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Diplomatic relations
Relations between Latvia and India are developing successfully and may be characterised as close and constructive. There is a potential for development in the spheres of culture, economy and parliamentary co-operation.
India recognised the independence of Latvia on 9 September 1991. Diplomatic relations between the countries were established on 7 December 1991.
Latvian Ambassador to India:
On 26 September 2007, Hardijs Baumanis was accredited in India as the first Latvian non-resident Ambassador to India, residing in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Indian Ambassadors to the Republic of Latvia (resident in Stockholm): - Pushkar Johari - accredited 20 December 1991,
- P. Singh Sahai - accredited 9 February 1993,
- Sushil Dubey - from 25 March 1997 to 28 November 2000,
- Chitra Narayanan - from 25 September 2001 to December 2004
- Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa - since 26 April 2005.
Trade between the EU and India
The EU is India's principal trade partner.
The European Union concluded a Partnership and Co-operation Agreement with India in 1994 providing for co-operation in trade, industry, the service sector, energy and other spheres.
India is included in the list of countries eligible for duty-free or a reduced duty rate within the General System of Preferences (GSP). On 7 September 2005, during the EU-Indian Summit, an EU-India Action Plan was signed.
Trade volume between the EU and India has increased in recent years. India's external trade with EU member states constitutes almost one quarter (~ 23%) of the country's export-import volume. 22.4 % of India's exports go to the EU and 20.8 % of imports to India come from the EU.
From 2003 to 2004, the trade volumes between the EU and India increased by 34%.
In 2004, India ranked 12th constituting 1.7 % of the total EU trade volume.
The principal goods of Indian export to the EU are textile articles, agricultural products and chemicals, but in imports from the EU, products of chemical and allied industries, as well as machinery and mechanical appliances prevail.
According to information presented by the Foreign Direct Investment database, the EU is the largest investor in India. However, the total value of this investment constitutes only 0.3 % of all EU investments outside the EU territory.
A significant part of Indian foreign investments (40%) is placed in the EU, for comparison, investments in USA constitute 20%.
The negotiation process on signing of a Free Trade Agreement between the EU and India has been launched.
Latvian - Indian economic co-operation
Latvian - Indian economic and trade relations are being pursued through: - A Co-operation Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of India on Partnership and Development, signed in 1994;
Latvia and India have signed the following bilateral agreements: - "Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Latvia and the Government of the Republic of India on Economic and Technical Co-operation" (came into force on 8 July 1997),
- "Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Latvia and the Government of the Republic of India on the Inter-governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Co-operation" (came into force on 27 June 2001).
On 21 October 1997, the Agreement on the Establishment of Joint Business Council between Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Latvia and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry was signed.
Co-operation is not very intensive, mainly due to rather passive contacts on both sides. The Last meeting was held in November 2005.
Latvia is interested in developing economic relations with India in the following areas: - tourism,
- IT sector,
- construction of infrastructure and engineering technologies,
- pharmacy and financial services.
Trade between Latvia and India (according to the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia)
January-June 2007
34. India - 4,9 million EUR or 0,2 %
32. India - 10,5 million EUR or 0,2 %
Latvia has a negative trade balance with India amounting to 5,6 million EUR.
Main exports to India in January - June, 2007, by type of commodity
|
Type of commodity |
Million EUR |
Percentage of total exports |
|
Total |
4,9 |
100 % |
|
Waste and scrap of iron |
1,2 |
24.5 % |
|
Devices and apparatus for physical or chemical analyses |
1,1 |
22.5 % |
|
Yarn of synthetic threads |
0,7 |
14.3 % |
|
Alloys of copper and zinc |
0,5 |
10.2 % |
|
Waste and scrap of zinc |
0,4 |
8.2 % |
Main imports to India in January - June, 2007, by type of commodity
|
Type of commodity |
Million EUR |
Percentage of total imports |
|
Total |
10,5 |
100 % |
|
Flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products |
3,0 |
28.6 % |
|
Pharmaceutical products |
2,6 |
24.8 % |
|
Cucumbers and gherkins |
0,3 |
2.9 % |
|
Coffee, tea and mate extracts |
0,3 |
2.9 % |
Trade dynamics between Latvia and India in the period from 2002 to 2006, million EUR
|
Year |
Exports |
Imports |
|
2002 |
1,3 |
8,1 |
|
2003 |
0,8 |
8,2 |
|
2004 |
1,9 |
8,6 |
|
2005 |
2,5 |
14,7 |
|
2006 |
6,4 |
22,2 |
Trade dynamics between Latvia and India in the period from 2002 to 2006, million LVL
|
Year |
Export |
Import |
|
2002 |
1,7 |
0,2 |
|
2003 |
0,6 |
0,4 |
|
2004 |
0,3 |
0,8 |
|
2005 |
0,1 |
1,2 |
|
2006 |
0,7 |
2,2 |
Investments
As of 28 August 2007, 43 Latvian-Indian joint ventures were listed in the Register of Enterprises of the Republic of Latvia, with a total direct investment into equity of Latvian companies of 1,1 million LVL.
