Category: Trade

MIL-OSI China: CIIE attracts record-breaking participating countries, exhibitors

Source: China State Council Information Office

This photo shows the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China’s Shanghai, Nov. 4, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

On Tuesday morning, the Chinese commercial hub of Shanghai will once again assume its role as the host for the newest edition of the globe’s first national-level exposition dedicated to imports.

Now, the China International Import Expo (CIIE) stands as a telling example of China’s steadfast opening up and an unmissable opportunity for foreign enterprises to tap into the Chinese market.

Despite challenges and uncertainties in the global economic landscape, over the past seven years, CIIE has steadily grown.

The first six editions of CIIE have generated a total intended transaction amount exceeding 420 billion U.S. dollars. Additionally, over 1,130 foreign enterprises and investment promotion organizations have conducted targeted connections across the country.

This year, the business exhibition will be held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), covering more than 360,000 square meters — equivalent to 50 standard soccer fields — and hosting 3,496 exhibitors from 129 countries and regions.

Both the number of participating countries and exhibitors have surpassed previous records.

Notably, 297 exhibitors from Fortune Global 500 companies and industry leaders will attend, marking a historic high. Among all participants, 186 enterprises and institutions have achieved full attendance across all seven editions of the expo.

Besides, this year’s event is also commanding the attention of global journalism. More than 400 media outlets are participating in the coverage of this event, including 220 foreign media organizations.

China’s vast market has become one of the most attractive destinations for global players, with the CIIE serving as the “golden gateway” to this opportunity.

For the CIIE frequenter of Japanese cosmetics giant Shiseido, the event serves as a second-to-none magnet.

“Over the past years of participating in CIIE, we have seen firsthand just how influential the expo can be for our business,” said Toshinobu Umetsu, president and CEO of Shiseido China.

According to the company, visitors will be able to see over 30 new product debuts from 12 different brands in their portfolio.

Umetsu described the expo as a boon for their growth in China’s thriving market, noting that many new skincare technologies, brands, and products have gained substantial attention and recognition from consumers after being featured at CIIE.

“CIIE successfully transformed our ‘exhibits’ to ‘products,’” Umetsu added.

Seizing the opportunity, new participants are eager to try their luck. Among the trendsetters is Canadian sportswear magnate Lululemon.

“A digital innovation here is leading the world, quite frankly, in terms of adoption and opportunities,” said Calvin McDonald, CEO of Lululemon during an interview with Xinhua.

Impressed by the market’s speed, agility and resilience, McDonald said the opportunity to move fast and accomplish big initiatives in the market is incredibly exciting, seeing CIIE as a precious opportunity to bring awareness to the brand.

“In the dynamic and healthy market, we are learning not just how we drive and see success here,” he said, adding that what Lululemon learned from the Chinese mainland consumers and innovation can help their business in other markets as well.

After years of development, the CIIE has become a symbol of China’s new development pattern, a platform for high-level opening-up, and an international public good shared by the world.

At its third plenum, the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China renewed the country’s commitment to the basic state policy of opening to the outside world and continuing to promote reform through opening up.

Serving as another fine example, China removed all market access restrictions for foreign investors in the manufacturing sector on Nov. 1, a landmark move made by the world’s second-largest economy as it opens its doors wider.

“Reflecting on the past six editions of the CIIE, ‘high-level opening up’ has been a consistent theme. The expo has continually showcased an image of an ‘open China’ that shares opportunities and future with the world,” said Wu Zhengping, deputy director general of the CIIE Bureau.

MIL OSI China News –

January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI China: China appeals to WTO over EU’s final ruling of countervailing measures on Chinese EVs

Source: China State Council Information Office

China on Monday appealed to the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the EU’s final ruling of countervailing measures on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), according to China’s commerce ministry.

China firmly opposes the final measures of the EU to impose high countervailing duties on Chinese-made EVs, despite a barrage of objections raised by relevant parties, including the governments of EU member states, the industry and the public, said a ministry spokesperson.

To safeguard the development interests of the EV industry and global cooperation on green transformation, China decided to make the appeal to the WTO dispute settlement mechanism, the spokesperson said.

The complaint followed China’s previous appeal to the organization against the EU’s initial anti-subsidy measures for Chinese EVs, according to the ministry.

China believes that the EU’s ruling, lacking factual and legal basis while violating WTO rules, is an abuse of trade remedy measures and a practice of trade protectionism in the name of countervailing, the spokesperson noted.

China has urged the EU to face up to its own mistakes, immediately correct its illegal practices, and jointly safeguard the stability of the global EV industrial chain and supply chain as well as the overall China-EU economic and trade cooperation, the spokesperson said.

MIL OSI China News –

January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: NSW businesses set to shine at world-leading expo in China

Source: New South Wales Government 2

Headline: NSW businesses set to shine at world-leading expo in China

Published: 5 November 2024

Released by: Minister for Industry and Trade

The NSW Government is supporting 29 businesses across the food, drink, and health supplement sectors to exhibit their products at this week’s China International Import Expo (CIIE) – China’s premier import-focused six-day trade show.

Attracting dignitaries and exhibitors from more than 150 countries, the CIIE gives NSW businesses direct access to buyers, distributors, and prospective customers from across China.

Our largest two-way trading partner for nearly two decades, China buys and consumes more agricultural produce from NSW than any other country, which was valued at $3.6 billion in 2023/2024. NSW’s wine exports are also continuing to ramp up following the removal of import tariffs earlier this year.

Considerable opportunities remain to grow exports even further, particularly in the food and beverage sector, where NSW is well recognised for its premium produce.

At last year’s CIIE, the NSW Government helped businesses achieve $40 million worth of export deals and the Government will once again facilitate opportunities for businesses to grow and expand.

Mrs Toddy’s Tonics from Sydney’s Northern Beaches is one of the NSW businesses to exhibit at this year’s CIIE, showcasing a range of plant-based drinks that are already available at supermarkets across Australia.

Other NSW businesses showcasing their products include Pablo & Rusty’s Coffee Roasters, Australian Vintage Wines, Balance Water, and Noumi.

The CIIE will be held in Shanghai from 5-10 November 2024.

For more information about the event and the full list of NSW businesses that’ll be exhibiting visit: https://www.investment.nsw.gov.au/news-and-events/events/china-international-import-expo-2024-shanghai/

Minister for Industry and Trade Anoulack Chanthivong said:

“The China International Import Expo is a leading event on the global trade calendar and offers unparalleled opportunities for NSW exporters to connect with buyers and distributors in China.

“We are excited to once again showcase the best from across NSW at this prestigious import-focused event, including meat from the Riverina, wine from the Hunter Valley, spirits from Wollongong, and health supplements made in Sydney.

“China has a strong appetite for produce made in NSW, which is globally recognised for its high quality and safety standards, with demand only set to grow.”

Mrs Toddy’s Tonics Co-Founder Sophie Todd said:

“We’re thrilled at the opportunity to introduce a proudly Australian, female-led brand to China, and look forward to showcasing the Mrs Toddy’s Tonic range on the international stage.

“We know that Chinese consumers are becoming more health conscious and are turning to products with natural ingredients, so there’s enormous potential for a business like ours to establish a presence in this lucrative market.”

MIL OSI News –

January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI China: 7th China International Import Expo opens in Shanghai

Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

SHANGHAI, Nov. 5 — The newest edition of the China International Import Expo (CIIE), the world’s first national-level exposition dedicated to imports, opened on Tuesday in Shanghai.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 7th CIIE and the Hongqiao International Economic Forum.

Running from Nov. 5 to 10, the 7th CIIE has attracted 3,496 exhibitors from 129 countries and regions. It also sets a new record with 297 Fortune Global 500 companies and industry leaders attending the event.

More than 400 new products, new technologies and new services are set to be unveiled during the expo, which experts believe is a strong indication of global companies’ confidence in the Chinese market and their commitment to further development in China despite a sluggish global economic recovery.

MIL OSI China News –

January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: ASEAN-Australia Centre inaugural Advisory Board appointments
Source: Australian Government – Minister of Foreign Affairs

Today, I am pleased to announce the inaugural Advisory Board of the ASEAN-Australia Centre.

The establishment of the ASEAN-Australia Centre was announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit and commenced operations earlier this year.

The Centre replaces the Australia-ASEAN Council and will strengthen people-to-people links, increase ties with national cultural institutions, support emerging leaders, drive business engagement, and deepen Australia’s trade and investment links under Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040.

The following individuals have been appointed to the Advisory Board of the ASEAN-Australia Centre:
- Ms Louise Adams, Chief Operating Officer, Aurecon
- Professor Nicholas Farrelly, Pro Vice-Chancellor, University of Tasmania
- Professor Sango Mahanty, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australia National University
- Ms Audra Morrice, chef, author, television presenter and sustainability tourism champion in Southeast Asia and the Pacific
- Mr Tarun Nagesh, Curatorial Manager, Asian and Pacific Art, Queensland Art Gallery, Gallery of Modern Art
- Ms Su-Lin Ong, Managing Director and Chief Economist, RBC Capital Markets
- Professor Sharon Pickering, Vice-Chancellor and President, Monash University
- Ms Kate Russell, Chief Executive Officer, Supply Nation
- Ms Hayley Winchcombe, Engagement Manager, Mandala
- Mr John Hopkins, (ex officio) Managing Director and CEO, Export Finance Australia
- Ms Michelle Chan, (ex officio) Deputy Secretary and Head of the Office of Southeast Asia, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
The Chair of the Advisory Board will be announced early next year.

I would like to thank outgoing Chair Mr Glenn Keys AO and board member Ms Caroline Chan for their contributions in advancing the Australia-ASEAN Council’s work.

MIL OSI News –
January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Global firms capitalize on China’s smart, green transformation

Source: China State Council Information Office

Jinbao, the mascot of the China International Import Expo (CIIE), and Xiaoxin, a humanoid robot providing inquiry service, are pictured at the media center of the 7th CIIE in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 4, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

Global investors are eyeing fresh opportunities in China as the world’s second-largest economy accelerates its intelligent, green transformation.

With the seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE) set to open on Tuesday, multiple industry leaders from across the world are gearing up to showcase their latest innovations and technologies, aiming to tap into China’s vast market potential.

Tapping smarter manufacturing

Aptiv, a multinational developing automobile parts, made its debut at the seventh CIIE, exhibiting software and hardware products featuring intelligence and electrification.

“The CIIE provides an excellent platform for enterprises from all over the world to exchange ideas and cooperate,” said Simon Yang, president of Aptiv for China and the Asia Pacific region. He noted that Aptiv hopes to make full use of the CIIE to showcase its innovative solutions.

The company is committed to its long-term development strategy of “In China for China,” and will continue to increase its investment in the Chinese market while expanding business cooperation with Chinese original equipment manufacturers.

Aptiv is one of a number of multinationals gathering in Shanghai to test the pulse of China’s smart manufacturing market, which plays an important part in the country’s pursuit of high-quality development.

Swedish technology company Hexagon has brought its new solutions to help traditional manufacturers become more digital-savvy to this year’s CIIE, including cloud platforms for industrial software and smart quality-testing systems.

“The company is ready to ride the wave of the country’s pursuit of new quality productive forces, which are high-tech, highly efficient and of a high quality,” said Qin Lei, marketing business partner at Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence (Qingdao) Co., Ltd.

Merck Group, Germany’s leading tech company, is showcasing its innovative achievements in the new materials section of the CIIE, which is new to the annual event.

China’s great market potential, improving business environment and rich talent pool have reinforced Merck’s confidence in its long-term investment in the country, said Marc Horn, executive vice president of Merck and president of Merck China.

Embracing a greener future

Entering its seventh year, the CIIE has retained its “New Era, Shared Future” theme, which holds special meaning for Christian Bruch, president and CEO of Siemens Energy AG.

“I strongly agree with the theme, as it envisions a sustainable and more decarbonized future that requires collaborative efforts from governments, enterprises, customers, partners and the entire supply chains,” Bruch said.

In his view, China’s dedication to building a modern energy system creates “extensive market opportunities” for global energy technology companies, including Siemens Energy.

“Together with Chinese customers and partners, we have developed many energy infrastructure projects, continuously invested and expanded our manufacturing capacity in China, in order to meet the growing market demand in China and across the world,” he said.

Pledging to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, China has been steadfast in accelerating its energy transition. Over the past decade, the share of clean energy in the country’s total energy use has increased 10.9 percentage points, according to the National Energy Administration.

Dedicated to promoting clean energy in China, Siemens Energy has established 15 manufacturing facilities across the country. It has become an important partner in the country’s energy transition, Bruch said.

At this year’s CIIE, the company is poised to showcase its cutting-edge decarbonization technologies for the energy sector. Many of its exhibits will be presented for the first time in Asia or China.

“During the expo, I look forward to meeting and exchanging ideas with partners, building consensus and fostering collaborative development,” Bruch said. “Tackling climate change and driving energy transition is a daunting task that no single country or region can accomplish alone.”

Bruch’s emphasis on collaboration aligns with China’s increasing global contributions. According to a white paper issued by China’s State Council Information Office in August this year, the country’s wind power and photovoltaic exports helped other countries reduce their carbon dioxide emissions by about 810 million tonnes in 2023.

Recognizing China’s role in the global energy transition, Bruch highlighted Siemens Energy’s confidence in deepening cooperation with its Chinese partners. “We are fully committed to working together to build a new energy ecosystem that supports China’s dual-carbon goals and fosters sustainable energy development worldwide.”

MIL OSI China News –

January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Foxconn’s planned business headquarters a vote of confidence in mainland market

Source: China State Council Information Office

Foxconn, the world’s leading electronics manufacturer, is set to build a new business headquarters in Zhengzhou, central China, in a move the Taiwan company described as “a crucial step” in expanding its presence on the mainland market.

Analysts say the decision highlights Foxconn’s commitment to investing in the mainland, despite rising global trade protectionism and “decoupling” and “de-risking” rhetoric ratcheted up by certain Western politicians.

The tech giant recently won a bid for a 2.84-hectare plot at 150 million yuan (about 21.07 million U.S. dollars) in the Zhengdong new district in Zhengzhou, capital of Henan Province, where it plans to build a headquarters focusing on key technology sectors, according to the Zhengzhou Public Resources Trading Center in a recent statement.

This initiative aligns with Foxconn’s “3+3” strategy targeting electric vehicles, digital health and robotics, along with advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors and next-generation communication, the company said.

Foxconn’s planned headquarters will feature a construction area of approximately 70,000 square meters in its first phase, with an investment of 1 billion yuan. The company has not yet provided a groundbreaking date.

In a speech at the unveiling ceremony for the new business headquarters in April 2023, Chairman Young Liu emphasized that the headquarters will mark the beginning of a new journey for Foxconn’s strategic industry development on the mainland, and the company’s new businesses are both a response to global market trends and an embrace of the latest wave in technological advancement.

Henan’s favorable infrastructure and business environment, as well as the collaborative relationship between Foxconn and the local governments, were pivotal factors in the decision to locate the headquarters there, Liu noted.

Between February and April 2023, Liu visited Henan three times, pledging to “build a new Foxconn” in the province. In July this year, the company signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Henan provincial government to accelerate projects related to new business ventures.

Per the deal, Foxconn plans to leverage its expertise in smart manufacturing, along with its global technological capabilities and supply chain resources, to advance projects in the new energy vehicle, energy storage battery, digital healthcare and robotics industries.

Construction of a trial manufacturing center for new energy vehicles has started at Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone, with operations expected to commence by the end of the year.

Foxconn’s increased investment in Henan and its focus on future industries represent a win-win approach, said He Liang, an official with Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone.

“We will continue to provide quality service and foster a first-rate business environment that is market-oriented, law-based and internationalized,” He added.

Henan and Foxconn share a deep bond.

Foxconn, the principal assembler of Apple iPhones, established operations in the inland province in 2010. By the end of 2023, its Zhengzhou factory spanned around 2.8 million square meters and had recorded 12 consecutive years of growth in industrial output. Over the years, Foxconn has further expanded its footprint across Henan, setting up facilities in cities such as Jiyuan, Hebi and Zhoukou.

The cooperation has also transformed Henan’s economy, turning the province into a global hub for intelligent terminal manufacturing. From 2016 to 2020 alone, the Zhengzhou factory attracted over 200 related supply chain enterprises to the Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone, with total investments exceeding 300 billion yuan, according to the zone administration.

Analysts view Foxconn’s moves as part of a broader bet on emerging industries, such as new energy vehicles, solid-state batteries, robotics, AI and semiconductors — sectors that are likely to shape the future of global manufacturing.

Song Xiangqing, deputy head of the Commerce Economy Association of China, noted that the company’s increased investment in Henan underscores the opportunities created by the digital economy and technological progress on the mainland, as well as the resilience of its industrial chain and its shift toward high-quality manufacturing.

The world’s second-largest economy has been steadfastly expanding its institutional opening-up in recent decades, rolling out various policies aimed at achieving high-quality development and offering the rest of the world new growth momentum and opportunities.

At its third plenum, the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China renewed the country’s commitment to the basic state policy of opening to the outside world and continuing to promote reform through opening-up.

The commitment to an open economy, paired with its massive domestic market, presents significant opportunities for companies that are aiming to scale up operations in China despite global headwinds.

In May, U.S. carmaker Tesla began construction on a mega factory in Shanghai to manufacture its energy-storage batteries. In his recent visit to China, Apple CEO Tim Cook also reaffirmed the company’s investment commitment in the country.

MIL OSI China News –

January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI: Progress on share buyback programme
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Progress on share buyback programme

ING announced today that, as part of our €2.0 billion share buyback programme announced on 31 October 2024, in total 4,016,274 shares were repurchased during the week of 31 October 2024 up to and including 1 November 2024.

In line with the purpose of the programme to reduce the share capital of ING, the ordinary shares were repurchased at an average price of €15.64 for a total consideration of €62,798,086.93. To date approximately 3.14% of the maximum total value of the share buyback programme has been completed.

For detailed information on the daily repurchased shares, individual share purchase transactions and weekly reports, see the ING website at www.ing.com/investorrelations.

Note for editors

For more on ING, please visit www.ing.com. Frequent news updates can be found in the Newsroom or via X @ING_news feed. Photos of ING operations, buildings and its executives are available for download at Flickr.

ING PROFILE
ING is a global financial institution with a strong European base, offering banking services through its operating company ING Bank. The purpose of ING Bank is: empowering people to stay a step ahead in life and in business. ING Bank’s more than 60,000 employees offer retail and wholesale banking services to customers in over 40 countries.

ING Group shares are listed on the exchanges of Amsterdam (INGA NA, INGA.AS), Brussels and on the New York Stock Exchange (ADRs: ING US, ING.N).

ING aims to put sustainability at the heart of what we do. Our policies and actions are assessed by independent research and ratings providers, which give updates on them annually. ING’s ESG rating by MSCI was reconfirmed by MSCI as ‘AA’ in August 2024 for the fifth year. As of December 2023, in Sustainalytics’ view, ING’s management of ESG material risk is ‘Strong’. Our current ESG Risk Rating, is 17.2 (Low Risk). ING Group shares are also included in major sustainability and ESG index products of leading providers. Here are some examples: Euronext, STOXX, Morningstar and FTSE Russell.

Important legal information

Elements of this press release contain or may contain information about ING Groep N.V. and/ or ING Bank N.V. within the meaning of Article 7(1) to (4) of EU Regulation No 596/2014 (‘Market Abuse Regulation’).

ING Group’s annual accounts are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union (‘IFRS- EU’). In preparing the financial information in this document, except as described otherwise, the same accounting principles are applied as in the 2023 ING Group consolidated annual accounts. All figures in this document are unaudited. Small differences are possible in the tables due to rounding.

Certain of the statements contained herein are not historical facts, including, without limitation, certain statements made of future expectations and other forward-looking statements that are based on management’s current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to diﬀer materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Actual results, performance or events may diﬀer materially from those in such statements due to a number of factors, including, without limitation: (1) changes in general economic conditions and customer behaviour, in particular economic conditions in ING’s core markets, including changes affecting currency exchange rates and the regional and global economic impact of the invasion of Russia into Ukraine and related international response measures (2) changes affecting interest rate levels (3) any default of a major market participant and related market disruption (4) changes in performance of financial markets, including in Europe and developing markets (5) fiscal uncertainty in Europe and the United States (6) discontinuation of or changes in ‘benchmark’ indices (7) inflation and deflation in our principal markets (8) changes in conditions in the credit and capital markets generally, including changes in borrower and counterparty creditworthiness (9) failures of banks falling under the scope of state compensation schemes (10) non-compliance with or changes in laws and regulations, including those concerning financial services, financial economic crimes and tax laws, and the interpretation and application thereof (11) geopolitical risks, political instabilities and policies and actions of governmental and regulatory authorities, including in connection with the invasion of Russia into Ukraine and the related international response measures (12) legal and regulatory risks in certain countries with less developed legal and regulatory frameworks (13) prudential supervision and regulations, including in relation to stress tests and regulatory restrictions on dividends and distributions (also among members of the group) (14) ING’s ability to meet minimum capital and other prudential regulatory requirements (15) changes in regulation of US commodities and derivatives businesses of ING and its customers (16) application of bank recovery and resolution regimes, including write down and conversion powers in relation to our securities (17) outcome of current and future litigation, enforcement proceedings, investigations or other regulatory actions, including claims by customers or stakeholders who feel misled or treated unfairly, and other conduct issues (18) changes in tax laws and regulations and risks of non-compliance or investigation in connection with tax laws, including FATCA (19) operational and IT risks, such as system disruptions or failures, breaches of security, cyber-attacks, human error, changes in operational practices or inadequate controls including in respect of third parties with which we do business and including any risks as a result of incomplete, inaccurate, or otherwise flawed outputs from the algorithms and data sets utilized in artificial intelligence (20) risks and challenges related to cybercrime including the eﬀects of cyberattacks and changes in legislation and regulation related to cybersecurity and data privacy, including such risks and challenges as a consequence of the use of emerging technologies, such as advanced forms of artificial intelligence and quantum computing (21) changes in general competitive factors, including ability to increase or maintain market share (22) inability to protect our intellectual property and infringement claims by third parties (23) inability of counterparties to meet financial obligations or ability to enforce rights against such counterparties (24) changes in credit ratings (25) business, operational, regulatory, reputation, transition and other risks and challenges in connection with climate change and ESG-related matters, including data gathering and reporting (26) inability to attract and retain key personnel (27) future liabilities under defined benefit retirement plans (28) failure to manage business risks, including in connection with use of models, use of derivatives, or maintaining appropriate policies and guidelines (29) changes in capital and credit markets, including interbank funding, as well as customer deposits, which provide the liquidity and capital required to fund our operations, and (30) the other risks and uncertainties detailed in the most recent annual report of ING Groep N.V. (including the Risk Factors contained therein) and ING’s more recent disclosures, including press releases, which are available on www.ING.com.

This document may contain ESG-related material that has been prepared by ING on the basis of publicly available information, internally developed data and other third-party sources believed to be reliable. ING has not sought to independently verify information obtained from public and third-party sources and makes no representations or warranties as to accuracy, completeness, reasonableness or reliability of such information.

