonia and Rajiv avoided all involvement in politics. Rajiv worked as an airline pilot while Sonia took care of the family. When Indira lost power in 1977 after a state of emergency, the Rajiv family went abroad for a short period. When Rajiv entered politics in 1982 after the death of his brother Sanjay in a plane crash, Sonia continued to focus on her family and avoided all contact with the public. He obtained Indian citizenship in 1983 after 14 years of marriage.

Political career. Sonia Gandhi's involvement in public life began with the murder of her mother and her husband's election as prime minister. As the spouse of the president, served as hostess at official events and accompanied him on several official visits abroad. In 1984, actively campaigned against her sister, Maneka Gandhi, who appeared in the same district as Rajiv, Amethi. At the end of five years of Rajiv Gandhi in power, the Bofors scandal broke. Octavio Quattrocchi, an Italian businessman allegedly involved had access to the official residence by virtue of his friendship with Sonia Gandhi.

President of Congress. After the death of her husband and her refusal to be party president, Congress chose to PV Narasimha Rao, who became the leader of the formation and prime minister. In subsequent years, the game deteriorated to the point that he lost the 1996 elections. Several veteran leaders like Madhavrao Scindia, Rajesh Pilot, Mamata Banerjee, GK Moopanar, P. Jayanthi Natarajan Chidambaram or rebelled against the party president at the time, Sitaram Kesri, and left the band.

En un esfuerzo por revivir el partido, Sonia Gandhi se unió a la formación en la sesión plenaria de Calcuta en 1997, y se convirtió en líder en 1998. El proceso sólo duró 62 días. Acudió a las elecciones por dos distritos a la vez (una práctica común), Bellary y Amethi, y ganó los dos. En el año 2004, fue elegida por su distrito actual, Rae Bareilly, en el norte del país.

Líder de la oposición. Sonia Gandhi se convirtió en la líder de la oposición en el año 1999. A pesar de que su partido no tenía una mayoría, reivindicó ante el presidente que tenía apoyo suficiente para formar el Gobierno. Pero se quedó corta de la cifra mágica de 272, así que el partido radical hindú Bharatiya Janata Party se aupó al poder liderado por Atal Behari Vajpayee y Sonia quedó como jefa de la oposición. En 2003, presentó una moción de censura. Sonia tiene el récord de haber servido diez años consecutivos como presidenta del Congreso.

2004 y después. En las elecciones generales de 2004, Gandhi lanzó una campaña nacional centrada en el eslógan aam aadmi (hombre común), que contrastaba con la “India brillante” propugnada por la alianza del BJP en el poder. Contrarrestó el eslogan de sus rivales diciendo “¿Para quién brilla la India?”. En las elecciones, ganó por un amplio margen en Rae Bareilly. Su victoria hizo prever que se convertiría en primera ministra. El 16 de mayo fue elegida por unanimidad para liderar una coalición gubernamental de 15 partidos con apoyo de los comunistas, que fue denominada la Alianza Progresiva Unida.

Tras el resultado electoral, el derrotado BJP protestó de nuevo por su “origen extranjero” y la líder Sushma Swaraj amenazó con afeitarse y “dormir en el suelo”, entre otras cosas, si Gandhi se convertía en primera ministra. La oposición también aseguró que había razones legales que le impedían ser primera ministra e incluso formar parte del Parlamento. Apuntaban, en particular, al apartado 5 de la Ley de Ciudadanía de 1955, que según ellos implicaba reciprocidad. Los casos fueron desestimados por el Tribunal Supremo.

Pocos días después de las elecciones, Sonia Gandhi renunció al liderazgo del grupo parlamentario de la Cámara Baja y rechazó así la posibilidad de ser primera ministra. Sus seguidores y algunos medios indios compararon esto con la vieja tradición india de la renuncia, mientras que sus oponentes lo calificaron como una treta. Si hubiera aceptado el puesto, habría sido la primera vez que un católico romano ocupaba el cargo.

También hubo informaciones sugiriendo que si Sonia Gandhi ocupaba el puesto de primera ministra, en caso de guerra o excepción el general del Ejército podía usar su derecho de rechazar sus órdenes, por no ser una persona de origen indio. Sin embargo, según la sección 7 de la Ley Parlamentaria india de 1953, más tarde quedó claro que esas informaciones eran falsas. El origen indio no habría causado diferencias en el desempeño de sus poderes bajo la Constitución india.

Durante su presidencia, el Partido del Congreso tuvo un balance mixto de derrotas y victorias en las distintas elecciones regionales.

Presidenta de la Alianza Progresiva Unida. El 18 de mayo, Gandhi recomendó a Manmohan Singh como candidato para el puesto de primer ministro. El 23 de marzo de 2006, Gandhi anunció su dimisión como diputada y como presidenta del consejo nacional por incompatibilidad de cargos. Pero fue reelegida en su distrito de Rae Bareilly en mayo de 2006 por un margen de más de 400.000 votos.