Latvian-Indian co-operation in education, culture and science
In Latvia, there has been a deep and long-standing interest in the culture of India. In this respect, Karlis Egle must be mentioned: through his translations from the English, Latvia came to know Rabindranath Tagore's work. Latvian translators of Indian prose and poetry were the first who, already at the beginning of the 20th century, initiated studies of India as a country with an ancient and diverse culture. The Latvian poet Rainis and other Latvian litterateurs of the time explored Indian philosophy.
In 2002, the Indian government recognised the contribution by Professor Viktors Ivbulis to studies of Rabindranath Tagore's creation and translation of his works into Latvian, by awarding him the prize of the West Bengal state.
Education
The University of Latvia is interested in a closer co-operation with India, especially in exchange of students and teachers. The Indian government has on several occasions presented books to the University of Latvia.
Since 1995, the Government of India has been providing grants to Latvian professionals: more than five fully paid training options for raising qualification and skill levels in various sectors of national economy are offered as part of the ITEC (Indian Technical and Economic Co-operation) programme. A wide range of professionals - medical doctors, environmental protection experts, economists, linguists and Foreign Ministry staff have undergone training in India.
Latvian higher educational establishments - the Riga Technical University, the University of Latvia, and the Riga Stradins University of Medicine - provide training opportunities to students from India.
The Riga Business School of the Riga Technical University (RTU RBS) has expressed its readiness to enrol 100 students from India on a yearly basis. The Riga Business School is the leading business school in the Baltic states offering North American MBA educational programmes in English. In India, U.S. MBA programmes are valued higher than European programmes.
India has offered two scholarships for Latvian students of Indian dance. One of these has been awarded to Julija Liscuka, to support her studies at the Trinveni dance school in New Delhi.
Science
Geographical distance and high costs are factors hindering a more dynamic development of relations between the Latvian Academy of Sciences and its Indian counterparts. However, Latvian scientists have opportunities to participate in EU - India research programmes.
Personal contacts have been developed between Latvian and Indian researchers.
Culture
In Latvia, interest in India as a country of ancient and diverse culture was sparked by Latvian writers - translators of Indian prose and poetry, as early as in the beginning of the 20th century.
In 1986, the Centre for Oriental Music led by Boriss Avramecs and Sergejs Ancupovs was founded with the aim to establish closer contacts between Latvia and India. In January 1994, the Centre for Latvian-Indian Culture was opened in Riga. Its president is Latvian graphic artist Mara Rikmane.
In 1998, a Latvian - Indian Friendship Society was established. Regretfully, none of the above-mentioned organisations has recently been particularly active.
At the exotic dance studio Alegria in Riga, Indian dance can be mastered. The studio presents Indian dance concerts on regular basis.
In 1997, one of the most significant works of ancient Indian literature, the epic Bhagavadgita was published, in translation by Professor Viktors Ivbulis. Other works translated from the Bengali language by Prof. Ivbulis include Rabindranath Tagore's The Home and the World, Poetry, Plays, Essays (1999), with the translator's introductory monograph. In February 2002, in response to an invitation by the Indian Government (Indian Council for Cultural Relations - ICCR), Professor Ivbulis visited India in the status of a Distinguished Guest. In 2002, Professor Ivbulis was awarded the prize of the state of West Bengal for his contribution to the promotion of Rabindranath Tagore's works and to the studies of his creative activity. In 2003, Prof. Ivbulis's book Shiva Dances and Destroys the World was published.
From 30 September to 15 October 2003, the days of Indian culture took place in Latvia as part of the festival of musical traditions, with support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture.