Materiality, as used in the context of ESG, is distinct from, and should not be confused with, such term as defined in the Market Abuse Regulation or as defined for Securities and Exchange Commission (‘SEC’) reporting purposes. Any issues identified as material for purposes of ESG in this document are therefore not necessarily material as defined in the Market Abuse Regulation or for SEC reporting purposes. In addition, there is currently no single, globally recognized set of accepted definitions in assessing whether activities are “green” or “sustainable.” Without limiting any of the statements contained herein, we make no representation or warranty as to whether any of our securities constitutes a green or sustainable security or conforms to present or future investor expectations or objectives for green or sustainable investing. For information on characteristics of a security, use of proceeds, a description of applicable project(s) and/or any other relevant information, please reference the offering documents for such security.

This document may contain inactive textual addresses to internet websites operated by us and third parties. Reference to such websites is made for information purposes only, and information found at such websites is not incorporated by reference into this document. ING does not make any representation or warranty with respect to the accuracy or completeness of, or take any responsibility for, any information found at any websites operated by third parties. ING specifically disclaims any liability with respect to any information found at websites operated by third parties. ING cannot guarantee that websites operated by third parties remain available following the publication of this document, or that any information found at such websites will not change following the filing of this document. Many of those factors are beyond ING’s control.

Any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of ING speak only as of the date they are made, and ING assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or for any other reason.

This document does not constitute an oﬀer to sell, or a solicitation of an oﬀer to purchase, any securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction.

Attachment
- Progress on share buyback programme
The MIL Network –
January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Internship of Russian specialists in China has started

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

On November 4, a group of Russian specialists – graduates of the Presidential Program, led by the Director of the Federal Resource Center Alexey Bunkin, arrived in the People’s Republic of China in Beijing to undergo an overseas internship in the areas of “Economic Cooperation in Mechanical Engineering” and “General Economic Cooperation”. 50 representatives of Russian business from 20 regions of the Russian Federation will undergo an intensive internship in the largest organizations in Beijing and Shanghai for a week.

The rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroyev is taking part in the Russian business mission. Let us recall that the State University of Management has been the operator of the program for training Russian specialists abroad for the third year in a row, which is conducted for graduates of the Presidential Program for Training Management Personnel for Organizations of the National Economy of the Russian Federation.

The business program of internship of Russian specialists in Beijing was opened by the director of the Federal State Budgetary Institution “FRC” Alexey Bunkin, emphasizing that the internship opens up great opportunities for business representatives to establish business contacts, get acquainted with the peculiarities of the organization and management of enterprises, and study the experience of high-tech production.

Then, the rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroyev made a welcoming speech, noting that the program for training specialists abroad is a kind of driver for the development of trade and economic relations between the Russian Federation and other countries, providing participants with the opportunity to establish business contacts for the development of mutually beneficial economic ties and their own business, meet foreign partners, study the equipment and technologies offered, and negotiate with potential partners in specific areas and types of activities. Vladimir Stroyev also emphasized that internships are highly effective in terms of building horizontal ties and partnerships among Russian specialists. The rector of the State University of Management expressed confidence that the implementation of such projects will help form a new generation of entrepreneurs operating on the basis of specially formed competencies and practical skills in building international economic cooperation.

After the completion of the official opening of the program, representatives of the Trade Mission of the Russian Federation in the People’s Republic of China, the Representative Office of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation in the People’s Republic of China, and the Russian House in Beijing made presentations.

The speakers talked about how to find a Chinese counterparty and start exporting your products to China, about the financial aspects of entering the Chinese market and checking the reliability of Chinese companies. The reports caused a lively discussion and a large block of questions.

Representatives of Russian departments in China wished the interns fruitful work and successful completion of the program and once again emphasized their readiness to provide assistance and support in the implementation of business projects for the benefit of the interests of Russian-Chinese trade and economic relations.

The first day’s program ended with an organizational meeting with the working group of the State University of Management under the leadership of Vice-Rector Dmitry Bryukhanov, during which they discussed in detail the upcoming events of the program, the specifics of representing Russian companies at meetings with representatives of the Chinese business community in terms of intercultural communication and the specifics of conducting negotiations with potential partners at B2B and individual meetings.

Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 11/5/2024

Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

MIL OSI Russia News –

January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister of Textiles Shri Giriraj Singh to inaugurate Handloom Conclave ‘Manthan’ at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre Janpath, New Delhi on 28.01.2025.
Source: Government of India (2)

Union Minister of Textiles Shri Giriraj Singh to inaugurate Handloom Conclave ‘Manthan’ at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre Janpath, New Delhi on 28.01.2025.

HMoT to launch Handloom weavers E- Pehchan Portal and Handloom Awards Online module.

Posted On: 25 JAN 2025 11:58AM by PIB Delhi

“Handloom Conclave- Manthan” is an interactive workshop with various stakeholders of Handloom sector viz. Handloom weavers/manufacturers, Retailers, Buyers, Designers, Academicians,Startup Founders,Handloom Entrepreneurs/Innovators,Handloom Co-operatives, E commers companies, from all segments of 5F vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister -Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign to chalk out future road map for handloom sector. The conclave will be attended by almost 250 stakeholders comprising 21 panelists, 120 handloom beneficiaries coming from all parts of the country to join the conference , 35 officials from Weavers Service Centres and IIHTs, around 25 State Govt. Officials (Handloom,Silk & Textiles) and officials from various other departments and establishments of the Textile Ministry. The conclave aims to serve as a platform for various stakeholders to come together and share best practices, innovations, and strategies for growth in the handloom sector.

This initiative aligns with the government’s ongoing efforts to enhance the livelihoods of weavers and improve the overall handloom industry. It will also help in developing the handloom sector as a key sector with immense potential to act as a growth engine for Viksit Bharat 2047.

Hon’ble Union Minister of Textiles will grace the event as the chief guest for the Inauguration. The Hon’ble Minister of State for Textiles will be the guest of honour, in the gracious presence of Secretary (Textiles) and Development Commissioner for Handlooms.

Key highlights of the Event:
- There will be 03 Technical Sessions:
1. Support for start-up eco system in Handloom Sector.
2. Handloom Marketing Avenues and strategies.
3. Modelling Handloom Sector for Young Weavers: Approach and Strategy.
The Technical session on “Support for start-up eco system in Handloom Sector” will highlight various initiatives of Office of DC (Handlooms) to support start-ups and young entrepreneurs and to create a robust eco-system for start-ups working in handloom sector.

In the panel discussion on “Handloom Marketing Avenues and Strategies” experiences and best practices of the handloom marketing will be shared by the distinguished panellists. This discussion would be useful for the aspiring entrepreneurs, organizations and also for the entire handloom sector.

The final session will be focussed on discussing various strategies for making the handloom sector attractive for the younger generation and involving the youth in creating a more vibrant and sustainable value chain in the handloom sector by adding more value proposition through various technical interventions and help of social and digital media.

The panelists of above technical sessions will be representing various entities of the entire handloom value chain such as Government Officials, Technical Experts, Start-up founders, Handloom Co-operatives, Producer Companies,Academicians from NIFT and other institutes,E-Commerce stores, Handloom retailers, Weaver Entrepreneurs/innovators, Sustainable brands, Handloom Exporters and designers; their valuable insights will benefit the entire handloom community attending Handloom Conclave: Manthan.

****

Dhanya Sanal K

Director

(Release ID: 2096040) Visitor Counter : 33

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –
January 26, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Year End Review 2024: Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation,

Source: Government of India (2)

Posted On: 25 JAN 2025 10:14AM by PIB Delhi

The Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of JalShakti has been working relentlessly towards achieving the vision and mission of making India a ‘Water Secure Country’ as envisioned by Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. The Ministry of Jal Shakti, formed in 2019 by bringing together all water related departments and organizations under one umbrella Ministry, has been playing a pivotal role in implementation of a focused strategy towards making India ‘Water Secure’ while ensuring optimal utilization of precious and scarce water resources across the nation. During the year2024, the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation has undertaken several new initiatives and achieved significant outcomes/milestones. Following is some of the key achievements of the Department in 2024:

National Mission forClean Ganga (NMCG)

National Mission for Clean Ganga, in the year 2024, completed 25 projects which resulted in the completion of a cumulative total of 303 projects, sofar, and also sanctioned 39 new projects amounting to ₹ 2,056 crore, bringing the cumulative total to 488 projects sanctioned worth ₹ 39,730 crore. In sewerage infrastructure, 12 projects for the creation/ rehabilitation of 305 MLD sewage treatment capacity have been sanctioned between January to December 2024. In the same period, 16 projects for the creation/ rehabilitation of 750 MLD sewage treatment capacity have been completed. Till date, a total of 203 sewerage infrastructure projects have been sanctioned in the Ganga Basin for the creation of 6,255 MLD sewage treatment capacity and the laying of a 5,249 km sewer network.

Other key achievements during the year 2024 are as follows:

(A) Inauguration and Laying of Foundation Stones Sewerage infrastructure projects by Hon’ble Prime Minister (Under Nirmal Ganga)

On 25^thJanuary 2024, the Hon’ble Prime Minister inaugurated the following projects with a cumulative cost of ₹ 790.5 Crores from Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh.

Construction of 30 MLD STP at Masani, Mathura (under Hybrid Annuity-basedPPP (HAM) model under Namami Gange Program), Rehabilitation of existing (30 MLD at Trans Yamuna and 6.8 MLD STP at Masani, Mathura) total 36.8 MLD and Construction of 20 MLD TTRO plant (Tertiary Treatment and Reverse Osmosis Plant), Masani, Mathura

Construction of 58 MLD STP with 264 km and sewerage Network at Moradabad

On 1st March 2023, the Hon’ble Prime Minister inaugurated three projects worth
₹ 575 crore from Hooghly, West Bengal. These projects include, 40 MLD STP work with Interception & Diversion at Bally, West Bengal, 60 MLD STP work with Interception & Diversion at Kamarhati and Baranagar Municipalities, West Bengal and 65 MLD STP work with Interception & Diversion at Howrah.

On 2^nd March 2024, the Hon’ble Prime Minister inaugurated twelve projects worth ₹ 2,189 crore from Aurangabad, Bihar. These projects include 60 MLD STP and 162 km sewerage network at Saidpur, Patna, 60 MLD STP at Pahari, Patna, 93 km sewerage network at Pahari Zone IVA (S), Patna, 116 km sewerage network at Pahari Zone V, Patna, 180 km sewerage network at Beur, Patna, 96 km sewerage network at Karmalichak, Patna, 11 MLD STP at Barh, Patna, 10 MLD STP at Sultanganj, Bhagalpur, 9 MLD STP at Naugachia, Bhagalpur, 3.50 MLD STP at Sonepur, Saran, 32 MLD STP at Chhapra, Saran.

On 10^th March 2024, the Hon’ble Prime Minister inaugurated three sewage projects worth ₹ 1,114 crore from Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh. These projects include 72 MLD STP and I&D network work at Naini (District-G, 42 MLD), Phaphamau (District-F, 14 MLD) and Jhunsi (16 MLD), Prayagraj, 30 MLD STP and I&D network work at Jaunpur and 45 MLD STP and I&D network work at Etawah.

On 2^nd October 2024, the Hon’ble Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for ten sewage treatment plant (STP) projects with a total cost of ₹ 1,555 crore. Among these, five projects worth ₹ 534.25 crore were inaugurated across Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Additionally, laid the foundation stone for five more projects across Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh, amounting to ₹ 1,021 crore.

(B) Inauguration and Laying of Foundation Stones Sewerage infrastructure projects by Hon’ble Union Minister of Jal Shakti (Under Nirmal Ganga)

On 4^th January 2024, the Hon’ble Union Minister for Jal Shakti inaugurated 14 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) with a 2.4 km Interception & Diversion (I&D) Network worth ₹ 77.36 crores in Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh.

On 18^th January 2024, the Hon’ble Union Minister for Jal Shakti laid the foundation stone for the 220 MLD Meerut sewage treatment plant (STP) with interception and diversion (I&D) project worth ₹ 370 crore in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.

Training on Occupational Health & Safety Audit

NMCG organized 9 virtual safety training program and trained more than 1,500 officials on “Occupational Health and Safety Audit (OHSA)” From January 2024 to December 2024, to ensure workplace safety and compliance.

Activities Under Biodiversity Conservation (Under Aviral Ganga)

The programme has sanctioned projects focused on protecting and rehabilitating fishery, turtles, crocodiles, and dolphins. Projects Sanctioned in the year 2024 are as under :

Advancing Rescue System for the protection of stranded Ganges river Dolphins.
Conservation, Reintroduction, and Rehabilitation of threatened Turtles along ganga basin.

· Expanding Conservation Breeding Programme of Freshwater Turtle and Gharial at Kukrail Rehabilitation Centre, Lucknow

NMCG, in partnership with CIFRI, has successfully implemented fish ranching programs for Indian Major Carps and other species. In 2024, notable achievements include – Ranching of Indian Major Carps (IMC): 49.25 lakhs, Mahseer: 7,370, Hilsa: 42,117 and Hilsa tagging: 1,387 nos.

Important Activities (under Jan Ganga)

Launch of Namami Niranjana Abhiyan: NMCG launched the “Namami Niranjana Abhiyan” on 20^th February 2024, aimed at ensuring the perennial flow of the Niranjana (Falgu) river and bolstering the ongoing efforts of the “Niranjana (Falgu) River Recharge Mission”. The Falgu river, revered as Niranjana in Bodhgaya and Falgu in Gaya, originates from Belgadda in the Simaria block of Chatra district, Jharkhand, holding profound significance in the Hindu Sanatan religion. Pilgrims partake in rituals such as PindDaan and Tarpan for their ancestors using water from the Falgu river.
Celebration of International Day of Yoga: On the occasion of the International Day of Yoga, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) organized ‘Ghat Par Yoga’ at BSF Camp, Zero Pushta, Sonia Vihar in Delhi on the bank of River Yamuna on 21^st June, 2024. Over 1,000 people participated in the event including officials and staff from the NMCG, NGOs under the Yamuna Action Plan (YAP-III) of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), the Border Security Force (BSF), Ganga Vichar Manch, various other NGOs, as well as students and children.
8^thIndia Water Week 2024: The 8^th edition of India Water Week (IWW) 2024 was held during 17-20 September 2024, in New Delhi, on the theme “Partnerships and Cooperation for Inclusive Water Development and Management.” This prestigious international event has become a key platform for collaboration in water resource management. The event was inaugurated by the President of India, alongside Hon’ble Union Minister of Jal Shakti, and Hon’ble Minister of State for Jal Shakti.

Ganga Utsav- A River Festival 2024: On 4^th November 2024, the 8th edition of Ganga Utsav was organized by NMCG at scenic Chandi Ghat in Haridwar to promote the conservation of the Ganga River, emphasize its cultural and spiritual importance, and raise public awareness about cleanliness. The event was inaugurated by Hon’ble Union Minister of Jal Shakti in the august presence of the Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Hon’ble Uttarakhand Minister for Women & Child Welfare, Secretary, DoWR, RD & GR, Ministry of Jal Shakti, and DG, NMCG. This eighth edition of the event was the first time held on the riverbank, with celebrations extending across more than 110 districts in the Ganga basin states.The event featured participants from diverse spheres, including students, scientists, spiritual leaders, and more.
9^th India Water Impact Summit: The 9^th India Water Impact Summit (IWIS) & 2^nd Climate Investments and Technology Impact Summit were organised jointly by NMCG & c-Ganga from 4^th to 6^th December 2024 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

International Collaboration

Meeting with German Delegates: On 9^th May 2024, a meeting was held with the Deputy Head of the Economic Division, German Embassy to discuss the current status of projects aimed at rejuvenating the Ganga River, supported through bilateral cooperation between India and Germany.
Workshop on Strengthening Quality Infrastructure for Water Monitoring of the Ganges River II: NMCG in association with Physikalisch- Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) under Indo-German Technical Cooperation Programme organised a 6-day training programme from 22^nd July to 31^st July 2024.
Inception Workshop for District Ganga Plans: On 5^th July 2024, NMCG in association with GIZ organized an inception workshop for the District Ganga Plans. The workshop aimed to create comprehensive District Ganga Plans (DGPs) based on a River Basin Management approach, which has been prepared for four pilot districts.
Smart Laboratory for Clean Rivers (SLCR): The Smart Lab for Clean Rivers (SLCR) has been set up under the Green Strategic Partnership between India and Denmark to bring global solutions on current challenges in the field of clean river water, conduct collaborative research and development to fit in real environment through Living lab approach and creation of platform between Government authorities, academic institutions and technology providers for knowledge sharing and co-creation to achieve clean river water.
Meeting of the Joint Review Committee: On 9^th October 2024, the first meeting of the Joint Review Committee (JRC) under the India-Israel Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was held under the chairmanship of DG, NMCG, to address priority areas such as reducing non-revenue water, urban water management through IoT and AI, wastewater treatment, and sewage sludge management.

Development of knowledge products (Under Gyan Ganga)

The ‘River Atlas for Ganga Main Stem Districts’, an in-house developed knowledge product of the GKC was launched by the Hon’ble Minister of Jal Shakti on 09^thDecember 2024 during the 13th Empowered Task Force Meeting. The atlas comprises maps of River Ganga and its tributaries, covering five main stem states in the Ganga basin – Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. This comprehensive Atlas is essential for the effective implementation of policies and programs and accurate planning and informed decision-making.

National Water Mission (NWM)

MoU with Girganga Parivar Trust (Girganga) has been signed on 22.10.2024 on Pro bono basis. They have committed to build 11,111 bore well recharge and 11,111 check dams.
MoU with Sarkaritel.com/jalprahari.in has been signed on 13.12.2024 on Pro bono basis. They have committed for generating awareness on Water Conservation in the public.
MoU with Vyakti Vikas Kendra India (VVKI), the Art of Living has been signed on 16.12.2024 on Pro bono basis. They have committed for creating of Water recharge structure with the help of implementing many River Rejuvenation Programs through Government scheme MGNREGA

Central Water and Power Research Station, Pune
Central Soil and Material Research Station, New Delhi
National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee
Central Water Commission, New Delhi

Publication of research/ technical reports – 281 Nos.
Organisation of Trainings and workshops – 94 Nos.
Training of people for capacity building- 2623 persons
Publication of high impact technical report & research papers – 18 Nos.

13 new research schemes has been recommended by Standing Advisory Committee and approved by Secretary (WR).
The research project “Hydro-geological Assessment and Socio-Economic implications of Depleting Water Resources in tourist towns of Uttarakhand” has been completed.
The research project “Irrigation Efficiency Improvement through On–farm Water Management” has been completed.
The research project “Dynamic Downscaling to study Climate Change Impacts on
Water Resource in India” has been completed.

National Water Development Agency (NWDA): Inter-Linking of Rivers Project

Under National Perspective Plan (NPP) formulated by Government of India, 30 inter-basin water transfer links (16 Peninsular and 14 Himalayan component) have been identified by National Water Development Agency for preparation of Feasibility Reports. Detailed Projects Reports (DPRs) of 11 links, Feasibility Reports (FRs) of 26 links and Pre-Feasibility Reports (PFRs) of all the 30 links have been prepared. The Inter-Linking River (ILR) Programme has been taken up on high priority by Government of India. The works related to ILR projects are already in progress. Five links have been identified as priority links by Govt. of India viz., Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP), Modified Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal Link Project (MPKC) and Godavari-Cauvery (G-C) Link Project (comprising of 3 link systems).

System studies of four link projects viz.; Manas-Sanksoh-Teesta-Ganga (MSTG) link, Ganga-Damodar-Subernarekha (GDS) link, Subernarekha-Mahanadi (SM) link and Farakka-Sunderbans (FS) link have been initiated and the work of these four links has been awarded to IIT, Guwahati, NIT, Patna, NIT, Warangal and NIH, Roorkee respectively. Inception Reports have been submitted in June, 2023 by all the four Institutes. The draft final reports of MSTG and GDS have been submitted by the respective Institutes. The system studies of Mahanadi-Godavari link have been completed by NIH, Roorkee and the Final Report has been submitted in May, 2023. Awarding of work for system studies of southern linkage initiated, however, it may be taken up after finalization of quantity of water that can be transferred from MSTG, GDS, FS and SM link projects to Mahanadi river, as per system studies.

Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP): is the first inter-linking of rivers (ILR) project for which implementation has been initiated. The project will be of immense benefit to the water starved Bundelkhand Region, spread across the States of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh which includes districts of Panna, Tikamgarh, Niwari, Chhatarpur, Sagar, Damoh, Datia, Vidisha, Shivpur&Raisen and Banda, Mahoba, Jhansi & Lalitpur respectively. The status of KBLP is as given below:

Subsequent to signing of tripartite agreement in year, 2021, Govt. of India approved implementation of the project in December, 2021 at an estimated cost of Rs. 44,605 Crore with central support of Rs. 39,317 Crore.
With allocation of budget under RE of FY 2021-22, the implementation of the project has started.
Steering Committee and Ken-Betwa Link Project Authority (KBLPA) were been constituted vide Gazette Notification dated 11.02.2022.
KBLPA HQ Office is set up at Bhopal with three more offices at Chhatarpur, Panna and Jhansi, which are fully functional with regular CEO/ACEOs, Director (Fin.) and other officials.
Six meetings of Steering Committee and Six meetings of KBLPA have been held so far.
Initially the focus is on land acquisition, R&R, fulfilling the compliances to the conditions of forest clearance and wildlife clearance.
Greater Panna Landscape Council (GPLC) under Chief Secretary, Govt. of MP has been constituted for implementation of Landscape Management Plan through various stakeholders. Its first meeting was held on 05.09.23. Sub-Committee of GPLC was constituted on 16.10.2023 and its 1^st& 2^nd meetings were held on 17.10.2023 & 29.11.2023 respectively.
Planning for an Integrated Research and Learning Centre (IRLC) at Panna has already been initiated by WII.
The Monitoring Committee for R&R works of KBLP under Secretary, DoLR, MoRD has been constituted.
Collector, Chhattarpur has made payment of Rs. 197.23 Crore to the affected Families. Whereas, Collector Panna has made payment of Rs.76.82 Crore to the affected families of Panna. The remaining Land Acquisition Payment for Private land in both the districts are in Progress.
The work for engagement of Project Management Consultant (PMC) is in process. 9 bids were received for PMC, Result of Technical Evaluation of Bids was published on the CPP Portal on 22.08.2024. The Financial Proposals of the 5 technically qualified firms were opened on 10.09.2024. 20 meetings of Consultancy Evaluation Committee (CEC) for hiring PMC have been held so far. 20^th meeting of CEC was held on 11.09.2024 for financial evaluation of bids. After financial and technical evaluation of bids received, recommendations of the CEC have been submitted to DoWR,RD&GR, MoJS for approval on 13.09.2024.
A Technical Advisory Group for KBLP (TAG-KBLP) for KBLPA has been constituted to review and advise KBLPA on various planning and technical matters on implementation of various components of the link project. 10 meetings of TAG have been held so far.
The tender document for the main component of the project i.e. Daudhan dam and its Appurtenant works (EPC mode) was finalized by Technical Advisory Group of KBLP and the Tender Evaluation Committee (TEC) and floated on CPP portal on 11.08.2023. The complete proposal of technical and financial evaluation of bids was sent to Ministry of Jal Shakti that has been approved by Ministry. Subsequently, KBLPA has issued Letter of Acceptance to M/s NCC Limited for the work of Daudhan dam on 28.11.2024.
Stage–II Forest Clearance for diversion of 6017.00 ha of forest land for development of KBLP has been accorded by MoEF& CC on 03.10.2023.
The draft tender for EPC execution of Ken-Betwa Link Canal is prepared in two packages and circulated to State Governments of MP and UP for their comments/suggestions. Suggestions from Govt. of UP have been received.
PTR has accepted total 6017 ha non-forest land Transferred/ Mutated. Notification of 6017 ha has been completed by Forest Department under section-29 of Indian Forest Act-1927 and has been published.
Land in submergence: 3239 ha (Govt. Land: 1784.67 ha + Private Land 1454.33 ha) of land is coming under submergence area of Daudhan Dam. Private land of 1454.33 ha and Government land of 1604.429 ha has been mutated in favour of WRD, MP. Balance 180.241 ha Government land is likely to be transferred to WRD, MP soon.
Land Acquisition for Ken Betwa Link canal (99 villages of MP and 10 villages of UP) is under progress.
The work on State specific components like Lower Orr, Kotha Barrage and Bina Complex Multipurpose Project is already in progress. Head Works of Lower Orr has been completed whereas Head Works for Kotha & Bina are ongoing.