Gandhi es una de las impulsoras de un plan de empleo rural y de la ley de derecho a la Información. En octubre de 2007 intervino ante Naciones Unidas en el aniversario del nacimiento del Mahatma Gandhi, que es seguido como el Día de la No violencia.

Críticas. El hecho de no ser india ha levantado varias polvaredas. Aunque Sonia Gandhi es de hecho la quinta persona nacida en el extranjero que lidera el Partido del Congreso, es la primera que lo hace tras la independencia del país, obtenida en el año 1947.

A comienzos de su etapa en el poder, también hubo críticas procedentes del Partido del Congreso. En mayo de 1999, tres líderes del partido (Sharad Pawar, Purno A. Sangra y Tariq Anwar) se opusieron a su derecho a intentar se primera ministra por su origen extranjero. En respuesta, ofreció renunciar al liderazgo del partido, lo que causó una ola de apoyo y la expulsión de los rebeldes, que formaron el Partido del Congreso Nacionalista.

Organizaciones fundamentalistas hindúes han alegado recientemente que Gandhi tiene relación con la organización integrista católica Opus Dei y los servicios secretos rusos. La reivindicación carece de evidencia y no se considera suficientemente creíble como para ser publicada por los medios. Las acusaciones parecen ser una reacción de las organizaciones hindúes ante la posibilidad de que ellas mismas planearan los atentados con bomba de Malegaon.

Vida personal. Su hijo Rahul fue elegido al Parlamento por el distrito de Amethi en el año 2004. Priyanka no se ha presentado, pero ha trabajado como gestora de campaña del partido. Ha habido especulaciones considerables sobre su futuro en el partido. Sonia y sus hijos tienen malas relaciones con Maneka Gandhi, la viuda del hermano de Rajiv, y de su hijo Varun, ambos miembros del opositor BJP.

Gobierno indio anuncia plan de choque para relanzar la economía

Nueva Delhi, 7 dic 2008.- En alerta por los cada vez más evidentes efectos de la crisis internacional sobre su economía, el Gobierno indio presentó hoy un paquete de medidas que recoge una inversión extra de 4.000 millones de dólares en los próximos meses.
Según el plan, el gasto total será de 60.000 millones de dólares en el resto del año fiscal, con énfasis en áreas como la exportación, la propiedad inmobiliaria, las infraestructuras y el sector textil, que tendrán medidas especiales.
Además, el Gobierno anunció un recorte “inmediato” del 4 por ciento -salvo en productos petrolíferos- en el impuesto del valor añadido (VAT) para ayudar al sector corporativo, según un comunicado de la oficina del primer ministro, Manmohan Singh.
“El Gobierno estaba preocupado por el impacto de la crisis financiera global sobre la crisis financiera en la economía india y ha tomados varias medidas”, señala el comunicado de presentación del paquete de estímulo.
El anuncio ha llegado sólo un día después de que el Banco Central de la India redujera dos tipos de interés con el fin de inyectar masa monetaria e incitar a los bancos comerciales a prestar más dinero a las empresas.
Las medidas han sido decididas por el propio primer ministro -y reputado economista- Manmohan Singh, en consultas con los principales responsables económicos del país, afirmó una fuente oficial a la agencia india IANS.
La coalición gubernamental pedirá permiso al Parlamento para gastar 4.000 millones de dólares adicionales en la cantidad prevista para los próximos cuatro meses, lo que supondrá un gasto de 60.000 millones de dólares.
“La economía seguirá necesitando estímulos en el período 2009-2010 y esto puede asegurarse con un incremento sustancial en el gasto planificado para los presupuestos del próximo año”, agrega el comunicado.
Las medidas para relanzar las exportaciones incluyen un subsidio del 2 por ciento en sectores de empleo intensivo, como el textil o la artesanía, y paquetes de ayuda con distintos programas de incentivos, créditos de exportación y devoluciones impositivas.
En el apartado de la propiedad, el Gobierno ha pedido a los bancos públicos que ofrezcan incentivos de crédito para la adquisición de viviendas, con la posibilidad de aprobar medidas adicionales.
“La vivienda es una muy importante fuente potencial de empleo y demanda para sectores claves, y hay una gran necesidad de inmuebles especialmente para los colectivos de ingresos medios y bajos”, indica el comunicado.
Las pequeñas y medianas empresas podrán solicitar préstamos de hasta 200.000 dólares -el doble que hasta ahora- en el Plan gubernamental de Garantía de Crédito, para satisfacer sus necesidades financieras.
En materia de infraestructuras, el Ejecutivo ha autorizado a la compañía gubernamental del ramo (IIFCL) a emitir bonos por un valor de 2.000 millones de dólares para apoyar la financiación de proyectos públicos en el sector.
“Los fondos serán usados por IIFCL para refinanciar préstamos bancarios a largo plazo para proyectos de infraestructuras, sobre todo en carreteras e instalaciones portuarias”, según la nota.
El plan del Gobierno también busca ayudar al sector automotriz, al permitir que los departamentos gubernamentales pueden reemplazar sus vehículos, eso sí, respetando el presupuesto asignado, pero con una mayor relajación en los plazos.
“El Gobierno -añade el comunicado- vigila la situación económica y no dudará en tomar medidas adicionales para controlar las tendencias de recesión y mantener la senda de la actividad económica”.
La India ha crecido en los últimos años por encima del 9 por ciento, aunque la crisis económica global ha hecho mella en sus expectativas para el presente año fiscal, hasta el punto de que las autoridades han fijado previsiones que rondan el 7 por ciento.
“El camino de la economía india es incierto”, dijo este sábado el gobernador del Banco Central, G. Subbarao, quien alertó de que la economía sufrirá un “doloroso ajuste”.
La desaceleración económica será uno de los exámenes que deberá superar frente a la ciudadanía el presente Gobierno, encabezado por el Partido del Congreso, que afronta ya los últimos coletazos de la legislatura y convocará elecciones legislativas en el año entrante.