In November-December 2005, Latvian cinematographers successfully participated in international film festivals in India. In the Golden Elephant 14th International Children's Film Festival in Hyderabad, films by Varis Brasla, Maris Brinkmanis, Dace Riduze and Nils Skapans received high acclaim.
In the Chennai International Film Festival, a German - Latvian joint production, Fred Kelman's Fall was screened.
The signing of the Latvia - India inter-governmental programme on co-operation in culture, art, media and sports for 2006 - 2008 has enhanced cultural co-operation.
In the summer 2006, a film on the dancer Vija Vetra, a promoter of Indian culture, produced by Divi studio was sent to the Indian Embassy in Stockholm. The film won recognition at the Cannes festival.
On 23 November 2006, with support from the Indian Embassy in Stockholm and the Jantra Music Project, a recital by the outstanding Indian flute player Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia took place in Riga.
On 17 December 2006, a recital by the Indian sitar virtuoso Shahid Parvez Khan took place in Riga.
On 27 March, 2007, With support from the Indian Embassy in Stockholm and the Jantra Music Project, Latvian artists presented a concert of Indian music and dance.
From 28 September to 1 December 2007, the days of Indian culture took place in Riga and Ventspils (concerts, masterclasses, exhibitions, film art, educational lectures).
Most significant visits
Visits by Latvian officials to India - 12-17 April 1993: inter-parliamentary conference in New Delhi: delegation of the Latvian Supreme Council led by Deputy Chairman Valdis Birkavs.
- 19-23 October 1997: visit of President Guntis Ulmanis to India (upon invitation by the President of India in September 1994). Meeting with the President of India and other officials.
- 21-22 November 2002: Bilateral consultations of foreign ministries. Latvia was represented by Maris Selga, Director of the Second Political Department and Roberts Stafeckis, Counsellor of the Foreign Economic Policy Department. On behalf of India, the consultations were led by Anil Wadhwa, Joint Secretary for Central- and Eastern European matters.
- 22-25 January 2003:Ingrida Udre, Speaker of the Saeima, Andrejs Klementjevs and Liga Bergmane participated in an international conference of parliamentarians dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Indian Parliament (Lok Sabha).
- 24-29 November 2003:visit by Ainars Slesers, Deputy Prime Minister of Latvia, to India. Meeting with Indian Foreign Minister; visit to the Indian International Fair; the First meeting of the Latvian - Indian Business Council; signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) and the Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIDA); meeting with Mumbai Port administration. A group of Latvian businessmen participated in the visit.
- 20-24 March 2006: official visit by Foreign Minister Artis Pabriks; meeting with Kapil Sibal, Minister for Science and Technologies and Oceanic Development, Anand Sharma, Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, other officials and India businessmen.
- 27 May - 3 June 2006: visit by Culture Minister Helena Demakova; meeting with Ambik Soni, Minister for Tourism and Culture, Nina Lath Gupta, Executive Director of the National Film Development Corporation and other cultural figures. The Programme of Co-operation Between the Government of the Republic of Latvia and the Government of the Republic of India in the fields of Culture, Arts, Media and Sports for the Years 2006-2008 signed.
- 8-12 October 2007: visit to India by Inta Gudele, Minister for Special Assignments on Electronic Government Affairs, and a delegation of entrepreneurs (RIX Technologies, Predicta, Exigen Services, FMS, DPA, Tilde, LIA, Business Instruments).
Visits by Indian officials to Latvia - 31 August - 2 September 1995 - Official visit by Salman Khurshid, Minister of State of External Affairs. Meeting with President Guntis Ulmanis, Prime Minister Maris Gailis and Foreign Minister Valdis Birkavs.
- 27 June 2001 - visit by Ranjit Singh Kalha, State Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs.
- April 2003 - visit by the India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO).
- 30 September - 4 October 2003 - Days of Indian Culture in Latvia. Concerts by Indian artists Joya Biswas (sitar) and Manisha Bhargawa (traditional Indian dance Chau); a photographic exhibition and presentation of Indian films. The Culture Days opened by Chitra Narayanan, the Ambassador of India to Latvia.
- 6 - 7 October 2005 - working visit by Rao Inderjit Singh, Minister of State of External Affairs.
- 26 - 29 March 2007 - working visit by Anand Sharma, Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs.
Database of bilateral agreements signed between the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of India
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