Cumulative Progress (%) upto December, 2024

Lower Orr : 67.00
Kotha Barrage: 59.00
Bina Complex: 50.20

The preparation of DPRs of components of UP likes two barrages, renovation and modernization of Tanks of Mahoba district, renovation and modernization of three weirs and ken command system is in progress.
Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji laid the Foundation Stone of KBLP on 25.12.2024 at Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh).
The project is planned to be completed in 8 years by March, 2030.

Modified Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal Link Project (MPKC):

PFR has been circulated to concerned States. The work of DPRs is under progress.
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed on 28.01.2024 amongst States of MP, Rajasthan and Govt. of India.
Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) of Modified Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal link project has been signed on 05.12.2024 amongst States of MP, Rajasthan and Govt. of India. Subsequently Hon’ble Prime Minister declared the signing of the agreement on 17^th December, 2024 at Rajasthan.

Godavari-Cauvery (G-C) Link Project (comprising of 3 link systems):

Modified proposal for transfer of 4189 MCM of water from Godavari along with supplementation in Krishna basin through Bedti-Varda link (524 MCM) has been studied by NWDA.
Draft DPR of the modified /revised proposal has circulated to the concerned State/UT during Jan., 2024.
Draft MoA has been prepared for implementation of the project and circulated to concerned State/UT for perusal and observation during April, 2024.
Concerted efforts are being made for building up consensus amongst the States/UT for signing of MoA for the early implementation of this link project.

8^th India Water Week 2024:

IWW-2024 was successfully organized/held from 17^th to 20^th September, 2024 at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
The theme of the 8^th India Water Week is “Partnerships and Cooperation for Inclusive Water Development and Management”.
The mega event was inaugurated by the Hon’ble President of India.
The four-day multi-disciplinary conference comprises of Ministerial Plenary, Global Water Leaders’ Plenary (2), Country Forum (4), Water Leaders Forum (9), Practitioner’s Forum (8), Startup Forum, Youth Forum, Water Convention (18) one-day study tour and concurrently organized exhibition. Denmark, Australia and Israel were the Partner Countries. There were 15 Partner States viz.; Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, J&K, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana.

More than 4500 delegates from India & abroad participated in the IWW-2024. About 215 delegates from 40 countries participated in the conference. Parallel to the conference, in the exhibition 143 Exhibitors from Central, States Government, Public Sector undertakings, Private Firms, NGOs, Startups and Schools etc. showcased their technologies.

Central Water Commission (CWC)

(i) Central Water Commission has undertaken sedimentation assessment studies of selected reservoirs located in various States using Satellite Remote Sensing technique under the plan scheme “Research & Development Programme in Water Sector”. It is planned to take up the studies in respect of 80 reservoirs during 2021-26. Accordingly, the work of carrying out the study for the first batch of 40 reservoirs was outsourced. Due to non-availability of either the desired water levels or satellite data for a reservoir on date of satellite pass, study in respect of 31 reservoirs was feasible which has been completed and reports published during 2022 to 2024. Besides this sedimentation studies in respect of 30 reservoirs have been completed in-house using Remote Sensing Techniques. Furthermore, a Google Earth Engine-based tool has also been developed by CWC officers, in-house under Smart Water Resources Modelling Organization (SWRMO) – Centre for Excellence, to automate the assessment of sedimentation in the live storage zone of reservoir.

(ii) A World Bank (WB) and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) team conducted the Mid-Term Review (MTR) mission for the Second Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP-2) between January 17 and May 3, 2024. The mission held discussions with Implementing Agencies (IAs) in Bhubaneshwar (Odisha), Surat (Gujarat), and New Delhi and undertook field visits to selected dams in Gujarat (Ukai) and Odisha (Hirakud, Rengali). The wrap-up meeting was held in New Delhi, chaired by Joint Secretary, D/o WR, RD&GR, Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) and attended by Project Director, Central Water Commission (CWC), members of the Central Project Management Unit (CPMU), the Engineering and Management Consultant (EMC), and representatives of all Implementing Agencies (IA). As part of the mission, a detailed exercise on the use of the rapid risk assessment tool for Indian dams, in compliance with the National Dam Safety Act 2021, was carried out between March 5 and May 3, 2024.

(iii) The quarterly dialogues on Coastal Area Management, initiated as per the direction of the Chairman, Central Water Commission (CWC) was held in April and May 2024.These dialogues brought together stakeholders from various levels of government, research institutions, and relevant departments to discuss pressing issues such as coastal erosion, salinity ingress, and the need for robust data collection and management. The dialogues provided a platform for sharing information, best practices, and innovative solutions from all stakeholders. As an outcome of the Quarterly Dialogue, CWC has published a report titled “Status Report on Coastal Area Management- An Indian Perspective, Region Issues & Remedial Measures”. The report provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges and initiatives related to coastal management in India. The report highlights the significant impacts of coastal erosion and salinity ingress, emphasizing the need for robust data collection, effective mitigation strategies, and increased collaboration among stakeholders.

(iv) A Smart Water Resources Modelling Organization acts as Centre of Excellence to grow as a pioneering hub for developing in-house expertise and innovation in tackling diverse problem statements and studies in water sector and directly reports to Chairman, CWC.

(v) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on 06.06.2024between Central Water Commission (CWC) and IIT, Roorkeefor research work related to Irrigation Efficiency Assessment, Water Accounting studies, Cropped Area Mapping, Water Auditing, Urban Flood Forecasting & Risk Management, Urban Flood Inundation & Hazard Mapping, etc. These works will be carried out through mutual consultations and collaboration, leveraging the expertise and resources of both institutions.

(vi) A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between Central Water Commission (CWC) and Space Application Centre (SAC) in the field of hydrology and water resources management, leveraging remote sensing and collaborative research efforts for mutual benefit on 08^th July,2024.

(vii) Support for Irrigation Modernization Program (SIMP): Central Water Commission (CWC), DoWR, RD & GR has taken up an initiative Support for Irrigation Modernization Program (SIMP) with technical assistance from theAsian Development Bank (ADB) to modernize Major/ Medium Irrigation (MMI) projects in the country.

(viii) SIMP is proposed to be taken up in 4 phases. SIMP Phase-1 concluded on 31.12.2021 under which 4 MMI projects have been identified for inclusion under 1st batch of projects for preparation of Irrigation Modernization Plans (IMPs) out of the 57 proposals received from 14 States and 2 UTs. The entire process including the preparation of IMPs, Detailed Project Report (DPRs), detailed designs and final implementation/ project execution is expected to be completed by Phase-4. Implementation of the project would lie with the concerned States who would have an option to either fund it from their own resources or they can avail loan facility from ADB or any other financial institutions.

(ix) SIMP Phase-2 was initiated from November 2022. Irrigation Modernization Plan (IMP) of four projects namely VanivilasaSagara Project, Karnataka, Palkhed Project Maharashtra, Purna Project, Maharashtra and Loharu Lift Irrigation Project, Haryana have been prepared. As a 1st step for preparation of IMPs, FAO developed RAP-MASSCOTE (Rapid Appraisal Procedure-Mapping System and Services for Canal Operation Techniques) workshops were organized to assess the present status of the identified four projects. The findings of RAP MASSCOTE workshops and issues related to Batch 1 SIMP projects were discussed in a mid-term workshop organized by ADB and CWC on 09.06.2023 at New Delhi.

For capacity building under SIMP phase-II, the following activities were organized:

From 6th to 10th November 2023, a five days training on modernization and design of Pipe Distribution Networks (PDN) was organized at Panchkula/ Chandigarh. 22 Engineers from Karnataka, Maharashtra, Haryana, Punjab and CWC participated in the training.
On 15th and 20th December 2023, a Webinar on Irrigation Modernization and Design of PDN Systems was organized.
A Training on Asset Management Planning for Irrigation Schemes was held from 8^th to 12^th January 2024 at WALMI, Aurangabad.
A training on new technologies in Agriculture and Water Practices was held from 22^nd to 25^th January 2024 at HIRMI, Kurukshetra, Haryana.

The Preliminary Project Reports (PPR) of all the four projects has been submitted by ADB to the concerned project authorities. PPR of Loharu, Haryana is under process with Govt department. PPR of Palkhed and Purna, Maharashtra is under process in Planning Department of Haryana, PPR of VVS, Karnataka is under process with state finance Govt of Maharashtra.

PPRs are to be finalized by the states and submitted to DEA. After necessary approval from DEA, action for phase-3 will be taken up for preparation of DPRs.

(x) A Training program on the application of Rapid Risk Assessment tool, in association with the World Bank for the officers of the core group was held during April 22, 2024 – May 3, 2024 at Auditorium, 1st floor, CWC Library Building, Near Sewa Bhawan, Sector-1, R K Puram, New Delhi. Total 66 officials nominated by CWC, NDSA and States / DRIP IAs for taking forward the assignment of carrying out the Rapid Risk Assessment of specified dams in the country.

GLOF and Flood forecasting activities: –

CWC finalized the criteria for Risk Indexing of Glacial Lakes in the Indian Himalayan Region in September 2024, which provide a comprehensive methodology for identifying and categorizing Glacial Lakes based on factors such as Glacial Lake size, Glacial Lake type, Side slope, Snout distance from GL etc. and the potential socio-economic impacts of a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood.

In the year 2024, 2 new stations (Inflow) have started functioning. Currently CWC is providing flood forecast at 340 stations (200-level forecasting stations & 140-inflow forecasting stations). During the period from 1st April to 30.11.2024, 10415 (i.e. 7093 Level and 3322 Inflow) forecasts were issued, out of which 9947 (95.5%) forecasts were found within the accuracy limit (±0.15m for level forecast and ±20% for inflow forecast).During flood season, CWC operates the Central Flood Control Room on 24×7 basis at its headquarter in New Delhi and 36 Divisional Flood Control Rooms spread throughout the country for monitoring flood situation. On an average, about 10,000 forecasts are issued during flood season every year by the CWC. Normally, these forecasts are issued 6 to 30 hours in advance, depending upon the river terrain and location of the flood forecasting sites and their base stations. In addition to conventional flood forecasting techniques, mathematical model forecasting based on rainfall-run off methodology is being used for some areas. This has enabled CWC to issue 7-day advance flood advisory.

Automated online 7-day flood advisory for all the level and inflow forecasting stations is maintained. “Flood Situation for next seven days” in respect of stations likely to be above warning level has been added in the “Daily Flood Situation Report cum Advisory” based on the 7-day advisory.

Flood Plain Zoning

In order to have a reasonable degree of protection, floods need to be managed through both structural & non-structural measures so as to reduce the losses. Non-structural measures are planned activities to modify susceptibility due to flood related damages. These are meant to keep people away from floods. Flood Plain Zoning is one of the main non-structural measures for management of floods worldwide.

A technical committee under the chairmanship of Member (RM) was constituted during November 2022 for formulation of ‘Technical Guidelines on Flood Plain Zoning’ . After due deliberations, the committee submitted the guidelines to Ministry. The guidelines is presently under circulation to the states for their comments/review. Once implemented, these guidelines shall serve as a valuable document in guiding the states in framing their own legislation in protecting their rivers from future encroachments.

Hydrological Studies:

The success of a project is largely governed by the hydrological inputs. The success of a project is largely governed by the hydrological inputs. The Hydrological Studies Organization (HSO), a specialized unit under Design and Research (D&R) Wing of CWC, carries out hydrological studies in respect of the water resources projects in the country. The inputs in Detailed Project Report (DPR) or Pre- Feasibility (PFR) stage are made available in the form of:

Water availability/yield studies.
Design flood estimation.
Sedimentation studies.
Diversion flood studies.

The country has been divided into 7 zones and further into 26 hydro- meteorologically homogeneous sub-zones and flood estimation models are developed for each subzone to compute the design flood in ungauged catchments. So far, flood estimation reports covering 24 sub-zones have been published. During the year 2024- 25, technical examinations of hydrological aspects of DPRs in respect of 88 projects have been carried out in CWC. Out of this, 46 projects have been cleared and comments were issued for 17 projects. Rest of the projects are under examination.

Some of the major works carried out during this period are:

• Flood frequency analysis & carrying capacity of Yamuna River from Hathnikund Barrage to Delhi.

• Hydrology Chapter for Bakchachuu HEP, Ringyang HEP, &RimbiKhola HEP has been submitted.

• 100 yr& 500 yr Return Period flood of Chandrawal River under Ken Betwa Link project.

• Water Availability of the untapped catchment between alignment of feeder canal, Mahalpur barrage and Navnera Barrage Under MPKC link.

Technical Assistance / Advice tendered

HSO has provided secretariat assistance to various technical/ expert committees for undertaking special studies on various aspects related to water resources development and management. Some of the important contributions during the year 2024- 25 are as under:

Hydrological Studies for Ponnaiyar River Basin, to resolve the interstate issue between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Hydrological modeling for heavy rainfall across the Yamuna River catchment in July 2023 caused significant runoff and discharge, leading to rapid water level rises. In this study estimated submergence areas for different return-period floods, analyzed embankment overtopping, and identified drainage congestion and afflux of existing structures using 2-D modeling for the river reach between 21 km upstream of Wazirabad barrage and 10 km downstream of Okhla barrage.

Hydrological modeling for tackling issues related to high intensity rainfall, riverine flood, drainage and interrelated issues in urban areas.

Planning and Design of Water Resources Projects

CWC is actively associated with design of majority of the mega water resources projects in India and neighboring countries, viz., Nepal and Bhutan by way of design consultancy or in the technical appraisal of the projects. At present CWC is provided design consultancy to 94 projects. Out of this, 31 projects (including 3 from neighboring countries) are at construction stage, 35 projects (including 2 from neighboring countries) are at DPR stage and 28 projects involve special problems.

National Committee on Seismic Design Parameters: –

The National Committee on Seismic Design Parameters (NCSDP) was constituted by MoWR Order dated 21 st October, 1991 with the objective to recommend the seismic design parameters for the proposals received from the dam owners. Member (D&R), CWC is the chairman of the committee with 12 other experts from various engineering disciplines from different technical institutions and Government organizations as its members. Director (FE&SA), CWC is the member Secretary of NCSDP. The 38th meeting of NCSDP was held on 10.05.2024 at CWC, New Delhi under the Chairmanship of Member (D&R) wherein six projects were cleared.

Further, a special meeting of NCSDP was held on 05.06.2024 wherein the Guideline for Preparation and Submission Of Site-Specific Seismic Study Report of River Valley Project To National Committee On Seismic Design Parameters was revised comprehensively to be in line with the International practices.

National Register of Large Dams:

Before enactment of Dam Safety Act 2021, Dam Safety Organisation (DSO) , CWC compiled and maintained the register of large dams across the country in the form of National Register of Large Dams (NRLD) based on information provided by State Govts. / PSUs. After enactment of Dam Safety Act 2021, the NDSA has been mandated to maintain National level database of all specified dam in the country. The National Register of Specified (Large) Dams 2023 was released by Hon’ble Vice President of India in International Conference on Dam Safety held during 14th-15th September 2023 at Jaipur. As per NRLD- 2023, there are 6138 constructed and 143 under construction dams in the country. The NRLD, 2023 is available on CWC’s website and can be accessed by l ink- https:// cwc. gov. in/ publication/nrld.

Technical Examination of Instrumentation aspects of the projects:

Hydroelectric project:-

Detailed Project Report (DPR)/ construction drawings of 29 river valley projects in various States/ countries namely Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Odisha, Sikkim Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Jammu & Kashmir, Bhutan and Nepal were examined, out of which 4 projects have been cleared with respect to instrumentation aspects and remaining 25 projects are at various stages of examination.

Pumped storage Project:-

Detailed Project Report (DPR)/ construction drawings of 42 river valley projects in various States/ countries namely Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh were examined, out of which 6 projects have been cleared with respect to instrumentation aspects and for remaining 36 projects, clearance from instrumentation aspects is no longer required as per the latest CEA guidelines.

Standing Technical Advisory Committee of CSMRS

The Standing Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) was constituted under the Chairmanship of Member (D&R), CWC for providing an overall perspective and guidance in technical scrutiny of research schemes being undertaken at CSMRS. The STAC is composed of 11 members drawn from various public sector institutions and is headed by Member (D& R), CWC. The 39th Standing Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) meeting of CSMRS was held on 25.10.2024

Other Seismic works:

Work related to technical evaluation and critical examination of web-based tool Seismic Hazard Assessment Information System (SHAISYS) being developed by IIT Roorkee and CWPRS Pune under DRIP is being carried out. A meeting is proposed on 18th December 2024 under the chairmanship of Member (D&R), CWC with the expert of IIT Roorkee at CWC, New Delhi regarding way forward for development of SHAISYS.

CWC Activities under National Hydrology Project (NHP):

Study on “Physical based Mathematical Modelling for estimation of Sediment Rate and Sediment Transport in Seven River Basin” has been completed.

Extended Hydrological Prediction (multi week forecast) for Yamuna, Narmada and Cauvery basins is in progress.

Reservoir Sedimentation Studies using Hydrographic survey for 32 reservoirs” under Phase-I has been completed. Works of Phase II: Consists of 87 reservoirs in 10 states (Rajasthan, Gujrat, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Telangana, and Odisha is under progress.
Supply, Installation, Testing & Commissioning (SITC) of 93 Nos. ADCP (14 + 29 + 50 in three phases) for the measurement of discharge at the HO sites of CWC has been completed. Further procurement of additional 46 no’s ADCP and 8 no’s Total station is in under progress.
Supply, Installation, Testing & Commissioning (SITC) of 32 velocity radar sensors for modernization of discharge observations has been completed.
7 no’s of Water Quality Equipment (ICP-MS and GC-MS) have been commissioned and installation & Commissioning of 3 more Water Quality Equipment (1 GC-MS and 2 ICP-MS) is under process.
Consultancy services for “Early Flood Warning System Including Inundation Forecast in Ganga Basin” is in progress.
Consultancy services for Development of Decision Support System near to real time for Integrated Reservoir Operation System of Ganga Basin” has been completed.
Real Time Data Acquisition System (RTDAS) for Narmada Control Authority (NCA) and Arunachal Pradesh comprising of network of 48 & 50 no’s hydro meteorological Stations respectively has been commissioned.
Reservoir Sedimentation Studies using Hydrographic survey for 32 reservoirs” under National Hydrology Project, Phase-I have been completed and reports published and under Phase II studies in respect of 87 reservoirs are taken up.

DAM REHABILITATION AND IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (DRIP) Phase-II and III

Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) is an externally aided project with financial assistance from the World Bank, targeting rehabilitation of some of the selected dams of the Country along with accompanying institutional strengthening component.

Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (Phase-II & III):

Based on the success of DRIP Phase- I, Ministry of Jal Shakti initiated another externally funded scheme, DRIP Phase-II and Phase-III. The Union Cabinet has approved the Scheme on October 29, 2020.

The scheme has provision for rehabilitation of 736 dams located in 19 States (Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, and three Central Agencies (Central Water Commission, Bhakra Beas Management Board, and Damodar Valley Corporation). It is a State Sector Scheme with Central component, with duration of 10 years, to be implemented in two Phases i.e. Phase- II and Phase-III, each of six years duration with an overlap of two years. The budget outlay is Rs 10,211 Cr (Phase II: Rs 5107 Cr; Phase III: Rs 5104 Cr) with rehabilitation provision of 736 dams. Out of this cost, Rs. 7,000 crore is an external loan and Rs. 3,211 crores would be borne by the respective participating States and the three Central agencies. The funding pattern of scheme is 80:20 (Special Category States), 70:30 (General Category States) and 50:50 (Central Agencies). The scheme also has provision of Central Grant of 90% of loan amount for special category States (Manipur, Meghalaya and Uttarakhand). The DRIP Phase-II and III Scheme is 10 years duration, proposed to be implemented in two Phases, each of six-year duration with two years overlapping. Each Phase has external assistance of US$ 500 M. The Phase-II of the scheme is being co-financed by World Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), with funding of US$ 250 million each. The loan agreement by World Bank was signed on August 04, 2021 with 10 States (Gujarat, Kerala, MP, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Chhattisgarh) and became effective from 12th October, 2021. In addition to 10 States, four States (Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Karnataka) have been notified by World Bank for inclusion under this scheme in June 2022 and their loan declared effective in January 2023.

The loan agreement by AIIB was signed on 19th May, 2022 with 10 States (Gujarat, Kerala, MP, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Chhattisgarh) and declared effective on 29th December, 2022 by AIIB.

Inclusion of four States (Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Punjab, Telangana) and two Central Agencies (BBMB and DVC) is under process.

Important project achievements include approval of PSTs of 139 dams costing Rs 3715 Cr by the World Bank. The contract(s) amounting approximately Rs 2906 Cr have been awarded by various Implementing Agencies and an amount of Rs 1487 Cr spent as on 30.11.2024 on various project activities including dam rehabilitation, institutional strengthening and project management activities

A training on DRIP Ph-II &Ph-III was given to 40 officers of Punjab WRD on 12th June 2024 at Shahpur Kandi. Few topics were covered like Overview of DRIP Ph-II &Ph-III scheme; dam structural problems & their identification; Procurement procedures; Hydro-Mechanical structural problems; PST preparation; Financial Management of DRIP scheme etc.

A three days training on DFR organized during 8th to 10th July, 2024, in which 22 participants from seven (7) states and CWC participated.

The Management Information System (MIS-with 05 modules) was officially rolled out to SPMU on 14^th August 2024. In this regard a virtual MIS demonstration was organized on 14th August 2024 in which concerned officials of CPMU, SPMU, and EMC participated.

2^nd meeting of National Level Steering Committee (NLSC) on DRIP Phase-II and III chaired by Secretary, DoWR, RD and GR were held on 25.09.2024 at New Delhi to discuss the progress and issues of DRIP Scheme.

3^rd meeting of Technical Committee of DRIP Phase II and III was held on 18.10.2024 under the chairmanship of Member (D&R), CWC at Dehradun, Uttarakhand in which nodal officer and Project Director of DRIP IAs participated. Deliberations in respect of technical matters with regard to pertaining to implementation of the scheme were held during the meeting.

National Task Force for Integrated Water Resources Development and Management

National Task Force for Integrated Water Resources Development and Management (NTFIWRDM) has been set up by DoWR, RD & GR vide its OM dated 25.11.2024.