Sonia Gandhi aboga por proteger a los pobres de efectos de crisis financiera

Nueva Delhi, 21 nov (EFE).- La líder del gubernamental Partido del Congreso indio, Sonia Gandhi, abogó hoy en Nueva Delhi por proteger a los cientos de millones de pobres de la India de los efectos de la crisis financiera internacional.
“Los pobres no tienen nada que ver con la arrogancia de los ricos. Sus vidas pasan al filo de la navaja, intentando llegar a sus objetivos cada día de trabajo duro”, aseguró Gandhi ante una selecta audiencia en un hotel de lujo capitalino.
La dirigente participó en la Cumbre de Liderazgo organizada cada año por el diario indio “Hindustan Times”, que reunió a decenas de representantes de la élite empresarial, diplomáticos, altos funcionarios y políticos.
“No hay necesidad de reaccionar en demasía y menos aún con pánico -dijo Gandhi sobre la crisis-. No hay necesidad de que la India vuelva a su era de controles. Pero al mismo tiempo no podemos dejar que las cosas se vayan fuera de control”.
Gandhi tenía previsto someterse a una sesión de preguntas y respuestas, pero citó una agenda apretada y problemas en la voz como excusas para leer un discurso que su introductor, Vir Sanghvi, calificó como “un avance del manifiesto del Partido”.
Nacida italiana, la líder del Partido del Congreso adquirió la nacionalidad india tras su matrimonio con el asesinado ex primer ministro Rajiv Gandhi, y luego se encaramó a la cúspide de la formación cuando esta atravesaba una grave crisis.
Aunque su partido fue el más votado en el año 2004, distintos sectores del país iniciaron una intensa campaña para evitar que una “extranjera” llegara al poder, por lo que Gandhi dio un paso atrás y propuso el nombre del hoy primer ministro, Manmohan Singh.
Su influencia, sin embargo, no ha mermado: hoy, los empresarios escucharon sin pestañear cómo Gandhi achacaba la crisis a unos pocos banqueros y hombres de negocios de “avaricia sin control” que podrían causar “la miseria de la mayoría”.
“Ellos no tienen nada que ver con los instrumentos financieros de nombre sofisticado que han atrapado a tantos y que muy pocos comprenden totalmente”, aseveró.
Como solución para este período, Gandhi invocó una “colaboración efectiva” entre el sector público y el privado, los ricos y los pobres, la industria y la agricultura o las instituciones estatales y las compañías privadas.
Y en defensa de sus logros, citó los planes sociales promovidos por el Gobierno de Singh, como el Plan de Empleo Rural, los menús gratuitos en la escuela o el seguro de salud para los trabajadores.
Gandhi había tomado el testigo del propio Manmohan Singh, quien poco antes había inaugurado las jornadas y había mostrado su confianza en que la India superará la crisis económica mundial con un crecimiento sostenido en torno al 8 por ciento.
“La economía mundial navega por aguas turbulentas. Sin embargo, podemos superar esta crisis y emerger más fuertes si tenemos la imaginación y el sentido de unidad para trabajar juntos”, mantuvo el primer ministro.
Pero el “sueño” de Singh para el siglo entrante es, según dijo, “una India enteramente educada”, libre de la pobreza, la ignorancia y las enfermedades, y también de prejuicios, intolerancia y hambre.
Las Cumbre del Liderazgo es un cónclave anual que da cita a varios de los máximos líderes del país ya algunos importantes invitados del extranjero, como es el caso este año del ex primer ministro británico Tony Blair, o el presidente de Pakistán, Asif Alí Zardari.
Las intervenciones de Gandhi y Singh de este año han coincidido con la celebración de varios comicios regionales en la India, que sirven como preámbulo de las elecciones generales previstas para el año que viene.