Sustainable development of water resources and its efficient management is the key to water security and economic growth. As a country, aspiring to be the world leader with the most powerful economy, challenges like increasing population, economic growth, industrialization and urbanization are bound to result in increased and conflicting demands for various purposes across the country. Moreover, the vagaries of climate change have already started to affect the water sector adversely. In the wake of ever-growing challenges in the water resources sector, it has become necessary to prospectively assess the projected water use for various purposes. In view of above, Department of Water Resources, RD & GR has set up a National Task Force for Integrated Water Resources Development and Management (NTFIWRDM) on 25.11.2024 under the chairmanship of Hon’ble Member, Niti Aayog with members from various Govt. Departments and experts from different organisations; thereby comprehensively covering various domains of water resources. Chief Engineer, BPMO, CWC is the Member Secretary of the NTFIWRDM. The NTFIWRDM – 2024 is expected to complete its work within 24 months, with interim reports submitted at yearly intervals.

(xxii) LIST OF IMPORTANT PUBLICATIONS OF CWC during 2024

Sl. No.	Publication	Released during
1	Water Sector at a Glance-2022	Aug-2024
2	Water & Related Statistics-2023	Sept-2024
3	Water Sector at a Glance-2023	Sept-2024
4	National Register of Major & Medium Irrigation Projects in India-2024	Sept-2024
5	Compendium on Sedimentation of Reservoirs in India	August 2024
6	Assessment of Area Affected Due to Floods in India	July 2024
7	Report on Flood Damage Statistics (1953-2022)	July 2024
8	Assessment of Area Affected Due to Floods in India [Part II: Assessment at Sub-District Level]	September 2024
9	Criteria for Risk Indexing of Glacial Lakes in Indian Himalayan Region	September 2024
10	Status Report on Coastal Area Management – An Indian Perspective, Regional Issues & Remedial Measures	September 2024

Central Ground Water Board (CGWB):

National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM)

Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) is implementing National Aquifer Mapping and Management program (NAQUIM), which envisages mapping of aquifers (water bearing formations), their characterization and development of Aquifer Management Plans to facilitate sustainable management of ground water resources. Out of 32 lakh sq km of the entire country, entire mappable area of 25 sq lakh km has been covered under this programme. NAQUIM outputs are shared with various stakeholders including the District Authorities. Building on the experiences of the NAQUIM, the NAQUIM 2.0 has been initiated from the year 2023-24 which emphasizes on detailed mapping and implementable management plans for identified priority areas. CGWB has completed 68 such studies (covering nearly 40,000 sq km) in year 2024.

In order to create infrastructure for data generation under NAQUIM, a Project has been approved by the Public Investment Board (PIB) with an outlay of Rs 805 Cr for implementation by CGWB during the period 2022-2026. As of now, tenders amounting approximately Rs. 550 Cr have been awarded.

One of the components of the project involves the construction of 7000 piezometers and the installation of Digital Water Level Recorders with telemetry devices for strengthening and automation of groundwater monitoring networks in the country. Construction of piezometers for strengthening groundwater monitoring has been initiated in 15 states (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, MadhyaPradesh, Chhattisgarh, UttarPradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, WestBengal, Odisha and Jammu&Kashmir). A total of 1796 piezometers have been constructed till 31st December 2024.

Another component of the project involves construction of 1135 Exploratory Wells (EW) and Observation Wells (OW) for completing the data gap in the NAQUIM project area for which work has been initiated under all awarded packages in 11 states (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Assam). A total of 319 EW/OWs have been constructed till 31st December 2024.

Ground Water Resources

The Ground Water Resource Assessment for the water year 2024 was carried out jointly by Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and States/UTs, through the web-based automated application “INDIA-GROUNDWATER RESOURCE ESTIMATION SYSTEM (IN-GRES) for the entire country. The assessment provides the state wise ground water resource scenario and insights required to adopt an integrated and sustainable ground water management in the Country.

As per the assessment, the total annual groundwater recharge in the country has been assessed as 446.90 billion Cubic Meter (BCM). The annual extractable ground water resource has been assessed as 406.19 BCM. The annual groundwater extraction for all uses is 245.64 BCM. The average stage of groundwater extraction for the country stands at 60.47 %. Out of the total 6746 assessment units (Blocks/ Mandals/ Talukas) in the country, 4951 (73.4 %) assessment units are categorized as ‘Safe’. 711 (10.5 %) assessment units are categorized “Semi-critical’’, 206 (3.05 %) assessment units, have been categorized as ‘Critical’ and 751 (11.1%) assessment units have been categorized as ‘Over-exploited’. Apart from these, there are 127 (1.8%) assessment units, which have been categorized as ‘Saline’ as major part of the ground water in phreatic aquifers in these units is brackish or saline.

Key Highlights:

Total Annual GW Recharge has increased (15 BCM) substantially and Extraction has declined (3 BCM) in 2024 from 2017 assessment. There is slight reduction in recharge and increase in extraction in the present assessment year compared to the preceding year.
Recharge from Tanks, Ponds and WCS has shown a consistent increase in the last five assessments. In the year 2024, it has increased by 0.39 BCM w.r.t. 2023.
With respect to the year 2017, there is an increase of 11.36 BCM in recharge from Tanks, Ponds & WCS (from 13.98 BCM in 2017 to 25.34 BCM in 2024).
The percentage of Assessment Units under Safe Category have increased from 62.6% in 2017 to 73.4 % in 2024 (The percentage of Safe assessment units was 73.14 % in 2023).
The percentage of Over Exploited Assessment units have declined from 17.24 % in 2017 to 11.13 % in 2024 (The percentage of OE Assessment units was 11.23% in 2023)

The Union Minister for Jal Shakti released “National Compilation of Dynamic Ground Water Resources of India 2024” on 31^st December, 2024.

High resolution aquifer mapping and management in Arid areas of India

The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has undertaken high resolution aquifer mapping in the arid regions of Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Haryana using advanced heliborne geophysical surveys. Under Phase I of the project, an area of 97,637 sq. km has been surveyed, covering 40,313-line km across 92 blocks in these states.
Based on the heliborne geophysical survey results, Gram Panchayat-level information of saturated/de-saturated, saline/fresh aquifers, groundwater potential zones, drilling sites, and managed aquifer recharge sites has been identified. Detailed reports have been prepared for 39 out of 92 blocks, comprising 20 blocks in Gujarat, 11 in Rajasthan, and 8 in Haryana.
A Coffee Table Book on the Summary of the findings of Heliborne Survey Phase I was released on 19.09.2024 in India Water Week-2024 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi by the Hon’ble Minister of State, Jal Shakti.

Artificial Recharge Activities

Groundwater augmentation through artificial recharge in identified water stressed areas of Rajasthan, comprising Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Alwar, Jhunjhunu & Sikar districts of Rajasthan has been taken up in three phases

Phase-1: Two large dams have been constructed:
- Zoned Earth Fill Dam with Clay Core, Indroka, Mandore, Jodhpur
- Concrete Gravity Dam, Bastawa Mata, Balesar, Jodhpur.
Phase-2: 82 WHS (Stone Masonary Check Dams (MCD), Anicuts, Concrete Check Dams (CCD & Recharge shafts) have been constructed in certain water stressed blocks of Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Sikar district.
Phase-3: 39 WHS (Check Dam, Anicut, Model Talab) have been constructed certain water stressed blocks in Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Sikar, Jhunjhunu and Alwar districts of Rajasthan to know the concentrated effect of artificial recharge.

Regulation of Ground Water extraction

The primary role of Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) is to regulate groundwater resource exploitation in the country. The Authority has been regulating groundwater development and management by way of issuing ‘No Objection Certificates’ for groundwater extraction to industries, infrastructure projects, Mining Projects, registration of drilling rigs etc., and framed guidelines in this connection.

Development of a new portal for NoC issuance to ground water users i.e. BhuNeer APP, which is an advanced version of the application processing software of CGWA for issuing NOC to ground water users of Industries, Infrastructure & Mining projects and Bulk Water Supply. The motto of developing this portal is to provide users a smooth experience with new features and functionalities.

Rajiv Gandhi National Ground Water Training & Research Institute (RGNGWTRI)

It is the training wing of CGWB and functions as a `Centre of Excellence’ with the national role of capacity building of Officers and Officials of CGWB, other Central Govt. Depts., State Govt. Depts., Public Sector Undertakings, Non-Governmental Organizations, Academic institutions and other stake holders through three arms -Tier I (National Level), Tier II (State Level) and Tier III (Block level) trainings.

During the last 10 years, from 2012-13 to 2024-25(As on 24.12.2024) a total of 1711 training courses (Tier-I, Tier-II & Tier-III) were organized (Male 83,330 + Female 30,369 = 1,13,699 Participants) by RGNGWTRI, Raipur.
The institute has also conducted Four trainings for foreign nationals, during the last 10 years

Development of three Indigenous Softwares as part of Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2022- a significant step towards Atmanirbhar Bharat

Smart India Hackathon (SIH), a nationwide initiative envisioned under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister is an important mega annual event among students to provide solutions through innovations for specific challenges identified by different organizations. It is an annual event organized by the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell, All India Council for Technical Education, along with partners. Based on problem statements shared by CGWB and under the mentorship of CGWB scientists, following three software applications were developed by engineering students as a part of Smart India Hackathon (SIH)

Hydra-Q: A Standalone desktop application for analysis, visualization and interpretation of hydrochemical data.
Aqua Probe: A Standalone desktop application for Pumping Test data analysis.
OASIS-G: Online application System for Stable Isotope Studies-Ground Water

The software applications can be accessed / downloaded from CGWB website (https://www.cgwb.gov.in/freewares-groundwater-data-analysis).

These freeware applications will be useful for students, researchers and groundwater professionals. So far, the software that are used for such kind of analysis are developed mostly in countries other than India. This is a significant step towards Atmanirbhar Bharat and is likely to reduce India’s dependence on foreign software.

Aquifer Management for Augmentation and Sustainability of Urban Water Supply- Faridabad

CGWB has taken up a study on augmentation of water supply to Faridabad city through sustainable ground water development in active Yamuna flood plain in 2024. CGWB has signed MoU with Faridabad Metropolitan Development Authority (FMDA)

Ground Water Quality Analysis

The comprehensive assessment of Ground Water Quality conducted by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) provides valuable insights that can guide remedial actions and inform future planning by various stakeholders. Notably, this report on Ground Water Quality is the first to implement a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for groundwater quality monitoring, which ensures consistency in data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Additionally, the use of internationally recognized methods significantly bolsters the credibility and technical rigor of the findings. On December 31, 2024, Sh. CR Paatil, Hon’ble Union Minister of Jal Shakti, unveiled the Annual Groundwater Quality Report, 2024.

Key Highlights:

In terms of cation chemistry, calcium dominates the ion content, followed by sodium and potassium. For anions, bicarbonate is the most prevalent, followed by chloride and sulphate. This indicates that overall water in the country is of Calcium-Bicarbonate type.
Some regions face sporadic contamination of nitrates, fluoride, and arsenic.
Seasonal trends observed in parameters like Electrical Conductivity (EC) and fluoride provide evidence of positive monsoon recharge effects, which improve water quality.
From an agricultural perspective, the analysis of Sodium Adsorption Ration (SAR) and Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC) reinforces the generally favorable suitability of groundwater for irrigation, with over 81% of samples meeting safe thresholds. However, localized issues of high sodium content and RSC values demand targeted interventions to prevent long-term soil degradation.
100% of ground water samples in North-Eastern States are in excellent category for irrigation.

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) for 2021-26 with an outlay of ₹93,068 Crore to benefit about 22 lakh farmers

Against a target of 34.63 Lakh Ha irrigation potential of 25.80Lakh Ha (approx.74.5%) created through AIBP works of the prioritized projects during 2016-17 to 2023-24
Nine (09) new MMI projects and two (02) new National projects have been further included under PMKSYAIBP.

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)- Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP):

The Government of India on 27.07.2016 approved funding of the 99 prioritized irrigation projects (and 7 phases) with an estimated balance cost of Rs. 77,595 Crore (Central share- Rs. 31,342 crores; State share- Rs. 46,253 crores) for completion in phases. The works include both the AIBP and CAD works. Funding arrangement for both Central Assistance (CA) and State Share made through NABARD under Long Term Irrigation Fund (LTIF). Targeted Irrigation Potential to be created under the scheme is 34.63 Lakh ha. An expenditure of Rs. 68891 crore (upto March 2024) has been reported to be incurred by the concerned State Governments on these projects since 2016-17. In January 2020, Ministry of Finance conveyed the continuation of ongoing centrally sponsored scheme up-to 31.03.2021.

Physical Progress: Against the target of 34.63 Lakh Ha. Irrigation Potential of about 25.80 Lakh ha. has been created through AIBP works of the prioritized projects during 2016-17 to 2023-24. The potential created during 2024-25 shall be available only after the end of cropping season.

Project Completed under PMKSY-AIBP: AIBP works of 62 prioritized projects out of identified 99 projects (and 7 phases) were reported to be completed till date.

The Government of India has approved implementation of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) for 2021-26 with an outlay of ₹93,068 Crore on date 15-Dec-2021 to benefit about 22 Lakh farmers. The Union Cabinet has approved central support of ₹37,454 Crore to States and ₹20,434.56 Crore of debt servicing for loan availed by Government of India for irrigation development during PMKSY 2016-21. Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme, ‘Har Khet Ko Paani’ and Watershed Development components have been approved for continuation during 2021-26. Total additional irrigation potential creation targeted during 2021-26 under AIBP is 13.88 Lakh hectare. Apart from focused completion of 60 ongoing projects including their 30.23 lakh hectare command area development, 9 additional projects have been taken up till date. Also, two national projects, namely Renukaji Dam Project (Himachal Pradesh) and Lakhwar Multipurpose Project (Uttarakhand) have also been included for central funding of 90% of works of water component under the scheme.

Inclusion of new Major/Medium Irrigation (MMI) projects as well as funding of National Projects under AIBP.

Financial progress requirement is dropped for inclusion of a project underAIBPand only physical progress of 50% to be considered.

Advanced stage (50% physical progress) criteria are relaxed for projects having command area of 50% or more in Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP), tribal, Desert Development Programme (DDP), Flood prone, Tribal area, Flood prone area, left wing extremism affected area, Koraput, Balangir and Kalahandi (KBK) region of Odisha, Vidarbha& Marathwada regions of Maharashtra and Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh & Uttar Pradesh, as also for Extension Renovation Modernization (ERM) projects and also for States with net irrigation below national average.

Reimbursement is allowed for due central assistance in subsequent year also.

Project completion permitted with physical progress of 90% or more.

Online Management Information System (MIS) has been developed for monitoring of the projects. A nodal officer for each of the 99 priority projects has been identified who updates the physical and financial progress of the project regularly in the MIS.

GIS based Application has been developed for geo-tagging of project components. Remote Sensing Techniques have been used for digitization of the canal network of the projects. Further, the Cropped Area estimation in the command of 99 priority projects is being carried out annually through remote sensing.

To resolve the issue of Land Acquisition (LA) and increase water conveyance efficiency, use of Underground Pipeline (UGPL) has been actively promoted. Guidelines for Planning and Design ofPiped Irrigation Network were released by this Ministry in July, 2017.

Pari-passu implementation of Command area development works in the commands of these projects is envisaged to ensure that the Irrigation Potential Created could be utilized by the farmers. New Guidelines bringing focus on Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) have been brought out. Further, transfer of control and management of irrigation system to the Water Users’ Association (WUA) has been made necessary condition for the acceptance of CADWM completion.

The Financial Progress under PMKSY-AIBP is as follows:

Funds Released	2016-17 to 2023-24	2024-25 (so far)	Total
Central Assistance for AIBP projects including special and National Projects	18550.98	629.22	19180.20
State Share	33830.83	180.60	34011.4
Total	52,381.81	809.82	53191.6

Special Package for Maharashtra: A Special Package approved on 18.07.2018 which provides Central Assistance to complete 83 Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI) projects and 8 Major / Medium Irrigation Projects in drought prone districts in Vidarbha and Marathwada and rest of Maharashtra in phases up to 2023-24 (extended till March-25). The overall balance cost of the said projects as on 1.4.2018 is estimated to be Rs.13651.61 Crore. Total CA is estimated to be Rs. 3831.41 Crore including reimbursement for expenditureduring 2017-18Balancepotentialof 3. 77 Lakh Ha would be created on completion of these schemes. CA of Rs. 2901.63 crores have been released under the scheme so far. Under the scheme, 53 SMI and 2 MMI projects have been reported to be completed by the State Government of Maharashtra. Overall irrigation potential of 1.66 Lakh ha. has been reported to be created through all these projects during 2018-19 to 2023-24. Further potential created during 2024-25 shall be available only after the end of cropping season.

Modernization of Command Area Development & Water Management (M-CADWM):

The Ministry of Jal Shakti is reviewing the CADWM programme to make it more relevant in the current context of water use efficiency and agricultural productivity. The proposed change is a proposed smart irrigation scheme which envisages transforming the existing command (whether rain fed or gravity based) to a Pressurized Piped Irrigation Command (PPIC) by providing pressurized irrigation water from Established source to Farm Gate below Minor (Tertiary) Level Network. This will make the entire command area micro-irrigation ready with robust back-end infrastructure using Surface Water. The farmers shall be empowered by creating a Water User Society, which will also be an “economic entity”.

The Scheme will develop suitable models for different Agro-Climatic zones, integrating various sources of water, and different levels of water availability, covering both areas of assured irrigation and protected irrigation. These models will pave the way for development of a National Plan for Modernization of water management in rural area in general and irrigation services in particular based on integrated, sustainable, efficient and inclusive water management.

Polavaram Irrigation Project: Polavaram Irrigation Project was declared as National Project under Section 90 of AP Reorganization Act, 2014, which came into force on 1^st March 2014. The project with 2467.50 m of earth-cum-rock fill dam and 1121.20 m long spillway aims at irrigating 2.91 Lakh ha in erstwhile East Godavari, Visakhapatnam, West Godavari and Krishna districts besides several other benefits envisaged by it. Central Government is funding 100% of the remaining cost of the irrigation component of the project, as on 01.04.2014. Government of Andhra Pradesh is executing the irrigation component of the project on behalf of Government of India. The approved cost of the Project as per Revised Cost Committee (RCC) is Rs 29,027.95 cr at 2013-14 PL and Rs 47,725.74 cr at 2017-18 PL up to FRL i.e. EL +45.72 m. After declaration as National Project, a sum of Rs. 15,605.96 cr has been released for execution of Polavaram Irrigation Project so far.

The Union Cabinet has approved the revised cost of the PIP in its meeting held on 28.08.2024, with water storage upto EL + 41.15 m at a cost of Rs. 30,436.95 cr with balance central grant for the project limited to Rs. 12,157.53 cr. Further, an amount of Rs. 2,348 cr has been released on 09.10.2024 as advance payment to GoAP on account of execution of Polavaram Irrigation Project in addition to the reimbursement of Rs 15,605.96 cr made to GoAP.

As reported by Water Resource Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh, an expenditure of Rs 18,348.84 cr has been incurred on the project works up to 30.11.2024, after declaration of Polavaram irrigation project (PIP) as National Project.

Atal Bhujal Yojana (Atal Jal)

Atal BhujalYojana (Atal Jal) is a Central Sector Scheme of Government of India with an outlay of Rs 6000 Crore, with focus on community participation and demand side interventions for sustainable ground water management in identified water stressed areas in 8203 water stressed Gram Panchayats of 229 administrative blocks/Talukas in 80 districts of seven States in the country viz. Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The scheme, partly funded by the World Bank, is being implemented from 1.04.2020 for a period of 6 years.

This unique scheme aims at increasing the capacity of States to manage their ground water resources and for ensuring their long-term sustainability with active participation of the local communities through a mix of top-down and bottom-up approaches. It also envisages convergence of various ongoing schemes for implementation of interventions for improving ground water availability with emphasis on demand management and also to inculcate behavioral changes in the community to ensure optimal use of available water resources.

The launch of Atal Bhujal Yojana heralds a change in the Government policy for ground water management by emphasizing the importance of community participation in planning, execution, and monitoring of scheme activities; convergence of ongoing schemes for implementing interventions aimed at improving ground water availability; focus on demand side management through improving water use efficiency and incentivizing participating States for awareness creation among the masses on the importance of ground water.

Atal Bhujal Yojana also envisages improving the capacity of States for ground water governance through strengthening of institutions dealing with ground water management, improving ground water monitoring networks, creation of awareness among the public on the importance and criticality of ground water resources and building the capacity of the grass root level stakeholders to plan and utilize the available resources in a judicious manner. It also addresses the gender perspective by making it mandatory to include women in all activities of the scheme.

Atal Bhujal Yojana is expected to improve ground water conditions in the target areas and to contribute significantly to ensure ground water sustainability for interventions planned under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). It is also expected to contribute to the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s goal of doubling farmers’ income and to result in optimal use of ground water by the stakeholders in the long-run.

Further, to bridge the gap in the data availability at the GP level for better water management across India, Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation in collaboration with Ministry of Panchayati Raj has taken the initiative to expand water budgeting exercise to non-Atal Jal areas as well by their inclusion in the Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs).

Key achievements under Atal Bhujal Yojana are as follows:

Public disclosure of data in all the Atal Jal GPs through various modes of disclosure viz., central/state web portals, display board at each GP, social media, wall paintings, distribution of pamphlets/brochure, public meetings and Atal Jal Mobile application.
States have used innovative measures like Groundwater Data Information Dissemination Centers, QR codes, social media, etc., to disseminate the groundwater related data to public.
Community led Water Budget and WSPs prepared for all the 8203 GPs and updated on yearly basis.
Groundwater monitoring system has been strengthened at GP level by providing equipment like Digital Water Level Recorders, water level indicators, rain gauges, water quality testing kits, water flow meters etc. In addition, piezometers have been constructed in GPs for monitoring of water levels.
A total of 49 State level, 410 District level, 1152 Block level and 99,406 GP level trainings have been conducted so far.
Awareness and sensitization at GP level through innovative Information Education and Communication practices like narrowcasting in Haryana, folk dances/songs in Karnataka, Jal dindis in Maharashtra, Ratri Choupals in Rajasthan have been used to drive the message of sustainable groundwater management.
Investment of Rs. 4355 Crore towards implementation of interventions proposed under WSPs through convergence.
An area of around 6.7 lakh Hectares has been brought under efficient water use practices including Drip, Sprinkler, Mulching, Crop Diversification etc.
More than 70,000 wells are being monitored for water level at GP level and shared with community.
More than 90,000 existing Water Conservation and Artificial Recharge structures have been mapped.
813 GPs in 47 Blocks have shown improvement in ground water level.
A total of Rs.3420.57 Cr. has been disbursed to the States since the inception of the scheme. A total of Rs.2863.98 Cr. has been utilized by the States since the inception of the scheme.
Sixth meeting of National Level Steering Committee (NLSC) for implementation of Atal Bhujal Yojana was held on 07 June 2024.

Minor Irrigation Statistics: Progress under the scheme “Irrigation Census”:

Minor Irrigation Census conducted quinquennially in order to create a sound and reliable database on groundwater and surface water minor irrigation schemes in the country. The Minor Irrigation Census is conducted under the centrally sponsored scheme “Irrigation Census” with 100% central funding through which State Statistical Cells constituted under different States/UTs are also supported.

The sixth Minor Irrigation Census and the first Census of Water bodies covering all water bodies in the country, both rural and urban have been completed. All India and State-wise report on 6^th Minor Irrigation Census and First Census of Water Bodies has been published and are available at the Department website ‘https://jalshakti-dowr.gov.in’. Key results have been disseminated on Bhuvan portal and the state wise unit level data has also been disseminated on Open Government Data (OGD) platform.

During 2024, the following progress under the scheme “Irrigation Census” has been achieved:

7^th Minor Irrigation Census and 2^nd Census of Water Bodies are underway, along with two new censuses: the 1^st Census of Springs and the 1^st Census of Major and Medium Irrigation Projects, with reference year 2023-24.
An all-India Workshop on these Censuses was held in 2023, with participation from all States and Union Territories. NIC has developed a mobile/web application for these censuses, with pilot testing successfully conducted in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, and Meghalaya in month of October, 2024.
Six regional workshops for training of trainers for upcoming censuses are being conducted at regional centers in Tripura, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and West Bengal from December, 2024 to January, 2025 to provide training to trainers at State level for further capacity building.
Grands-in-aid to States/UTs were released timely on receipt of proposals from eligible States/UTs.

Flood Management Wing (FM):

Flood Management and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP):

The “Flood Management Programme (FMP)” and “River Management Activities and Works related to Border Areas” (RMBA) under operation during XII Five Year Plan were merged as “Flood Management and Border Areas Programme” (FMBAP) for the period 2017-18 to 2019-20 and further extended up-to March, 2021. Cabinet further approved the continuation of FMBAP scheme during 2021-22 to 2025-26 with an outlay of Rs. 4100 Crore (FMP-Rs. 2940 Crore and RMBA – Rs. 1160 Crore).

Since the inception of FMBAP (till December 2024), Central Assistance of Rs. 7136 crores have been released to States/UTs under FMP component of Flood Management & Border Area Programme (FMBAP) scheme and Central Assistance of Rs. 1258.73 crores have been released to UTs/States under RMBA component of FMBAP scheme.

Completion of balance works of North Koel Reservoir Project: DoWR, RD & GR has taken up the long pending project for completion of balance works of North Koel Reservoir Project, Bihar and Jharkhand. In August, 2017 the Union Cabinet has approved the proposal for balance works of North Koel Reservoir Project at an estimated cost of Rs. 1622.27 crore during three financial years from the start of the project. Subsequently, at the request of both State Governments, certain other components were found necessary to be included in the project. Complete lining of Right Main Canal (RMC) and Left Main Canal (LMC) was also regarded essential from technical considerations to derive envisaged irrigation potential. Thus, the works of Gaya distribution system, lining of RMC and LMC, remodeling of enroute structures, construction of a few new structures and onetime Special Package for R&R of Project Affected Families (PAFs) were to be provided for in the updated cost estimate. Accordingly, Revised Cost Estimate of the project was prepared. Out of the cost of balance works of Rs. 2430.76 crore, the Central would provide Rs.1836.41 crore. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval to the proposal to complete the balance works of North Koel Reservoir Project at a revised Cost of Rs. 2,430.76 crore on 04.10.2023. Project will provide irrigation benefit to 114,021 hectares of land annually in drought prone areas of Aurangabad and Gaya districts of Bihar and Palamau and Garwa districts of Jharkhand. Project also has the provision for supply of 44 MCM water for drinking and industrial water supply. The execution of balance works of the project on turnkey basis by M/s WAPCOS Ltd., a CPSU under DoWR, RD & GR as Project Management Consultant (PMC). 10% works on dam & appurtenant, 100% of additional works of Mohammad Ganjbarrage, 86% works on left main canal and works on Right Main Canal in Jharkhand Portion & 18% works on Bihar portion have been completed.

India and Bangladesh Matters

A Treaty was signed by the Prime Ministers of India and Bangladesh on 12th December, 1996 for the sharing of Ganga/Ganges waters at Farakka during the lean season. As per the Treaty, the Ganga/Ganges waters is being shared at Farakka (which is the last control structure on river Ganga in India) during lean period, from 1^st January to 31^st May every year, on 10-daily basis as per the formula provided in the Treaty. The validity of Treaty is 30 years. The sharing of water as per the Treaty is being monitored by a Joint Committee headed by Members, JRC from both sides. The following India-Bangladesh Joint Committee Meetings have been convened.

The 83^rd meeting of the Joint Committee on sharing of the Ganga/Ganges waters at Farakka was held at Dhaka on 24^th January, 2024 after a visit to the joint observation site at Hardinge Bridge, on 24th January, 2024.
The 84^th meeting of the Joint Committee on sharing of the Ganga/Ganges Waters at Farakka was held at Kolkata on 7^th March, 2024 after visit to the joint observation sites at Farakka on 5^th March, 2024.
The 85^th meeting of the Joint Committee on sharing of the Ganga/ Ganges waters at Farakka was held at Dhaka (Bangladesh) on 14^th November, 2024 for the finalization of Annual Report of the lean/dry season of the year 2024.

During the 83^rd and 84^th Joint Committee meetings, the Indian delegation was led by Mr. Atul Jain, Commissioner (FM), Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Ministry of Jal Shakti. During the 85th Joint Committee meeting, the Indian delegation was led by Mr. Sharad Chandra, Commissioner (FM), Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of the Republic of India and Member, India-Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission. The Bangladesh delegation was led by Dr. Mohammad Abul Hossen, Member, India-Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission, Ministry of Water Resources, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.

National River Conservation Directorate (NRCD)

Cleaning of river is a continuous process and Government of India is supplementing the efforts of the State Governments in addressing the challenges of pollution of rivers by providing financial and technical assistance. Assistance is provided to State Governments for abatement of pollution in identified stretches of various rivers (excluding river Ganga and its tributaries) under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) on cost sharing basis between the Central & State Governments for taking up various pollution abatement works relating to interception & diversion of raw sewage, construction of sewerage systems, setting up of sewage treatment plants, low cost sanitation, river front/bathing ghat development, etc.

Project for ‘Pollution Abetment River Banganga at Katra’ in Jammu & Kashmir at a cost of Rs.92.10 crore was sanctioned.
Project for ‘Pollution Abetment and Conservation of river Mindhola at Surat’ in Gujarat at a cost of Rs.98.51 crore was sanctioned.
Project for ‘Interception & Diversion of Sewerage Water from Existing Drains to Nearest STP for Treatment Purposes in Jodhpur City for Pollution Abatement of River Jojari at Jodhpur’ in Rajasthan at a cost of Rs.13.10 crore was sanctioned.
Project for ‘Sewer rehabilitation of old and deteriorated pipes by Trenchless CIPP Technology for main trunk sewer lines heading towards Nandari and Salawas STPs for pollution abatement of Jojari River at Jodhpur’ in Rajasthan at a cost of Rs.51.99 crore was sanctioned.
Project for ‘Design of Complete Sewerage System and Proposal of Development of New STP for Jhalamand Area, Jodhpur for pollution abatement of river Jojari at Jodhpur’ in Rajasthan at a cost of Rs.53.63 crore was sanctioned.
Project for ‘Establishing and Commissioning of 30 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at Nandari for pollution abatement of river Jojari at Jodhpur’ in Rajasthan at a cost of Rs.53.86 crore was sanctioned.
Project for ‘Rejuvenation of Imphal-Manipur River and Faecal Sludge and Septage Management at 27 ULBs’ in Manipur at a cost of Rs.92.39 crore was sanctioned.
Project for ‘Elamkulam sewerage project for rejuvenating Chitrapuzha River through restoration of natural streams/outfalls carrying sewage/pollutants-Construction of STP 17.5 MLD’ in Kerala at a cost of Rs.47.53 crore was sanctioned.
Project for ‘Perandoor Sewerage Project for Rejuvenating Periyar River through Restoration of Natural Streams/Outfalls Carrying Sewage/Pollutants—Construction of 19 MLD STP (Part 1)’ in Kerala at a cost of Rs.49.78 crore was sanctioned.
Project Management Consultant has been appointed for implementation the project of ‘Pollution abatement and conservation of River Nag at Nagpur, Maharashtra’ sanctioned at a cost of Rs.1,926.99 crore with Japan International Cooperation Assistance.
Project for pollution abatement of river Devika and Tawi at Udhampur, Jammu & Kashmir sanctioned for Rs.186.74 crore has been completed 3 sewage treatment plants (STPs) with total capacity of 13.06 mld constructed under NRCP.
Project for pollution abatement of river Tapi at Surat, Gujarat sanctioned for Rs. 971.25 crore has been completed 11 sewage treatment plants (STPs) with total capacity of 208.97 mld constructed under NRCP.
Central Assistance amounting to Rs. 425 crores released to various State Governments/Agencies for implementation of projects under NRCP.
Stakeholder Consultation Workshop on Guidelines for National River Conservation Plan and DPR Preparation held on 06th May, 2024 in the presence of Secretary, DoWR, RD & GR. The recommendation and suggestions of the stakeholders are under review and accordingly will be proposed in the revised guidelines of NRCP and DPR guidelines.
First meeting of the Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) was held on 31.05.2024 under the Chairpersonship of Secretary, DoWR, RD & GR at Nagpur under the project Condition Assessment and Management Plan of Six River Basins (Cauvery, Periyar, Narmada, Mahanadi, Godavari and Krishna).
The project “Assessment of ecological status of 7 rivers viz. Narmada, Mahanadi, Godavari, Cauvery, Periyar, Pamba and Barak for conservation planning” has been entrusted to Wild Life Institute of India (WII) at a sanctioned cost of Rs. 24.56 crore in September, 2020. The project broadly aims to spearhead river conservation in above seven Indian rivers for biodiversity conservation and maintenance of ecosystem services. Intensive ecological studies will be carried out in the seven prioritized river basins of India and ecological status will be assessed. Stake Holders workshops of NRCD- WII held at Bengaluru, Karnataka Cauvery River basin.

External Affairs & International Cooperation (EA&IC)

DoWR, RD & GR has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with different countries on cooperation in the field of water resources management and development. For effective implementation of activities under the various signed MoUs, to enhance the collaboration under the MoU, certain activities were undertaken including Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting, the details of which is as follows –

MoU with Denmark – The MoU between India and Denmark on Cooperation in the field of Water Resources Management was signed on 12.09.2022. Two projects namely “Centre of excellence on Smart Water Resources Management (CoESWaRM)” and “Smart Laboratories on Clean River (SLCR)” have been identified under the MoU. Indian side Joint Working Group was formed on 05.08.2024. First Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting under the MoU was held on 05^th December 2024. In the meeting, it has been agreed to have organizational division at PMU level into two sub-thematic areas under the existing Centre of Excellence (CoE).

MoU with European Union – The MoU between India and the European Union on Water Cooperation was signed on 01.10.2016. Three JWG meetings have been convened so far. Third Meeting of JWG was convened on 12.07.2023 virtually. The 6th EU-India Water Forum meeting was held on 18.09.2024 during the 8th India Water Week in New Delhi. The forum inter-alia explored trilateral collaboration between East Africa, India and the EU to address water challenges in regions like Lake Victoria and Lake Tanganyika.

MoU with Israel: The MoU between India and Israel on Water Resources Management and Development Cooperation was signed on 11.11.2016. A Joint Review Committee (JRC) (Now Steering Committee) has been formed on 20.02.2024 to assess the activities and progress of the projects identified for implementation under the MoU. 1^st meeting of the JRC was convened on 9th Oct 2024 recommending the proposal for the “Establishment of India-Israel Centre of Water Technology (CoWT)”.

MoC with Japan (Water Resources): The Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between India and Japan in the area of Water Resources was signed on 11.12.2019. Two meetings of Joint Working Group (JWG) have been convened so far. 2nd JWG meeting was held on 14.11.2024. In the meeting both sides agreed for extension of the MoU and to identifying additional areas for collaboration.

MoU with Morocco- The MoU between India and Morocco on cooperation in the field of Water Resources was signed on 14.12.2017. Four JWG meetings have been convened so far. Fourth JWG meeting was convened on 20.09.2024. It was agreed upon that both the countries will share their experiences, analysis, findings, policies and developments in the field of water resources in its next meeting of JWG.

Bilateral Meetings of Hon’ble Minister of Jal Shakti with the Ministers of Foreign Nations during India Water Week 2024 in New Delhi: –

Denmark: Mr. C.R. Paatil, Hon’ble Minister of Jal Shakti met with H.E. Mr. Morten Bødskov, Denmark’s Minister of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs. Denmark’s Minister reaffirmed Denmark’s commitment to sustainable water solutions and highlighted the expertise of Danish companies in water management. The Hon’ble Minister of Jal Shakti proposed collaborative initiatives to develop scalable technologies for water challenges, suggesting pilot projects at the district level.
Guyana: A significant meeting took place between Mr. C. R. Paatil, Hon’ble Minister of Jal Shakti and Mr. Collin D. Croal, Hon’ble Minister of Housing & Water, Guyana. It was agreed upon that both the countries will share their experiences, policies and developments in the field of water resources
Tanzania: Mr. C. R. Paatil, Hon’ble Minister of Jal Shakti, India met with Mr. Mathew Andrea Kundo, Deputy Minister of Water, Tanzania. The Tanzanian Minister proposed discussions on a new project to transport water from Lake Victoria, estimated at $600 million, to address water challenges in Tanzania. Hon’ble Minister of Jal Shakti assured that this proposal would be deliberated upon in the Ministry positively.
Zimbabwe: A productive meeting took place between Mr. C. R. Paatil, Hon’ble Minister of Jal Shakti and Mr. Vangelis Peter Haritatos, Hon’ble Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe’s Minister sought innovative financing options beyond traditional avenues such as EXIM etc. Hon’ble Minister for Jal Shakti assured that these matters would be deliberated upon positively, emphasizing that improvements in Zimbabwe’s irrigation sector would significantly enhance food security across Africa.

Barhmaputra & Barak (B&B) Wing

Expert Level Mechanism (ELM)

During the visit of the Hon’ble President of the People’s Republic of China to India on November 20-23, 2006, it was agreed to set up an Expert-Level Mechanism to discuss interaction and cooperation on provision of flood season hydrological data, emergency management and other issues regarding trans-border Rivers as agreed between them. Accordingly, the two sides have set up the Joint Expert Level Mechanism through a Joint Declaration by both the countries.

The ELM meetings are held alternately in India and China every year. Fifteen meetings of ELM have been held so far. The 15^th meeting of ELM was held at Beijing, China during 13^th-14^th August 2024. The GoI delegation was led by Shri S.K. Sinha, Commissioner (B&B), DoWR, RD & GR, Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Chinese delegation was led by Mr. Hao Zhao, Director General of the International Economic & Technical Cooperation and Exchange Centre, Ministry of Water Resources, People’s Republic of China. Representatives of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and Central Water Commission (CWC) had also participated in the meeting.

(ii) INDIA-BHUTAN COOPERATION

Joint Group of Expert (JGE) on Flood Management:

A Joint Group of Expert (JGE) on Flood Management has been constituted between India and Bhutan to discuss and assess the probable causes and effects of the recurring floods and erosion in the southern foothills of Bhutan and adjoining plains in India and recommend to both Governments appropriate and mutually acceptable remedial measures. Ten meetings of JGE have been held so far. The 10^th meeting was held during 28^th-29^th February, 2024 at New Delhi, India. The GoI delegation was led by Shri S. K. Sinha, Commissioner (B&B), Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD& GR), Ministry of Jal Shakti, GoI and the RGoB delegation was led by Mr. Karma Dupchu, Director, National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM), RGoB.

Joint Technical Team (JTT) on Flood Management:

In accordance with the decision taken during the first meeting of JGE, a Joint Technical Team (JTT) on Flood Management between the two countries was constituted. The purpose of JTT is to assess the field situation and provide technical support to JGE on flood management. Eight meetings of JTT have been held so far. The 8^th meeting of JTT was held during 18^th–20^th November, 2024 at Chalsa, Jalpaigudi, West Bengal. The Indian delegation was led by Shri G.L. Bansal, Chief Engineer, Brahmaputra Basin Organisation (BBO), Central Water Commission, GoI and the Bhutanese delegation was led by Dr. SingayDorji, Chief of Meteorological Services Division (MSD), National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology, RGoB.

Joint Experts Team (JET) on Flood Forecasting:

A Joint Experts Team (JET) consisting of senior officials from the Government of India and Royal Government of Bhutan(RGoB) continuously reviews the progress and other requirements of a network of 36 hydro-meteorological sites located in the catchments of trans-border rivers Puthimari, Pagladiya, Sankosh, Manas, Raidak, Torsa, Aie and Jaldhaka. So far, JET has met 38 times alternately in India and Bhutan since its reconstitution in 1992 and the last JET meeting i.e. 38^th meeting was held at Mandarmani, West Bengal, India during 10^th-11^th December, 2024.

The Indian delegation was led by Shri Subhrangshu Biswas, Chief Engineer, Teesta&Bagarathi-Damodar Basin Organisation (T&BDBO), Central Water Commission, GoI and the Bhutanese delegation was led by Mr. Karma Dupchu, Director, National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM), RGoB.

13. NERIWALM

The North Eastern Regional Institute of Water and Land Management (NERIWALM), under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, continued its vital contributions to water and land management across North East India in 2024. As the only institute of its kind in the region, it upheld its mandate of capacity building and skill enhancementfor efficient management of water and land resources for irrigation and agriculture.

During the year (January to December, 2024), the institute organized 76 training programmes, reaching 3,173 beneficiaries. Among these were induction-level courses for newly recruited engineers from the Irrigation and Agriculture Departments of Assam, as well as the Brahmaputra Board. A faculty development program on advancements in agriculture and water management was also conducted. NERIWALM collaborated with leading national institutions and agencies to host a two-day National Seminar on Advances in Irrigation Technologies and Management, fostering knowledge exchange and innovation.

In research and development, the institute undertook a diverse range of projects sponsored by state and central government departments. Key initiatives included the preparation of State-Specific Action Plans for 19 states, evaluations of PMKSY-AIBP and PMKSY-HKKP irrigation projects in Assam and Meghalaya, research project on farmer participation in irrigation management in Manipur, studies on good water management practices and study on the impact of climate change on dam-related hydro-geomorphic and social aspects in Arunachal Pradesh.

NERIWALM’s academic program also progressed with the enrollment of 15 students in the M.Tech course on Water Resource Management for the 2024-25 session. The institute further strengthened its credentials by developing e-learning modules on water resource management for the i-GOT platform. NERIWALM was accredited as “EXCELLENT” under the Capacity Building Commission’s National Standards, while its Soil and Water Laboratory achieved NABL accreditation.

14. NATIONAL HYDROLOGY PROJECT

National Hydrology Project (NHP), with support from the World Bank, envisages establishing a system for timely and reliable water resources data acquisition, storage, collation and management. It has pan-India coverage with 48 Implementing Agencies (IAs) {12 from Central Government (including 3 from River Basin Organisations) and 36 from States/ UTs}. It will also provide tools and systems for informed decision making for water resources assessment, planning and management. The National Hydrology Project has been approved with an outlay of Rs. 3,679.77 Crore as a Central Sector Scheme with 100% grant to State Governments and Central Implementing Agencies. The project originally had a duration of 8 years from 2016-17 to 2023-24. However, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance has accorded approval for extension of project till Sept-2025 within the same allocation.

Broad objectives of NHP include: a) To improve the extent, quality, and accessibility of water resources information; b) To create decision support system for floods and basin level resource assessment/planning; and c) To strengthen the capacity of targeted water resources professionals and institutions in India.

Under the ongoing NHP, almost 22960 Real Time Data Acquisition System (RTDAS) surface water and ground water stations have already been installed in the country. Besides, 46 Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) packages have been commissioned; almost 5667 piezometers constructed; 134 stationary as well as mobile water quality labs have been developed/procured/maintained and put into operation;
high-resolution DEMs, CORS network as well as Geoid model have also been developed. Furthermore, Bathymetric surveys of 464 important reservoirs of the country covering 162 BCM have also been taken up under NHP of which 373 studies have already been completed. Further 36 State Data Centres / Regional data centres / knowledge centres, etc. have been completed under the ongoing NHP. The need for development & maintenance of appropriate institutional framework both at the Central as well as State level for water resources information system intended for collection, collation and dissemination of the database was given shape in the ongoing NHP. As envisaged in the Cabinet note, the National Water Resources Informatics Centre (NWIC) has been created in 2018 and is now functional. Additionally, the formation of the State Water Informatics Centres for development of respective State Water Resources Information Systems was expedited in the ongoing NHP. Till date almost 19 SWICs have already been formed with a few more under process. The information system covering hydro-meteorological, hydro-geological, sedimentation, morphological and water quality data is also important in the context of various studies being done under NHP which
include IT Applications, Digital Products, geospatial hydro products, etc.

15. Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI) scheme

Under the Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI) scheme, since 12th plan onwards, 7282 schemes are ongoing with an estimated cost of ₹ 16113.560 crores. Central Assistance (CA) of Rs. 9009.169 crores have been released to states up-to March, 2024. Further, 4965 schemes have been reported to be completed up-to March, 2024. Target irrigation potential creation of these schemes is 11.58 L Ha and out of this, 8.59 L Ha is reported to be created till March, 2024.

16. Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies scheme

Under the Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies scheme, since 12th plan onwards, 3075schemes are ongoing with an estimated cost of Rs. 2834.692 crore. Central Assistance (CA) of Rs. 554.279Crore has been released to states up to March, 2024. Further, 2192 water bodies have been reported to be completed up to March, 2024. Target irrigation potential restoration of these schemes is 2.41 L Ha and out of this, 2.00 L Ha is reported to be restored till March, 2024

18. Mass Communication Internship programme

DoWR, RD & GR undertook internship programme in mass communication on during 2024. Students pursuing Degrees or are Research Scholars enrolled in recognized University/Institution in the field of Mass Communication in India are given opportunity to apply as “interns”. The Internship Programme provided short term exposure to “selected candidates” to be associated with the Department’s work related to media/social media activities. The objectives of the programme are to well acquaint the “Interns” with the working of the Department in field of media/social media related activities etc. and simultaneously the “interns” to supplement the process of mass publicity of this Department to create awareness about importance of development and management of water resources in holistic manner.

03 interns were selected for an initial period of 6 months under the program.

*****

Dhanya Sanal K

Director

(Release ID: 2096022) Visitor Counter : 29

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 26, 2025

MIL-OSI: TBV and BitcoinOS to Host The Best Event at Devcon BKK: Exclusive Networking and Epic Afterparty
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
- On the heels of their Marquee Party during Token2049 Singapore which saw a full house turnout of over 3,000 attendees from an overly-subscribed 8,000 signups, Tobi & Brent are bringing yet another massive bash, this time to Devcon Bangkok.
- Co-hosted by early-stage Web3 VC fund TBV and revolutionary BTC blockchain network BitcoinOS.
- Headlined by popular South Korean DJ SODA, who boasts a following of over 25 million fans and will be providing high-energy performances and a distinctive mix of EDM and electro house music.
BANGKOK, Nov. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — “The Best Event. Devcon BKK with TBV & BitcoinOS” is set to be the highlight of Devcon Week in Bangkok. The premier event series, hosted by TBV (TB Ventures) and BitcoinOS, offers a unique blend of high-impact networking followed by the signature “Web3 with Tobi & Brent” afterparty experience.

Taking place at Portal on November 13th, amidst Bangkok’s bustling nightlife, “The Best Event” is definitely not your traditional tech event. Serving up a unique recipe for celebration and connection, the packed mashup of networking, hackathons, music and high-value deal flows is going to make for some very unique and innovative bedfellows.