Sri Lanka celebra 60 años de independencia con guerra abierta en el norte

Nueva Delhi, 4 feb 2008.- Sri Lanka celebró hoy con desfiles, discursos y estrictas medidas de seguridad sus 60 años de independencia, marcados por las operaciones militares de las tropas gubernamentales en el norte del país contra la guerrilla tamil.
Ante la perspectiva de posibles atentados terroristas, las autoridades cortaron las principales arterias viarias de Colombo y las operadoras de móviles anunciaron la suspensión de los servicios de mensajería durante seis horas.
“Hemos incrementado las medidas de seguridad para beneficio de los ciudadanos de este país”, dijo a Efe una fuente del Ministerio ceilanés de Defensa.
El presidente de Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa, acudió al paseo marítimo capitalino de Galle Face Green, donde asistió a un desfile militar y escuchó en pie las notas del himno nacional en un acto boicoteado por los principales partidos de la oposición.
“Hay ante nosotros dos desafíos principales -dijo el presidente en su mensaje a la nación-. Uno es el desafío de erradicar el terrorismo y el otro es el desafío de erradicar la pobreza. Respecto al primero, es un motivo de satisfacción que la Provincia del Este haya sido liberada”.
El Ejército terminó 2007 con la moral en alza tras una ofensiva exitosa que confinó a la guerrilla del LTTE (Tigres para la Liberación de la Patria Tamil) en sus bastiones del norte del país.
El LTTE tiene un dudoso historial en materia de derechos humanos y es considerado una organización terrorista por 32 países, pero a la vez gestiona un pequeño Estado de facto en su territorio, con un aparato judicial independiente, servicios sanitarios y de policía, y una autoridad aduanera.
La guerrilla lucha desde hace más de dos décadas por un Estado independiente en el este y norte del país, donde los tamiles son mayoría, y resiste por el momento a los ataques del Ejército en las líneas de búnkeres que conforman el frente de batalla.
Aunque ya sólo existía sobre el papel, el alto el fuego suscrito en el año 2002 por ambos bandos quedó anulado el 16 de enero por el Gobierno, con vistas a iniciar una nueva ofensiva en el norte con, según dijo hoy Rajapaksa, “buenas expectativas de éxito”.
Desde entonces, el Ejército informa diariamente de la muerte de decenas de combatientes rebeldes, aunque no existe una comprobación independiente porque los reporteros no tienen acceso al frente de batalla.
“Nuestro objetivo por el momento no es conquistar nuevos territorios, sino debilitar al enemigo lo máximo posible, destruyendo búnkers y matando rebeldes. Pero estaremos en el lugar oportuno en el momento oportuno”, dijo a Efe el portavoz del Ejército, Udaya Nanayakkara, contactado telefónicamente.
Pese a que las tropas anunciaron a comienzos de enero un avance en el distrito norteño de Mannar, Nanayakkara reconoció que todas las líneas del frente se mantienen estables, y no quiso hacer declaraciones respecto a una ofensiva inminente.
El LTTE ha respondido al recrudecimiento de los combates con un incremento de los ataques terroristas, como el que este domingo acabó con la vida de once civiles y causó heridas a 92, obra de una mujer suicida que hizo estallar la carga explosiva que portaba en una estación de trenes de Colombo.
Y hoy la ciudad sufrió la explosión de un otro artefacto junto a un transformador eléctrico, sin que se produjeran víctimas.
Con unos índices de educación y salud que son la envidia del subcontinente, la isla del Índico es sin embargo víctima de un conflicto que enfrenta desde hace décadas a tamiles y cingaleses y que ha dejado ya más de 65.000 muertos.
Hoy, el presidente Rajapaksa aseguró que esos problemas serán sólo “transitorios”, que las dificultades a corto plazo servirán para traer un futuro más brillante y que Sri Lanka tiene la confianza de la comunidad internacional.
Sin embargo, aunque el Gobierno recogió en un comunicado que había “celebraciones jubilosas a lo largo del país”, la situación en la capital de hecho de los rebeldes, Kilinochchi, puso bien de manifiesto la existencia de dos Sri Lankas.
“Aquí todo está hoy normal. La gente ha ido a trabajar como cualquier otro día. No hay ninguna celebración especial. Esto es tierra tamil”, dijo a Efe un responsable de una ONG local que pidió el anonimato.

Next Page »