Headlining the night is the illustrious South Korean DJ SODA, whose exhilarating performances and distinctive blend of EDM and electro house music have amassed a dedicated following of over 25 million fans. Add in nine more high-energy DJ sets and the mix of entrepreneurs, investors, developers, and key opinion leaders, and this social meets sonic meets tech odyssey is primed to emerge as the centerpiece of Devcon Week.

Tobias Bauer, General Partner and Co-Founder of TBV shared, “Our Token2049 event was awesome, massive party vibes and an incredible network of industry heavy-weights. The one thing we were missing was a quieter space for ongoing networking across the night so that’s what we’re bringing to Devcon week. A legendary party, a hackathon, party buses, and exclusive networking the whole way through. See you there!”

Building the Web3 Community: The Tobi & Brent Phenomenon

Since 2024, the “Web3 with Tobi & Brent” brand has become synonymous in the Web3 space with cultivating thriving communities and fostering genuine connections. The dynamic duo has garnered an overall following on Telegram and social media that numbers over 100,000, demonstrating their ability to organically unite VCs, LPs, projects, and industry enthusiasts.

During their massively attended MARQUEE event during Token2049 Singapore which was headlined by internationally acclaimed DJ Dillon Francis, Tobi & Brent soft-launched TBV (TB Ventures), a VC fund focused on early-stage web3 startups. Their events arm TBE (TB Events) has now curated “The Best Event. DevCon BKK with TBV & BitcoinOS”, offering yet another distinctive global Web3 rendezvous.

“It’s a privilege to host these events and to see the quality of attendees that they draw. I’m proud of what we’ve been able to achieve with our event series, and it’s in huge part thanks to our incredible partners and team. If there’s one event to hit during Devcon week, this one is it,” said Brent Fulfer, General Partner and Co-Founder of TBV.

BitcoinOS: The Smart Contract Operating System for Bitcoin

The Best Event is also co-hosted by BitcoinOS, an operating system designed to create a unified, interconnected, barrier-free playground for innovation on Bitcoin. Using ZK (zero-knowledge) tech, developers can deploy any VM (virtual machine) to Bitcoin with the scalability of Ethereum, the interoperability of Cosmos, and the speed of Solana.

Building the key missing tech that will finally allow Bitcoin’s utility to extend beyond a store of value, the BitcoinOS team’s successful verification of the first ZK proof on Bitcoin mainnet has opened the doors for trustless BTC bridging, and eventually an ecosystem of true Bitcoin rollups. This is the holy grail of Bitcoin scalability which will securely open the doors for over a trillion dollars of liquidity to merge with the Web3 ecosystem.

The Best Networking. The Best Time. THE BEST EVENT.

Right off DEVCON, the early party vibes will begin aboard the TBV and BOS party buses where buzzing anticipation and free flow drinks, which continue throughout the evening, make for an enjoyable seamless transit to Portal.

Upon arrival, guests embark on the next exploration with four unique zones of immersive experiences. From networking over drinks and canapes, to a ‘drunken dev’ hackathon, to an upscale bar with skyline views, the diverse atmospheres offer up ample networking opportunities.

As the clock strikes nine, the Portal gates open to general admission, unleashing the torrents of energetic crowds while an all-star lineup of world class DJs take to the main stage. With DJ SODA at the helm, whose high-octane performances and infectious rhythms have captivated fans worldwide, Portal will be transformed into a pulsating epicenter of entertainment.

The likes of Jade Rasif, a top Singaporean DJ famed for her high energy EDM sets; established Asian DJ, Nicole Chen, known for her stage presence; Your Crypto DJ, who has played on the same line-up as Don Diablo, Alesso, Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike; DJ Kim Sane, who has performed at the likes of Ultra Europe, and more –– each set, across 2 stages, will provide a unique auditory experience of eclectic styles, ensuring the vibe never drops across the night’s festivities. As the night unfolds, connections with like-minded peers and pioneers from the Web3 community hold the potential to forge relationships that could spark collaborations that extend beyond the event.

As a prequel to The Best Event, TBV and BitcoinOS are also hosting a “Meet the VC with Tobi & Brent” on November 12th. This exclusive rendezvous is designed to connect attendees with leading VCs and projects, further supporting the Devcon experience.

Hosted and Supported by the Best in Web3

Co-hosted by TBV and BitcoinOS, “The Best Event” is proudly supported by leading Web3 companies, including Petastic, Fideum, Zekret, Vurse, FOMO Ventures, Matterblock, Freename, BoomFi, Biptap, Libera Global, Captain & Company, and BeWater.

“The Best Event” is also supported by prominent players in the Web3 PR, media and influencer spaces, such as yourPRstrategist (YPRS), Crypto Banter, Asia Token Fund, Coinstelegram, European Kid, CoinsCapture, MediaX, Arcadia, Cryptopolitan, Coinfea, Key Difference Wire, The Coin Republic, ZEX PR Wire, Trader Brawl Media, and Tiger Mode Media as well as community partners like Unity Labs, Cryptocurrency PH, Crypto World Community, Unikorn, Founders Hub Network, Association Blockchain Asia, AdLunam, Nadmah, All Confs Bot, Clubout and more, which further amplify its reach. With its extensive network and high-profile partnerships, the event stands out as a key highlight of Devcon, attracting industry insiders and enthusiasts alike.

Due to the high demand and limited capacity, guests are advised to arrive early, with doors opening at 8:00PM, to ensure entry as this event is first-come, first-served.

For more information and to register, visit: https://lu.ma/TheBestEvent-DevCon24
For the latest updates, join the Telegram group: https://t.me/+5KzXYg2cridmOGRl
For sponsorships, VIP inquiries or table reservations, contact via email or on Telegram.

About TB Ventures (TBV)
TBV is a venture capital fund investing in early-stage Web3 companies across Southeast Asia and North America. Supported by TBE (TB Events) and TBA (TB Advisory), TBV offers a comprehensive ecosystem and network of services that are underpinned by a 100k+ social following and 10k+ active TG community.
X: https://x.com/tbvxyz
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tbv-xyz
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tobiandbrent

About TB Events (TBE)
TB Events is a premier event series in the Web3 community, bringing together key industry figures for networking and collaboration. With a focus on fostering connections and sharing insights, these events serve as a hub for innovation and growth in the blockchain space.

About BitcoinOS
BitcoinOS is the ultimate upgrade to Bitcoin. Its breakthroughs in the use of ZK proofs allow it to embed any computation directly into Bitcoin transactions. This allows for a shared infrastructure layer of the first true Bitcoin L2s that feature total L1 security, trustless bridging, scalability, natively private transactions, and fully programmable tokens on Bitcoin.

BOS’s modular infrastructure acts as an operating system that creates seamless interoperability among all L2s within the system. As such, BOS fully maintains Bitcoin’s network effects, and establishes a permissionless, peaceful paradigm for the original chain to evolve in layers without ever needing to fork its code.

Media Contact
pr@yourprstrategist.com
gm@tbv.xyz

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/39d386f8-822a-48fe-939c-b819c41a659b

The MIL Network –
January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Economy – Annual publication of updated weights for the Trade Weighted Index – Reserve Bank of NZ

Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand

4 November 2024 – The annual publication of updated weights for the Trade Weighted Index will take place on 4 December 2024.

This will be published on the B10: Trade Weighted Index weights and trade volumes and B13: Trade Weighted Index historical weights tables after 3pm. While the specific time of publication cannot be confirmed, the B10 and B13 tables will be published by close of business on 4 December 2024.

These weights will take effect from 5 December 2024.
Trade Weighted Index weights and trade volumes (B10): https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=d15df74332&e=f3c68946f8
Trade Weighted Index historical weights (B13): https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=b27c24801f&e=f3c68946f8

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI China: China’s commerce minister urges active role from France in reaching EV trade solution

Source: China State Council Information Office 3

China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao has called on France, as a key European Union (EU) member, to play an active role in pushing the European Commission to show sincerity and meet the Chinese side halfway to secure a solution concerning the EU’s anti-subsidy probe into Chinese electric vehicles (EVs).

Wang made the remarks during a meeting with French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and French Nationals Abroad, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Sophie Primas, in Shanghai on Sunday, according to the Ministry of Commerce. Wang and Primas met ahead of the seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE), which starts this week.

The EU’s anti-subsidy probe into China-made EVs has severely hindered cooperation between EU and Chinese auto industries, currently a critical concern for industries on both sides, Wang said, noting that technical teams from China and the EU are presently engaged in a second round of consultations.

Wang reiterated China’s commitment to addressing China-EU trade friction through dialogue and consultation — based on respect for facts and compliance with WTO rules.

Wang said that unlike the EU’s anti-subsidy probe initiated without industry applications, China’s trade remedy investigations targeting certain EU goods, such as brandy, pork and dairy products, were launched at the request of domestic industries in full compliance with WTO rules and Chinese laws and regulations.

He stressed that China would continue to handle these investigations in accordance with laws and regulations, safeguard the legal rights of enterprises from EU member states, including France, and base its rulings on evidence and facts.

China is ready to work with the European Commission to seek a proper solution in this respect, Wang added.

Noting that this year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of China-France diplomatic relations, with France featuring as a guest country of honor at the CIIE again, Wang said that over 100 French companies are set to participate in the expo this year — the highest number among EU countries, highlighting French companies’ strong interest in the Chinese market.

Primas affirmed France’s firm commitment to deepening economic and trade relations with China and expressed her pleasure at France’s role as a guest country of honor at the expo again this year.

With agricultural and food products being vital elements of France’s trade with China, she conveyed France’s significant concern over China’s investigations aimed at EU products, including brandy.

France does not wish to see further escalation of current EU-China trade tensions and hopes both sides will resolve trade disputes through consultation, Primas said.

MIL OSI China News –

January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI: Municipality Finance issues EUR 20 million notes under its MTN programme

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Municipality Finance Plc
Stock exchange release
4 November 2024 at 10:00 am (EET)

Municipality Finance issues EUR 20 million notes under its MTN programme

Municipality Finance Plc issues EUR 20 million notes on 5 November 2024. The maturity date of the notes is 5 November 2035. MuniFin has a right, but no obligation, to redeem the notes early on 5 November 2025. The notes bear interest at a fixed rate of 3.87% per annum until 5 November 2025, after which the interest is paid at 3.00% per annum, unless MuniFin redeems the notes early.

The notes are issued under MuniFin’s EUR 50 billion programme for the issuance of debt instruments. The offering circular, the supplemental offering circular and the final terms of the notes are available in English on the company’s website at https://www.kuntarahoitus.fi/en/for-investors.

MuniFin has applied for the notes to be admitted to trading on the Helsinki Stock Exchange maintained by Nasdaq Helsinki. The public trading is expected to commence on 5 November 2024.

UBS Europe SE acts as the dealer for the issue of the notes.

MUNICIPALITY FINANCE PLC

Further information:

Joakim Holmström
Executive Vice President, Capital Markets and Sustainability
tel. +358 50 444 3638

MuniFin (Municipality Finance Plc) is one of Finland’s largest credit institutions. The company is owned by Finnish municipalities, the public sector pension fund Keva and the Republic of Finland.
The Group’s balance sheet totals over EUR 50 billion.

MuniFin builds a better and more sustainable future with its customers. MuniFin’s customers include municipalities, joint municipal authorities, wellbeing services counties, corporate entities under their control, and non-profit organisations nominated by the Housing Finance and Development Centre of Finland (ARA). Lending is used for environmentally and socially responsible investment targets such as public transportation, sustainable buildings, hospitals and healthcare centres, schools and day care centres, and homes for people with special needs.

MuniFin’s customers are domestic but the company operates in a completely global business environment. The company is an active Finnish bond issuer in international capital markets and the first Finnish green and social bond issuer. The funding is exclusively guaranteed by the Municipal Guarantee Board.

Read more: https://www.kuntarahoitus.fi/en/

Important Information

The information contained herein is not for release, publication or distribution, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in or into any such country or jurisdiction or otherwise in such circumstances in which the release, publication or distribution would be unlawful. The information contained herein does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of, any securities or other financial instruments in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration, exemption from registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

This communication does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The notes have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or under the applicable securities laws of any state of the United States and may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons except pursuant to an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

The MIL Network –

January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI: Data Storage Corporation Provides Letter to Shareholders Highlighting Recent Achievements within CloudFirst Technologies Subsidiary
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

MELVILLE, N.Y., Nov. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Data Storage Corporation (Nasdaq: DTST) (“DSC” and the “Company”), a provider of diverse business continuity solutions for disaster-recovery, cloud infrastructure, cyber-security, and IT automation, today provided a letter to shareholders from its CEO, Chuck Piluso.

“To our Valued Shareholders:

We are excited to share significant updates on the transformative progress at our wholly owned subsidiary, CloudFirst Technologies. This year we have witnessed fundamental growth, driven by our commitment to establishing CloudFirst as an industry leader in cloud hosting, disaster recovery, and cyber-security. By focusing on these high-demand areas, we are positioning the company for sustainable long-term profitability, global expansion, and heightened operational efficiency. Below, we outline key highlights, strategic initiatives, and our outlook for the future.

Operational Highlights:

As of June 30, 2024, CloudFirst is proud to report the following:
- We serve over 425 companies, representing diverse industries and a growing client base.
- For 2025, the baseline billing in annual recurring revenue baseline, given all annual services renew, is expected to reach over $20.0 million, while our typical agreement for our enterprise cloud is 36 months, underscores our robust financial trajectory and confidence in CloudFirst’s market positioning.
- CloudFirst today has over $31.0 million in remaining contract value for our enterprise subscription cloud hosting infrastructure, disaster recovery and cyber security solutions.
- Additionally, we are pleased to report a contract renewal rate, for over a decade, greater than 90%, highlighting the strength of our customer relationships and the ongoing satisfaction with our team and our services.
These achievements reflect our strategic focus on cloud infrastructure, disaster recovery and cyber security services, which continue to deliver sustainable, high-margin growth.

UK Expansion:

In line with our growth strategy, we are pleased to announce our entry into the UK market where we expect to begin offering services in the first quarter of 2025. This expansion is key to our plan to increase CloudFirst’s global footprint.
- We are partnering with Intel-based data centers to establish CloudFirst’s technical infrastructure across multiple data centers. These partnerships will allow us to leverage our enterprise IBM Power platform while Intel-based providers manage client referrals and billing.
- Our expansion into the rapidly growing European market is expected to enable us to capture new demand for cloud services, disaster recovery, and cybersecurity while positioning us as a key player in the region.
These steps mark major milestones in CloudFirst’s goal of becoming a global leader in enterprise cloud-based services and offers us the opportunity to grow our client base and increase revenue in a growing market.

Flagship Solutions Group Integration:

We are also reporting the successful integration of Flagship Solutions Group into CloudFirst on January 1, 2024. Acquired in 2021, Flagship has undergone a transformation over the past few years:
- Flagship moved from a negative EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2022, to a positive result in EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2023, a testament to our ability to streamline operations and create synergies across the two organizations.
- A key driver of this turnaround has been our efforts to consolidate technical teams under CloudFirst’s CTO, unify our monitoring systems, and integrate various platforms, thereby optimizing the efficiency of our service delivery.
This strategic integration enhances CloudFirst’s operational efficiency and positions us to capitalize on new revenue opportunities by offering our full suite of cloud and recovery services to Flagship’s established client base.

Conclusion:

Looking ahead, we believe CloudFirst is well-positioned for continued success. Our expansion into the UK, the operational efficiencies we have achieved through the Flagship Solutions Group integration, and our strong financial performance are all expected to provide a solid foundation for sustained growth and shareholder value creation.

As we continue to execute our growth strategy, we remain focused on our core mission: to provide reliable, scalable, and high-margin cloud infrastructure, disaster recovery, and cybersecurity solutions. We are committed to driving innovation, delivering excellent customer experiences, and pursuing new market opportunities.

We sincerely thank you for your continued support and look forward to sharing more updates as we reach new milestones.

Sincerely,

Chuck Piluso
CEO, Data Storage Corporation”

About Data Storage Corporation

Data Storage Corporation (Nasdaq: DTST) is a leading provider of fully managed cloud hosting, disaster recovery, cybersecurity, IT automation, and voice & data solutions. With strategic technical investments in multiple regions, DTST serves a diverse clientele, including Fortune 500 companies, in sectors such as government, education, and healthcare. Focused on the fast-growing, multi-billion-dollar cloud hosting and business continuity market. DTST is recognized as a stable and emerging growth leader in cloud infrastructure, support and the migration of data to the cloud. Our regional data centers across North America enable us to deliver sustainable services through recurring subscription agreements.

For more information, please visit www.dtst.com or follow us on X @DataStorageCorp.

Safe Harbor Provision
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, that are intended to be covered by the safe harbor created thereby. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Statements preceded by, followed by or that otherwise include the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “projects,” “estimates,” “plans” and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “should,” “would,” “may” and “could” are generally forward-looking in nature and not historical facts, although not all forward-looking statements include the foregoing. The forward looking statements in this press release include statements such as continuing to grow revenue and increase profitability as the Company executes on its strategic initiatives, the consolidation of the CloudFirst and Flagship subsidiaries positioning the Company to optimize operations, leverage its technical teams, realize greater efficiencies, and improve internal resource allocation, while capitalizing on extensive cross-selling and upselling opportunities among its customer networks, having developed a robust business strategy that we will drive growth and secure sustainable profitability while maximizing long term value for shareholders and providing meaningful updates to shareholders as developments unfold. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can provide no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations and assumptions from those set forth or implied by any forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include the Company’s ability to execute and advance its growth strategies. These risks should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read together with the other cautionary statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it was initially made. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.

Contact:
Crescendo Communications, LLC
212-671-1020
DTST@crescendo-ir.com

The MIL Network –
January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI: Virtune AB (Publ) Launches Virtune Crypto Altcoin Index ETP On Nasdaq Stockholm

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Stockholm, November 4, 2024 – Virtune, a Swedish regulated crypto asset manager, today announced the launch of Virtune Crypto Altcoin Index ETP on Nasdaq Stockholm, the largest stock exchange in the Nordic region.

Key description about the product:

Virtune Crypto Altcoin Index ETP offers investors exposure to an equal-weighted basket of up to 10 leading alternative crypto assets (altcoins), excluding Bitcoin and Ethereum. The product is 100% physically backed by the underlying crypto assets and provides investors with a simple and secure way to gain broad exposure to the crypto market beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum. The product is rebalanced monthly, resetting the holdings to equal weight, and existing crypto assets can be excluded and new crypto assets may be included.

This launch marks a significant milestone in offering diversified investment opportunities within crypto through regulated exchange traded products across the Nordics, and this marks Virtune’s 13th ETP. Virtune Crypto Altcoin Index ETP can be traded via an ISK, capital insurance, or a custodial account and is available at Avanza and Nordnet.

As of 31st of October 2024, the index that the product tracks, Virtune Vinter Crypto Altcoin Index, had the following weights:

Solana: 14.28%
XRP: 14.28%
Cardano: 14.28%
Avalanche: 14.28%
Chainlink: 14.28%
Litecoin: 14.28%
Uniswap: 14.28%

Only crypto assets that are part of the Nasdaq Crypto Index Europe can be included since the product is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm.

Key benefits of Virtune Crypto Altcoin Index ETP:

Exposure to up to 10 leading altcoins (Bitcoin and Ethereum are excluded)
Equal-weighted holdings of each crypto asset
100% physically backed by the underlying crypto assets
Monthly rebalancing
2.50% annual management fee

Virtune Crypto Altcoin Index ETP:

Full name: Virtune Crypto Altcoin Index ETP
Short name: Virtune Crypto Altcoin Index
Index: Virtune Vinter Crypto Altcoin Index
Trading currency: SEK
First trading day: Monday, November 4, 2024
ISIN: SE0023260716
Exchange: Nasdaq Stockholm

Christopher Kock, CEO of Virtune:
“We are pleased to announce the launch of Virtune Crypto Altcoin Index ETP, which is listed today on Nasdaq Stockholm. As the crypto market continues to evolve and new investment opportunities arise, this product enables investors to gain exposure to a basket of up to ten leading crypto assets beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum. Our partnerships with market-leading partners such as Vinter (index provider), Flow Traders (market maker), and Coinbase (custodian) ensure that we continue to deliver innovative and in-demand investment products to the market.”

This ETP caters to both institutional and retail investors, addressing the increasing demand for exposure to altcoins from Nordic investors.

If you are an institutional investor interested in exploring the potential of our current and upcoming ETPs for your discretionary asset management or wish to learn more about Virtune and our product offering, please feel free to contact us. Visit www.virtune.com for more information, and register your email address on our website to receive updates on upcoming ETP launches and other news related to crypto assets.

Press contact
Christopher Kock, CEO Virtune AB (Publ)
christopher@virtune.com
+46 70 073 45 64

Virtune with its headquarters in Stockholm is a regulated Swedish digital asset manager and issuer of crypto exchange traded products on regulated European exchanges.With regulatory compliance, strategic collaborations with industry leaders and our proficient team, we empower investors on a global level to access innovative and sophisticated investment products that are aligned with the evolving landscape of the global crypto market.

Crypto investments are associated with high risk. Virtune does not provide investment advice; investments are made at your own risk. Securities may increase or decrease in value, there is no guarantee of getting back invested capital. Read the prospectus, KID, terms at virtune.com.

The MIL Network –

January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: MedSafetyWeek 2025: Preventing side effects
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

The ninth annual #MedSafetyWeek takes place this week, with regulators from 94 countries and 107 organisations taking part across the globe.
#MedSafetyWeek forms part of international efforts to raise awareness about the importance of reporting suspected side effects to national medicines regulatory authorities such as the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

This year’s campaign, which runs from 4 to 10 November, focuses on the importance of using medicines correctly to prevent side effects.

This means taking the right medicines, at the right time, in the right way and at the right dose, and carefully following instructions for use of medical devices. Following these steps can drastically reduce the risk of some side effects and safety issues.

When side effects do arise, this MedSafetyWeek, we ask that they are reported directly to the MHRA’s Yellow Card scheme and local reporting systems as soon as possible. Anyone can make a report: patients, parents, carers and healthcare professionals.

Reporting to the scheme allows the MHRA to not only identify new adverse effects but also gain more information about known adverse effects. This helps to improve the safety of medicines and healthcare products for all patients.

Safety concerns about medical devices, blood factor and immunoglobulin products, e-cigarettes and defective, low-quality or fake healthcare products should also be reported on the Yellow Card website.

This year’s MedSafetyWeek theme of ‘preventing side effects’ aligns with the third World Health Organization (WHO) Global Patient Safety Challenge: Medication Without Harm.

Preventable side effects contribute significantly to an increasing burden on patients and healthcare services, with studies consistently showing that between one third and a half may be potentially preventable.

Anticipating and managing side effects is key to reducing this burden and protecting patients from avoidable harm.

Please support #MedSafetyWeek by sharing, liking and reposting our social media posts:

Facebook

LinkedIn

Instagram

X (Twitter)

Yellow Card scheme

In the UK, the MHRA’s Yellow Card scheme is a critical source of information for us as the regulator to monitor the safety of healthcare products once they are on the market.

Importantly, Yellow Card reports can help to identify previously unknown side effects – or adverse drug reactions (ADRs) – and provide new safety knowledge to ensure risk is minimised.

Examples include a report of a three-month-old baby who was prescribed Gaviscon Infant to manage reflux and two days later had severe constipation.

MHRA experts investigated the report and found six other reports of constipation with Gaviscon Infant in children. The ages of the patients varied between two weeks and nine months, except for one child who was a one-year-old.

As the medicine is indicated for children aged one to two years, it appeared that in the vast majority of these cases the product had been prescribed by a healthcare professional in an unapproved patient age group.

It was decided that regulatory action was needed to make the product information clearer with the relevant warnings and precautions.

Yellow Card Biobank

The Yellow Card Biobank is an MHRA and Genomics England pilot project with the goal of increasing understanding of how a patients’ genetic makeup may increase their risk of side effects from prescribed medications.

The MHRA is currently looking for patients who have experienced severe skin reactions when taking allopurinol or severe bleeding when taking direct oral anticoagulants to join the study, before mid-January 2025.

If you or your patient have experienced a side effect to either of these drugs please complete a Yellow Card report. If you have any questions on the Biobank study, please email Yellowcardbiobank@mhra.gov.uk

Share this page

The following links open in a new tab

Share on Facebook (opens in new tab)

Share on Twitter (opens in new tab)

Updates to this page

Published 4 November 2024
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Nature’s role in economy

Source: Scottish Government

Jobs and sectors dependent on sustainable natural world.

Scotland’s natural assets contribute more than £40 billion to the economy and support around 260,000 jobs, according to new research. 

The Importance of Natural Capital to the Scottish Economy report highlights the vital economic contribution the natural world makes to Scotland and highlights the value of the ecosystems and the services they provide. 

Important industries such as agriculture, fishing and aquaculture, forestry, water, food and drink and renewables all rely upon the continued availability of high-quality natural resources.

The research investigates the economic impact of natural capital, which is defined as “the renewable and non-renewable stocks of natural assets, including geology, soil, air, water and plants and animals that combine to yield a flow of benefits to people.” 

The Scottish Government conducted the research to provide the most up-to-date reflection of the true value of nature to the Scottish economy, as it is often undervalued or not included in economic assessments. The study demonstrates the link between the threats to Scotland’s economic performance, and the economic opportunity associated with increasing nature dependent sectors.

The Scottish Government’s National Strategy for Economic Transformation (NSET) makes clear that working with and investing in nature is a top priority of Scotland’s wellbeing economy.

Speaking while visiting Blackthorn Salt in Ayrshire, which produces salt through filtering sea water, Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said: 

“This research reinforces the vital role of our natural capital in supporting many of our vital industries – a connection that is often under-represented when we look at economic performance. Blackthorn Salt is an excellent example of a business that is dependent on natural capital, using sustainable, traditional methods to produce an exceptional products that provides jobs and can be found in kitchens across the country and beyond.

“The twin crises of climate change and nature loss are inextricably linked, nature offers some of the best ways to protect us from the worst impacts of climate change, so it is essential that we work with partners across the public sector and private investors to protect biodiversity and reduce our emissions as we support sustainable businesses utilising our incredible landscapes and ecosystems.”

NatureScot Chief Executive, Francesca Osowska said:

“Nature is vital for our quality of life and that of future generations. In Scotland we are fortunate to have rich and varied landscapes and habitats, with individuals and businesses willing to step up to the challenge of stopping nature loss with hard work and investment.

“NatureScot is responding to this urgent need with leadership of vital programmes such as the £250m Peatland ACTION fund, the £65m Nature Restoration Fund and the innovative new Facility for Investment Ready Nature Scotland (FIRNS) which aims to both restore nature and benefit communities. “

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Main venue for 7th CIIE

Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

Main venue for 7th CIIE

Updated: November 4, 2024 17:24 Xinhua

An aerial drone photo taken on Nov. 4, 2024 shows the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China’s Shanghai. The 7th CIIE will be held in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to 10. [Photo/Xinhua]

An aerial drone photo taken on Nov. 4, 2024 shows the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China’s Shanghai. [Photo/Xinhua]

An aerial drone photo taken on Nov. 4, 2024 shows the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China’s Shanghai. [Photo/Xinhua]

An aerial drone photo taken on Nov. 4, 2024 shows the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China’s Shanghai. [Photo/Xinhua]

Exhibitors prepare for products display at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China’s Shanghai, Nov. 4, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

This photo shows the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China’s Shanghai, Nov. 4, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

This photo shows the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China’s Shanghai, Nov. 4, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

A volunteer poses for photos at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China’s Shanghai, Nov. 4, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

This photo shows a view of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China’s Shanghai, Nov. 4, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

A volunteer poses for photos at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China’s Shanghai, Nov. 4, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

Volunteers pose for photos at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China’s Shanghai, Nov. 4, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

Copyright© www.gov.cn | About us | Contact us

Website Identification Code bm01000001 Registration Number: 05070218

All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to www.gov.cn.

Without written authorization from www.gov.cn, such content shall not be republished or used in any form.

MIL OSI China News –

January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI: Gran Tierra Energy Inc. Announces Normal Course Issuer Bid and Automatic Share Purchase Plan

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

CALGARY, Alberta, Nov. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Gran Tierra Energy Inc. (“Gran Tierra”) (NYSE American: GTE)(TSX: GTE)(LSE: GTE), today announces that the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) has approved its notice of intention to make a normal course issuer bid (the “Bid”) for its shares of common stock (the “Shares”). As of October 31, 2024, there were 36,460,141 Shares issued and outstanding and the public float was 35,458,717 Shares. Pursuant to the Bid, Gran Tierra will be able to purchase for cancellation up to 3,545,872 Shares, representing 10% of the public float, at prevailing market prices at the time of purchase, through the facilities of the TSX, the NYSE American (the “NYSE”) or alternative trading platforms in Canada or the United States, if eligible, or by such other means as may be permitted by the TSX, the NYSE and applicable securities laws for a one year period commencing on November 6, 2024 and ending on November 5, 2025. Gran Tierra has also entered into an Automatic Share Purchase Plan (the “ASPP”) in connection with the Bid. The ASPP is intended to allow for the purchase of Shares under the Bid when Gran Tierra would ordinarily not be permitted to purchase Shares due to regulatory restrictions and customary self-imposed blackout periods.

Gran Tierra may purchase up to 9,829 Shares during any trading day, which represents approximately 25% of 39,317, which represents the average daily trading volume on the TSX for the most recently completed six calendar months prior to the TSX’s acceptance of the notice of the Bid. Gran Tierra may effect repurchases from time to time in the open market or in negotiated transactions off the market at prevailing market prices at the time of purchase.

Management of Gran Tierra believes that the Shares, at times, have been trading in a price range which does not adequately reflect their value in relation to Gran Tierra’s current operations, growth prospects and financial position. At such times, the purchase of Shares for cancellation or to satisfy awards granted under Gran Tierra’s Long Term Equity Incentive Plan may be advantageous to stockholders by increasing the value of the Shares.

Within the past twelve months, Gran Tierra purchased 2,703,914 Shares at a volume weighted average price of CDN$9.34 under a previously approved normal course issuer bid through the facilities of the TSX and eligible alternative trading platforms in Canada and the United States permitting the purchase of up to 3,234,914 Shares (calculated on a post-10-for-1 reverse stock split basis), which expired on November 2, 2024.

Pursuant to the ASPP, outside of a trading blackout period, Gran Tierra may, but is not required to, instruct the designated broker to make purchases under the Bid in accordance with the terms of the ASPP. Such purchases will be determined by the designated broker at its sole discretion based on purchasing parameters set by Gran Tierra in accordance with the rules of the TSX, the NYSE, applicable securities laws, including Rule 10b-18 under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the terms of the ASPP. The ASPP has been pre-cleared by the TSX and will be implemented on November 6, 2024.

Outside of blackout periods, Shares may be purchased under the Bid based on management’s discretion, in compliance with the rules of the TSX, the NYSE and applicable securities laws. Purchases made under the ASPP will be included in computing the number of Shares purchased under the Bid.

As previously announced on February 20, 2024, Gran Tierra was granted an exemptive relief order by the Canadian securities regulators which permits Gran Tierra to purchase up to 10% of its “public float” (within the meaning of the rules of the TSX) of the Shares through the NYSE and other trading systems based in the United States as part of any NCIB implemented in the 36 months following the date of the exemption order, being February 12, 2024. Gran Tierra will therefore not be limited on such trading platforms to purchasing 5% of its outstanding Shares at the beginning of any 12-month period as Canadian securities laws would otherwise provide. The exemptive relief expires February 12, 2027 and is conditional upon, among other things, purchases being made in compliance with applicable U.S. rules, the TSX rules applicable to a normal course issuer bid, National Instrument 23-101 – Trading Rules, and at a price not higher than the market price at the time of purchase.

About Gran Tierra Energy Inc.

Gran Tierra Energy Inc. together with its subsidiaries is an independent international energy company currently focused on oil and natural gas exploration and production in Canada, Colombia and Ecuador. Gran Tierra is currently developing its existing portfolio of assets in Canada, Colombia and Ecuador and will continue to pursue additional growth opportunities that would further strengthen Gran Tierra’s portfolio. Gran Tierra’s common stock trades on the NYSE American, the Toronto Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol GTE. Additional information concerning Gran Tierra is available at www.grantierra.com. Information on Gran Tierra does not constitute a part of this press release. Investor inquiries may be directed to info@grantierra.com or (403) 265-3221.

Gran Tierra’s U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filings are available on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Gran Tierra’s Canadian securities regulatory filings are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com and UK regulatory filings are available on the National Storage Mechanism (the “NSM”) website at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism. Gran Tierra’s filings on the SEC, SEDAR+ and NSM websites are not incorporated by reference into this press release.

Forward-Looking Statements and Advisories

This press release contains statements about future events that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and forward looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws (collectively, “forward-looking statements”). Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the belief of Gran Tierra’s management that the Bid will be advantageous to stockholders, potential purchases of the Shares for cancellation or redeployment under Gran Tierra’s Long Term Equity Incentive Plan, the potential value of the Bid for Gran Tierra’s stockholders and other benefits to be derived from the Bid. There can be no assurance as to how many Shares, if any, will ultimately be acquired by Gran Tierra.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements, including, among others, unexpected changes in general market and economic conditions. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained herein. Further information on potential factors that could affect Gran Tierra are included in risks detailed from time to time in Gran Tierra’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, under the caption “Risk Factors” in Gran Tierra’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed February 20, 2024 and its subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. These filings are available on a Website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov and on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.

All forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and the fact that this press release remains available does not constitute a representation by Gran Tierra that Gran Tierra believes these forward-looking statements continue to be true as of any subsequent date. Actual results may vary materially from the expected results expressed in forward-looking statements. Gran Tierra disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities laws. Gran Tierra’s forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

No Offer or Solicitation

The information in this press release is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to purchase, nor a solicitation of an offer to sell, subscribe for or buy any securities or otherwise, nor shall there be any purchase in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law.

Contact Information:

For investor and media inquiries please contact:

Gary Guidry
President & Chief Executive Officer

Ryan Ellson
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

+1-403-265-3221
info@grantierra.com

The MIL Network –

January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: TV Interview, ABC Afternoon Briefing with Greg Jennett, Shanghai

Source: Minister for Trade

Greg Jennett, host: Don Farrell, thanks for making this conversation possible from Shanghai. I suppose the very fact that you’re there indicates that the resumption of trade relations with China is very much back on track. What additional Australian products and services, though, are you telling the Chinese Commerce Minister that Australia should gain access to now in the Chinese market?

Minister for Trade: Thanks, Greg. I met with my Chinese counterpart last evening on my arrival from Canberra. This was our 9th meeting. And again, we discussed those particular products that are still waiting to get back into the China market. Of course, that’s lobster and a couple of meat establishments. I got some assurances from the Minister that everything is on track to resolve all of our outstanding issues.

Now, having done that, we’re not resting on our laurels. I’m here with 253 Australian companies. Some of them have been here before, but many are coming for the first time, and my job as the Trade Minister is to try and push Australian companies out of Australia and into overseas markets. Obviously, China is the largest market for Australian goods. Last year, we sold $327 billion of two-way trade between Australia and China. But I think we can do better than that. I think this Expo – the largest trading event in the world – will be held this week, and I think we can sell even more wonderful Australian products, whether it’s food, whether it’s wine, whether it’s manufactured goods. That’s my ambition for this week.

Greg Jennett: It does sound ambitious Don Farrell. Also on the wine front, I understand you’ve announced the formation of a wine partnership, some sort of training program, I believe. Does that mean that Chinese winemakers will come to Australia to undertake this training?

Minister for Trade: It’ll be a mixture of both Greg. I was just with Penfolds. Of course, Penfolds is the biggest Australian winemaker in China. We want to work with the Chinese officials and the Chinese wine industry firstly so that we can get our product back into China, but also so we can help them improve their product. It’s a two-way thing. As I said before, China is our largest trading market. We want a prosperous future for our wine industry. Already, almost $500 million worth of Australian wine is back on the supermarket shelves here in China. We want to do better in that, but we also want to work closely to improve the skills and the abilities of Chinese winemakers. And Penfolds Wines are at the forefront of that.

Greg Jennett: Now, the Chinese leadership has made no secret over a very long time now about its desire to increase investment into Australia. I’m wondering in your talks whether Minister Wentao raised this and named any particular sectors for greater Chinese investment.

Minister for Trade: On this occasion, Greg, he didn’t raise that with me. But he has raised those issues in the past, and my answer to the Minister is that Australia welcomes foreign investment, and we welcome foreign investment from China. We are agnostic as to where the investments come from. Part of our Future Made in Australia plan will mean that we need investment from overseas. Australia is very well supplied with, for instance, the critical minerals that are needed to move to net zero. What Australia sometimes struggles with is getting the capital to extract those minerals. So we welcome overseas investment, and we process all of those applications for investment on one principle, and that is our national interest, and that’s what we’ll continue to do Greg.

Greg Jennett: All right. Now, subject to events in the US this week, and I admit here Don, that this is a highly hypothetical question, but if America goes ahead and erects higher tariff walls to Chinese goods entering that country, what do you assess the consequences of that might be for Australia? Could more Chinese manufactured goods enter this country at lower prices?

Minister for Trade: Well, of course, our job, and my job in particular Greg, is to discourage companies from imposing additional trade barriers. Free trade provides peace and prosperity in our region, and my argument to any incoming American government, whether it be a Harris government or a Trump government, is that Australia supports the concept of free trade, and we want to continue to work with countries to ensure that the principles of the World Trade Organisation, the free trade principles, continue to apply to world commerce.

Greg Jennett: Alright, can I tempt you into one or two questions on domestic matters, Don? As Tourism Minister, you’d be well aware of a heightened debate about ministers soliciting upgrades from the national flag carrier, of course, Qantas. If a minister did that, are they in breach of the ministerial code?

Minister for Trade: Look, while I’m up here dealing with trade issues, I think I’ll continue to deal with international issues Greg. And I’ll be happy to talk about those issues when I get back to Australia.

Greg Jennett: Alright, then. Electoral reform, if I can try you on that one as well. Here goes. There are very high expectations, Don Farrell, that this bill will be introduced into the Parliament in the final sitting fortnight. Can you confirm that and is it your expectation that it should also be passed this calendar year?

Minister for Trade: Both of those things are correct. I’d like to see the legislation brought forward before the end of the year and the legislation in place as quickly as possible.

Greg Jennett: Ok, and will that be introduced into the House or into the Senate, where you’re the relevant minister, of course?

Minister for Trade: I’ll sort that out when I get back to Australia Greg.

Greg Jennett: Okay. Well, I understand the constraints, some might even say the conventions, in not addressing domestic matters when abroad Don Farrell. So, we’ll thank you and wish you prosperous negotiations there in Shanghai. Thanks so much for coming on.

Minister for Trade: Thanks very much Greg.

MIL OSI News –

January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Press release – EP Today 4 November 2024

Source: European Parliament

The confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate will begin today.

MEPs will evaluate whether the Commissioners-designate are qualified both to be a member of the College and to carry out the particular duties to which they have been assigned.

Find more detailed information about the hearings process and how to follow them.

All hearings are public and can be followed live on Parliament’s webstreaming and Ebs/Ebs+.

Find additional information also on Parliament’s dedicated website on the hearings.

Find here press releases on the hearings.

Today’s hearings schedule is as follows:

14.30 – 17.30, room ANTALL 2Q2

Maroš Šefčovič

Portfolio: Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security; Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency

Responsible committees

Committee on International Trade

Committee on Constitutional Affairs

Contacts

Eszter ZALÁN

(+32) 477 99 20 73

EP Trade

Kyriakos KLOSIDIS

(+32) 470 96 47 35

EP_Institutional

Martina VASS

(+32) 477 99 11 57

You can watch the hearing live.

Bernd Lange (S&D, Germany), Chair of the Committee on International Trade, and Sven Simon (EPP, Germany), Chair of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, will hold a press point after the hearing outside the meeting room. You can follow it live on Parliament’s webstreaming and on EbS.

14.30 – 17.30, room ANTALL 4Q2

Glenn Micallef

Portfolio: Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport

Responsible committee

Committee on Culture and Education

Contacts

Raquel LOPES

(+32) 477 99 14 95

EPCulture

John SCHRANZ

(+32) 498 98 14 02

You can watch the hearing live.

Nela Riehl (Greens/EFA, Germany), Chair of the Committee on Culture and Education, will hold a press point after the hearing outside the meeting room. You can follow it live on Parliament’s webstreaming and on EbS.

18.30 – 21.30, room ANTALL 2Q2

Christophe Hansen

Portfolio: Commissioner for Agriculture and Food

Responsible committee

Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

Contacts

Hana RAISSI

(+32) 484 27 87 54

EP_Agriculture

Michaela FINDEIS

(+32) 498 98 33 32

You can watch the hearing live.

18.30 – 21.30, room ANTALL 4Q2

Apostolos Tzitzikostas

Portfolio: Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism

Responsible committee

Committee on Transport and Tourism

Contacts

Gediminas VILKAS

(+32) 470 89 29 21

EP_Transport

Kyriakos KLOSIDIS

(+32) 470 96 47 35

You can watch the hearing live.

Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi (EPP, Greece), Chair of the Committee on Transport and Tourism, will hold a press point after the hearing outside the meeting room. You can follow it live on Parliament’s webstreaming and on EbS.

MIL OSI Europe News –

January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Fitness check of regulation banning trade in seal products – E-001578/2024(ASW)
Source: European Parliament
The Fitness Check of the EU Regulation on Trade in Seal Products[1] and the EU Seal Pups Directive[2] has been launched to assess whether these instruments remain fit for purpose as to their effectiveness, efficiency, coherence, relevance, and EU added value. Such evaluations are common practice in the lifespan of any piece of EU legislation.

A report of the Fitness Check performed by external contractors on behalf of the Commission, which is expected in January 2025, will integrate the results of the public consultation and the call for evidence, a factual summary of which is already available on the Have Your Say portal[3], and of targeted consultations with key stakeholders, as well as own literature review/research to fill possible knowledge gaps.

The report will serve as input to a Commission Staff Working Document to be published in the first quarter of 2025.

On the basis of the Fitness Check findings, the Commission will consider whether further measures are needed.

[1] Regulation (EU) 2015/1775 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 October 2015 amending Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009 on trade in seal products and repealing Commission Regulation (EU) No 737/2010, OJ L 262, 7.10.2015, p. 1-6.

[2] Council Directive 89/370/EEC of 8 June 1989 amending Directive 83/129/EEC concerning the importation into Member States of skins of certain seal pups and products derived therefrom, OJ L 163, 14.6.1989, p. 37-37.

[3] https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/14031-Trade-in-seal-products-fitness-check-of-EU-rules/public-consultation_en
Last updated: 4 November 2024
MIL OSI Europe News –
January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Commercial exploitation of seal products – E-001763/2024(ASW)
Source: European Parliament
The initial Regulation on Trade in Seal Products[1] allowed, as an exception, the placing on the EU market of seal products from hunts regulated by national law and conducted for the sole purpose of the sustainable management of marine resources.

The regulation was amended in 2015[2], removing that exception, to reflect the outcomes of World Trade Organisation rulings in the EU-Seal products case[3].

The Fitness Check of the EU Regulation on Trade in Seal Products and of the EU Seal Pups Directive[4] has been launched to assess their functioning, effectiveness and impact against their objectives, and whether they remain fit for purpose. Such evaluations are common practice in the lifespan of any piece of EU legislation.

A report of the Fitness Check performed by external contractors on behalf of the Commission, which is expected in January 2025, will integrate the results of the public consultation and the call for evidence, a factual summary of which is already available on the Have Your Say portal[5], and of targeted consultations with key stakeholders, as well as own literature review/research to fill possible knowledge gaps.

The report will serve as input to a Commission Staff Working Document to be published in the first quarter of 2025.

On the basis of the Fitness Check findings, the Commission will consider whether further measures are needed.

[1] Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 September 2009 on trade in seal products, OJ L 286, 31.10.2009, p. 36-39.

[2] Regulation (EU) 2015/1775 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 October 2015 amending Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009 on trade in seal products and repealing Commission Regulation (EU) No 737/2010, OJ L 262, 7.10.2015, p. 1-6.

[3] https://policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/enforcement-and-protection/dispute-settlement/wto-dispute-settlement/wto-disputes-cases-involving-eu_en?f%5B0%5D=landing_page_title%3Aseal

[4] Council Directive 89/370/EEC of 8 June 1989 amending Directive 83/129/EEC concerning the importation into Member States of skins of certain seal pups and products derived therefrom, OJ L 163, 14.6.1989, p. 37-37.

[5] https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/14031-Trade-in-seal-products-fitness-check-of-EU-rules/public-consultation_en
Last updated: 4 November 2024
MIL OSI Europe News –
January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: 86th Meeting of Network Planning Group under PM GatiShakti evaluates four Rail and Road Projects for multimodal connectivity
Source: Government of India (2)

Posted On: 25 JAN 2025 7:14PM by PIB Delhi

The 86th meeting of the Network Planning Group (NPG), chaired by Joint Secretary, Shri E. Srinivas, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), evaluated four projects (2 railways and 2 projects of highway development) for their conformity to principles of PM GatiShakti. The meeting was convened on 24th January 2025 to evaluate infrastructure projects in the Road and Rail sectors.

The NPG NMP focuses on integrated development of multimodal infrastructure, last-mile connectivity to economic and social nodes, intermodal connectivity, and synchronized project implementation. These projects are anticipated to play pivotal roles in the region by boosting logistical efficiency, reducing travel time and delivering substantial socio-economic benefits to the regions they serve.

Upon completion, these projects are anticipated to significantly strengthen India’s infrastructure network, ensuring that the benefits of seamless connectivity reach every part of the country.

The evaluation and anticipated impacts of these projects are detailed below:

A. Projects of the Ministry of Railways (MoR)
1. Quadrupling between Vadodara and Ratlam (258.94km)
This project will add a third and fourth railway line alongside the existing route between Vadodara (Gujarat) and Ratlam (Madhya Pradesh) spanning 258.94 km, easing congestion on one of Western Railway’s busiest corridors. By enhancing freight and passenger capacity, it is expected to reduce detentions and improve connectivity to important industrial and port hubs. It will also strengthen multimodal integration by linking major routes like the Mumbai–New Delhi corridor and adjacent sections in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
1. Murarai – Barharwa 3rd Line (48.9 km)
This Brownfield railway project in West Bengal and Jharkhand spanning 48.9 km, aims to address growing passenger and freight demands in a congested corridor. The existing section is operating at more than 134% capacity, handling coal, iron ore, fertilizers, and other bulk commodities. The addition of a third line will reduce waiting times, improve train punctuality, and increase overall logistics efficiency. Upon completion, it is expected to handle additional bulk traffic for key industries in the region.

B. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)
1. Construction/Upgradation of Existing Road to Two Lane with Paved Shoulder for the Stretch of Tikamgarh – Badagon – Ghuwara – Shahgarh
This project will upgrade a key stretch of 80.70 km of NH-539 in Madhya Pradesh to two lanes with paved shoulders, improving inter-state connectivity between Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, bypassing Tikamgarh city. It aims to reduce congestion, support the transport of agricultural produce (such as wheat and pulses) and stimulate tourism in places such as Orchha, renowned for its cultural heritage.
1. Construction of Four lane Greenfield Access Controlled Highway from Sultanpur (near village Ahimane) to Ayodhya (Ring road of Ayodhya town) of NH-330
This Greenfield four-lane highway having length of 65 km with service roads will bypass heavily built-up areas along NH-330 in Uttar Pradesh. The new corridor will feature major upgrades, including a flyover, ROBs, and dedicated utility ducts. Designed under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM), it will significantly shorten travel times, enhance safety through access-controlled design, and improve regional links among Ayodhya, Prayagraj, and Lucknow. The project is also poised to spur tourism around Ayodhya and bring broader economic benefits to local communities.

Network Planning Group evaluated the proposals based on PM GatiShakti Principles ensuring integrated planning and multimodal connectivity

***

Abhishek Dayal/Abhijith Narayanan

(Release ID: 2096204) Visitor Counter : 32

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –
January 26, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Padma Awards 2025 announced

Source: Government of India (2)

Posted On: 25 JAN 2025 9:00PM by PIB Delhi

Padma Awards – one of the highest civilian Awards of the country, are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. The Awards are given in various disciplines/ fields of activities, viz.- art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc. ‘Padma Vibhushan’ is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; ‘Padma Bhushan’ for distinguished service of high order and ‘Padma Shri’ for distinguished service in any field. The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year.

2. These Awards are conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions which are held at RashtrapatiBhawan usually around March/ April every year. For the year 2025, the President has approved conferment of 139Padma Awards including1 duo case (in a duo case, the Award is counted as one) as per list below. The list comprises 7Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri Awards. 23of the awardees are women and the list also includes 10 persons from the category of Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI and13Posthumous awardees.

Padma Vibhushan(7)

SN	Name	Field	State/Country
	Shri Duvvur Nageshwar Reddy	Medicine	Telangana
	Justice (Retd.) Shri Jagdish Singh Khehar	Public Affairs	Chandigarh
	Smt. Kumudini Rajnikant Lakhia	Art	Gujarat
	Shri LakshminarayanaSubramaniam	Art	Karnataka
	Shri M. T. Vasudevan Nair (Posthumous)	Literature and Education	Kerala
	Shri Osamu Suzuki (Posthumous)	Trade and Industry	Japan
	Smt. Sharda Sinha (Posthumous)	Art	Bihar

Padma Bhushan(19)

SN	Name	Field	State/Country
	Shri A Surya Prakash	Literature and Education-Journalism	Karnataka
	Shri Anant Nag	Art	Karnataka
	Shri Bibek Debroy(Posthumous)	Literature and Education	NCT Delhi
	Shri Jatin Goswami	Art	Assam
	Shri Jose Chacko Periappuram	Medicine	Kerala
	Shri Kailash Nath Dikshit	Others-Archaeology	NCT Delhi
	Shri Manohar Joshi(Posthumous)	Public Affairs	Maharashtra
	Shri Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti	Trade and Industry	Tamil Nadu
	Shri Nandamuri Balakrishna	Art	Andhra Pradesh
	Shri P R Sreejesh	Sports	Kerala
	Shri Pankaj Patel	Trade and Industry	Gujarat
	Shri Pankaj Udhas(Posthumous)	Art	Maharashtra
	Shri Rambahadur Rai	Literature and Education-Journalism	Uttar Pradesh
	Sadhvi Ritambhara	Social Work	Uttar Pradesh
	Shri S Ajith Kumar	Art	Tamil Nadu
	Shri Shekhar Kapur	Art	Maharashtra
	Ms. Shobana Chandrakumar	Art	Tamil Nadu
	Shri Sushil Kumar Modi(Posthumous)	Public Affairs	Bihar
	Shri Vinod Dham	Science and Engineering	United States of America

Padma Shri (113)

SN	Name	Field	State/Country
	Shri Adwaita Charan Gadanayak	Art	Odisha
	Shri Achyut Ramchandra Palav	Art	Maharashtra
	Shri Ajay V Bhatt	Science and Engineering	United States of America
	Shri Anil Kumar Boro	Literature and Education	Assam
	Shri Arijit Singh	Art	West Bengal
	Smt. Arundhati Bhattacharya	Trade and Industry	Maharashtra
	Shri Arunoday Saha	Literature and Education	Tripura
	Shri Arvind Sharma	Literature and Education	Canada
	Shri Ashok Kumar Mahapatra	Medicine	Odisha
	Shri Ashok Laxman Saraf	Art	Maharashtra
	Shri Ashutosh Sharma	Science and Engineering	Uttar Pradesh
	Smt. Ashwini Bhide Deshpande	Art	Maharashtra
	Shri Baijnath Maharaj	Others-Spiritualism	Rajasthan
	Shri Barry Godfray John	Art	NCT Delhi
	Smt. Begam Batool	Art	Rajasthan
	Shri Bharat Gupt	Art	NCT Delhi
	Shri Bheru Singh Chouhan	Art	Madhya Pradesh
	Shri Bhim Singh Bhavesh	Social Work	Bihar
	Smt. Bhimavva Doddabalappa Shillekyathara	Art	Karnataka
	Shri Budhendra Kumar Jain	Medicine	Madhya Pradesh
	Shri C S Vaidyanathan	Public Affairs	NCT Delhi
	Shri Chaitram Deochand Pawar	Social Work	Maharashtra
	Shri Chandrakant Sheth(Posthumous)	Literature and Education	Gujarat
	Shri Chandrakant Sompura	Others-Architecture	Gujarat
	Shri Chetan E Chitnis	Science and Engineering	France
	Shri David R Syiemlieh	Literature and Education	Meghalaya
	Shri Durga Charan Ranbir	Art	Odisha
	Shri Farooq Ahmad Mir	Art	Jammu And Kashmir
	Shri Ganeshwar Shastri Dravid	Literature and Education	Uttar Pradesh
	Smt. Gita Upadhyay	Literature and Education	Assam
	Shri Gokul Chandra Das	Art	West Bengal
	Shri Guruvayur Dorai	Art	Tamil Nadu
	Shri Harchandan Singh Bhatty	Art	Madhya Pradesh
	Shri Hariman Sharma	Others-Agriculture	Himachal Pradesh
	Shri Harjinder Singh Srinagar Wale	Art	Punjab
	Shri Harvinder Singh	Sports	Haryana
	Shri Hassan Raghu	Art	Karnataka
	Shri Hemant Kumar	Medicine	Bihar
	Shri Hriday Narayan Dixit	Literature and Education	Uttar Pradesh
	Shri Hugh and Colleen Gantzer(Posthumous)(Duo)*	Literature and Education-Journalism	Uttarakhand
	Shri Inivalappil Mani Vijayan	Sports	Kerala
	Shri Jagadish Joshila	Literature and Education	Madhya Pradesh
	Smt. Jaspinder Narula	Art	Maharashtra
	Shri Jonas Masetti	Others-Spiritualism	Brazil
	Shri Joynacharan Bathari	Art	Assam
	Smt. Jumde Yomgam Gamlin	Social Work	Arunachal Pradesh
	Shri K. Damodaran	Others-Culinary	Tamil Nadu
	Shri K L Krishna	Literature and Education	Andhra Pradesh
	Smt. K Omanakutty Amma	Art	Kerala
	Shri Kishore Kunal(Posthumous)	Civil Service	Bihar
	Shri L Hangthing	Others-Agriculture	Nagaland
	Shri Lakshmipathy Ramasubbaiyer	Literature and Education-Journalism	Tamil Nadu
	Shri Lalit Kumar Mangotra	Literature and Education	Jammu And Kashmir
	Shri Lama Lobzang(Posthumous)	Others-Spiritualism	Ladakh
	Smt. Libia Lobo Sardesai	Social Work	Goa
	Shri M D Srinivas	Science and Engineering	Tamil Nadu
	Shri Madugula Nagaphani Sarma	Art	Andhra Pradesh
	Shri Mahabir Nayak	Art	Jharkhand
	Smt. Mamata Shankar	Art	West Bengal
	Shri Manda Krishna Madiga	Public Affairs	Telangana
	Shri Maruti Bhujangrao Chitampalli	Literature and Education	Maharashtra
	Shri Miriyala Apparao(Posthumous)	Art	Andhra Pradesh
	Shri Nagendra Nath Roy	Literature and Education	West Bengal
	Shri Narayan (Bhulai Bhai)(Posthumous)	Public Affairs	Uttar Pradesh
	Shri Naren Gurung	Art	Sikkim
	Smt. Neerja Bhatla	Medicine	NCT Delhi
	Smt. Nirmala Devi	Art	Bihar
	Shri Nitin Nohria	Literature and Education	United States of America
	Shri Onkar Singh Pahwa	Trade and Industry	Punjab
	Shri P Datchanamoorthy	Art	Puducherry
	Shri Pandi Ram Mandavi	Art	Chhattisgarh
	Shri Parmar Lavjibhai Nagjibhai	Art	Gujarat
	Shri Pawan Goenka	Trade and Industry	West Bengal
	Shri Prashanth Prakash	Trade and Industry	Karnataka
	Smt. Pratibha Satpathy	Literature and Education	Odisha
	Shri Purisai Kannappa Sambandan	Art	Tamil Nadu
	Shri R Ashwin	Sports	Tamil Nadu
	Shri R G Chandramogan	Trade and Industry	Tamil Nadu
	Smt. Radha Bahin Bhatt	Social Work	Uttarakhand
	Shri Radhakrishnan Devasenapathy	Art	Tamil Nadu
	Shri Ramdarash Mishra	Literature and Education	NCT Delhi
	Shri Ranendra Bhanu Majumdar	Art	Maharashtra
	Shri Ratan Kumar Parimoo	Art	Gujarat
	Shri Reba Kanta Mahanta	Art	Assam
	Shri Renthlei Lalrawna	Literature and Education	Mizoram
	Shri Ricky Gyan Kej	Art	Karnataka
	Shri Sajjan Bhajanka	Trade and Industry	West Bengal
	Smt. Sally Holkar	Trade and Industry	Madhya Pradesh
	Shri Sant Ram Deswal	Literature and Education	Haryana
	Shri Satyapal Singh	Sports	Uttar Pradesh
	Shri Seeni Viswanathan	Literature and Education	Tamil Nadu
	Shri Sethuraman Panchanathan	Science and Engineering	United States of America
	Smt. Sheikha Shaikha Ali Al-Jaber Al-Sabah	Medicine	Kuwait
	Shri Sheen Kaaf Nizam (Shiv Kishan Bissa)	Literature and Education	Rajasthan
	Shri Shyam Bihari Agrawal	Art	Uttar Pradesh
	Smt. Soniya Nityanand	Medicine	Uttar Pradesh
	Shri Stephen Knapp	Literature and Education	United States of America
	Shri Subhash Khetulal Sharma	Others-Agriculture	Maharashtra
	Shri Suresh Harilal Soni	Social Work	Gujarat
	Shri Surinder Kumar Vasal	Science and Engineering	Delhi
	Shri Swami Pradiptananda (Kartik Maharaj)	Others-Spiritualism	West Bengal
	Shri Syed Ainul Hasan	Literature and Education	Uttar Pradesh
	Shri Tejendra Narayan Majumdar	Art	West Bengal
	Smt. Thiyam Suryamukhi Devi	Art	Manipur
	Shri Tushar Durgeshbhai Shukla	Literature and Education	Gujarat
	Shri Vadiraj Raghawendracharya Panchamukhi	Literature and Education	Andhra Pradesh
	Shri Vasudeo Kamath	Art	Maharashtra
	Shri Velu Aasaan	Art	Tamil Nadu
	Shri Venkappa Ambaji Sugatekar	Art	Karnataka
	Shri Vijay Nityanand Surishwar Ji Maharaj	Others-Spiritualism	Bihar
	Smt. Vijayalakshmi Deshamane	Medicine	Karnataka
	Shri Vilas Dangre	Medicine	Maharashtra
	Shri Vinayak Lohani	Social Work	West Bengal

Note: * In Duo case, the Award is counted as one.

*****

Raj Kumar/Vivek/Ashutosh/Rajeev/Priyabhanshu/Pankaj

(Release ID: 2096285) Visitor Counter : 462

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 26, 2025

MIL-OSI China: Imported products welcomed by Chinese customers during Spring Festival shopping season

Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

Imported products welcomed by Chinese customers during Spring Festival shopping season

A wide range of flavors from around the world now are welcomed by Chinese people at their festive dining tables, displaying China’s growing consumption power and expanding imports.

MIL OSI China News –

January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI: OTC Markets Group Welcomes Corero Network Security plc to OTCQX

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NEW YORK, Nov. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM), operator of regulated markets for trading 12,000 U.S. and international securities, today announced Corero Network Security plc (LSE: CNS; OTCQX: DDOSF), a leading provider of distributed denial of service (DDoS) protection solutions, has qualified to trade on the OTCQX® Best Market. Corero Network Security plc upgraded to OTCQX from the OTCQB® Venture Market.

Corero Network Security plc begins trading today on OTCQX under the symbol “DDOSF.” U.S. investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the company on www.otcmarkets.com.

The OTCQX Market is designed for established, investor-focused U.S. and international companies. To qualify for OTCQX, companies must meet high financial standards, follow best practice corporate governance, and demonstrate compliance with applicable securities laws. Graduating to the OTCQX Market from the OTCQB Market marks an important milestone for companies, enabling them to demonstrate their qualifications and build visibility among U.S. investors.

Carl Herberger, Chief Executive Officer at Corero, commented, “We are delighted to commence trading on OTCQX and further expand our reach and visibility into the US investor market. This is an exciting step in the Corero growth journey, recognizing the effort and value generated by the entire Corero team and the support of our growing international shareholder base.”

About Corero Network Security plc
Corero Network Security is a leading provider of distributed denial of service (DDoS) protection solutions. We are specialists in automatic detection and protection solutions, that include network visibility, analytics, and reporting tools. Corero’s technology provides scalable protection capabilities against both external DDoS attackers and internal DDoS threats, in even the most complex edge and subscriber environments, ensuring internet service availability and uptime. Corero’s key operational centres are in Marlborough, Massachusetts, USA, and Edinburgh, UK, with the Company’s headquarters in London, UK. The Company is listed on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM market under the ticker CNS and trades on the OTCQX Market under the Ticker DDOSF. For more information visit www.corero.com

About OTC Markets Group Inc.
OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM) operates regulated markets for trading 12,000 U.S. and international securities. Our data-driven disclosure standards form the foundation of our three public markets: OTCQX^® Best Market, OTCQB^® Venture Market and Pink^® Open Market.

Our OTC Link^® Alternative Trading Systems (ATSs) provide critical market infrastructure that broker-dealers rely on to facilitate trading. Our innovative model offers companies more efficient access to the U.S. financial markets.

OTC Link ATS, OTC Link ECN and OTC Link NQB are each an SEC regulated ATS, operated by OTC Link LLC, a FINRA and SEC registered broker-dealer, member SIPC.

To learn more about how we create better informed and more efficient markets, visit www.otcmarkets.com.

Subscribe to the OTC Markets RSS Feed

Media Contact:
OTC Markets Group Inc., +1 (212) 896-4428, media@otcmarkets.com

The MIL Network –

January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI NGOs: Türkiye: Proposed ‘agents of influence’ law is attack on civil society and must be rejected

Source: Amnesty International –

Türkiye’s parliament must reject the draft amendment to the country’s ‘espionage’ laws which, if passed, would significantly threaten the ability of civil society organizations to operate freely within the country, said more than 80 organizations ahead of an expected vote in parliament. Scores of other organizations issued similar statements, calling on the legislators to reject the proposal.

If passed, this law would represent a significant threat to the ability of civil society to operate freely within the country

If approved, the new article – publicly referred to as the “agents of influence” law – would amend the penal code and criminalize unspecified “acts” that are “in line with the strategic interests or instructions of a foreign state or organization against the security or domestic or foreign political interests of the State in line with the strategic interests or instructions of a foreign state or organization.”

“If passed, this law would represent a significant threat to the ability of civil society to operate freely within the country,” the civil society organizations said in a joint statement.

The signatories point at the fact that the draft law fails the test of legal certainty and foreseeability, a fundamental tenet of law – meaning that articles of law must be understandable and predictable by the relevant people; individuals must be able to foresee which acts or omissions will make them criminally liable and what punishment will be applied for the act or omission committed.

The proposed legislative package, passed by the Parliamentary Justice Commission on 23 October, is expected to be voted on by members of the Turkish Parliament in the coming days.

The draft law threatens to criminalize legitimate activities such as the documentation of human rights violations by state or non-state actors, imposing heavy penalties including lengthy prison terms for anyone found to have breached the same. If these so-called offenses are committed during “wartime” or in relation to the “state’s preparation for or war activities or military operations”, the penalty could be between eight to 12 years imprisonment.

If the provision is adopted, the rights to freedom of expression of all, including seeking and receiving information, would be also at risk of being violated

“We are also concerned that the proposed law fails to set out clear criteria for what specific acts constitute a criminal offence without adequate safeguards or effective remedies against potential abuses of the law,” said the organizations.

“Arbitrary interpretation of broadly worded, vague laws are used to target and prosecute human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers and many other civil society organizations in Türkiye. If the provision is adopted, the rights to freedom of expression of all, including seeking and receiving information, would be also at risk of being violated. It would create a chilling effect on important human rights work, and potentially impede their activities.”

Background

The legislative package proposes to add a new penalty, Article 339/A “Committing offenses against the security or political interests of the state” under the seventh section, “Crimes Against State Secrets and Espionage,” of the Turkish Penal Code (Law No. 5237).

Terminology in the proposed article is vulnerable to abuse. For example, “strategic interests,” “instructions,” “organization,” and “domestic or foreign political interests of the State” are overly broad and vague. Ill-defined or overly broad laws can be susceptible to arbitrary application and abuse, thus risk being instrumentalized to target people that the state authorities consider dissenting or criminalize the legitimate activities of civil society organizations, such as those documenting human rights violations in the country.

The proposed article is in violation of international human rights law and standards as well as Türkiye’s Constitution and national laws as it threatens freedom of expression and violates the principle of legality which includes the principle of foreseeability, a fundamental concept of criminal law.

As well as the signatories to this statement, numerous other organizations have published their own statements including the Association of Civil Society Development Center (see here), the Women’s Platform for Equality (see here), the Third Sector Foundation of Turkiye (see here), the International Press Institute (see here), the Committee to Protect Journalists (see here), Human Rights Watch (see here), journalism organisations, trade unions and others (see here).

For more information, please contact [email protected] in London or [email protected] in Istanbul 

The number of signatories to the joint statement is increasingly daily. A copy of the statement is being sent to all Turkish MPs.

SIGNATORIES
1. About Life Foundation (YADA)
2. AG-DA Gender Equality Solidarity Network
3. Ali İsmail Korkmaz Foundation
4. Altyazı Cinema Association
5. Amnesty International Türkiye
6. Ankara Initiative for Freedom of Thought
7. Ankara Solidarity Academy
8. Another School is Possible Association
9. Association for Monitoring Equal Rights
10. Batman Bar Association
11. Bodrum Women’s Solidarity Association
12. Center for Spatial Justice
13. Citizen’s Initiative
14. Citizens’ Assembly
15. DEMOS Research Association
16. Dersim Bar Association
17. Diyarbakır Bar Association
18. Families of LGBTs in İstanbul
19. Free Colors Association
20. GALADER-Ankara Rainbow Families Association
21. Green Thought Association
22. Hakkari Bar Association
23. Human Rights Agenda Association
24. Human Rights Association
25. Human Rights Association Ankara Branch LGBTI+ Commission
26. Human Rights Association Istanbul Branch
27. Human Rights Foundation of Türkiye
28. Izmir Women’s Solidarity Association
29. Kaos GL Association
30. Katre Women’s Counceling and Solidarity Association
31. Kirkayak Culture – Migration and Cultural Studies Center
32. Kuşadası Caferli Beautification and Solidarity Association
33. Lambdaistanbul LGBT Solidarity Association
34. Lawyers for Freedom Association
35. Leader Women Association
36. Life Memory Freedom Association
37. Mardin Bar Association
38. Marmaris Public Assembly
39. May 17 Association
40. Media and Law Studies Association
41. Merdiven Social Initiative and Development Association
42. Migration Monitoring Association
43. Muamma LGBTI+ Education Research and Solidarity Association
44. Muğla Environment Platform
45. Murat Çekiç Association
46. Muş Bar Association
47. Natural Life Association
48. Nonviolence Education and Research Center
49. P24 Independent Journalism Platform
50. Press, Publishing, Communication, and Postal Workers’ Union
51. Pride Istanbul
52. Progressive Journalists Association
53. Red Umbrella Sexual Health and Human Rights Association
54. Rights Initiative Association
55. Romani Godi – Association for Roma Memory Studies
56. Rosa Women’s Association
57. SES Equality and Solidarity Association
58. Siirt Bar Association
59. Social Policy, Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Studies Association
60. Support for Improvement in Social and Economic Living Association
61. Şanlıurfa Bar Association
62. Şırnak Bar Association
63. Tarlabaşı Community Support Association
64. The Civil Society in the Penal System Association
65. The Confederation of Public Employees’ Trade Unions
66. Trans Pride Istanbul
67. Truth Justice Memory Center
68. Turkish Handicap Association
69. Türkiye Human Rights Litigation Support Project
70. Türkiye Journalists’ Union
71. Türkiye Press, Publishing, and Printing Employees’ Union
72. University Queer Studies and LGBTI+ Solidarity Association
73. Van Bar Association
74. Velvele
75. Women for Women’s Human Rights Association
76. Women’s Culture, Arts, and Literature Association
77. Women’s Solidarity Foundation
78. Women’s Time Association
79. Young Thought Institute
80. Youth Organizations Forum
81. Yuva Association

MIL OSI NGO –

January 26, 2025

Category: Trade

Union Minister of Textiles Shri Giriraj Singh to inaugurate Handloom Conclave ‘Manthan’ at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre Janpath, New Delhi on 28.01.2025.HMoT to launch Handloom weavers E- Pehchan Portal and Handloom Awards Online module.

(xxii) LIST OF IMPORTANT PUBLICATIONS OF CWC during 2024

Expert Level Mechanism (ELM)

Yellow Card scheme

Yellow Card Biobank

Share this page

Updates to this page

Copyright© www.gov.cn | About us | Contact us

Website Identification Code bm01000001 Registration Number: 05070218

All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to www.gov.cn.

Without written authorization from www.gov.cn, such content shall not be republished or used in any form.

Union Minister of Textiles Shri Giriraj Singh to inaugurate Handloom Conclave ‘Manthan’ at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre Janpath, New Delhi on 28.01.2025.

HMoT to launch Handloom weavers E- Pehchan Portal and Handloom Awards Online module.