Tag Archives: Africa

India

PM Modi calls for UNSC reforms

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Newsroom24x7 Desk

PM ModiNew Delhi : Prime Minister expressed his strong opinion on reforms and cautioned the UNSC of becoming irrelevant unless it becomes adaptable. Strongly pitching for UN Security Council reforms, PM Modi said, UNSC ran the risk of becoming irrelevant unless it adjusted to the changing world, and added there should be concerted efforts initiated to deal with growing challenge of terrorism.

PM Modi was speaking at the inaugural session of the Third India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS). He said the world was undergoing political, economic, technological and security transition on a magnanimous scale, and at a fast track speed rarely seen in recent history, and yet the global institutions reflected the circumstances of the century that ‘we left behind’. He said – These institutions have served us well, but unless they adjust to the changing world, they risk becoming irrelevant. We cannot say what will replace them in an uncertain future. But, we might have a more fragmented world that is less capable of dealing with the challenges of our era. That is why India advocates reforms in global institutions.

The summit is being attended by representatives of over 50 countries including 41 Heads of State and Government of African countries. Calling India and Africa two bright spots of hope and opportunities in the global economy, Modi said both sides must work together to defeat terrorism. He said – This is a world of free nations and awakened aspirations. Our institutions cannot be representative of our world, if they do not give voice to Africa, with more than a quarter of UN members, or the world s largest democracy with one-sixth of humanity. That is why India and Africa must speak in one voice for reforms of the United Nations, including its Security Council. Today, in many parts of the world, the light of a bright future flickers in the storm of violence and instability. When terror snuffs out life on the streets and beaches, and in malls and schools of Africa, we feel your pain as our own. And, we see the links that unite us against this threat.

Equating India on the planes of security level and highlighting on the threats that nations like Africa and India both face, PM Modi said – We also see that when our oceans are no longer safe for trade, we all suffer together. And, when nations are caught in conflict within, no one around remains untouched. And, we know that our cyber networks bring opportunities, but also carry huge risks. So, when it comes to security, distance no longer insulates us from each other.

Modi anticipated that both sides could deepen cooperation in maritime security and hydrography as well as countering terrorism and extremism. He stressed on the need to have a UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism to deal with the menace. ‘We will also provide support for African Union s peacekeeping efforts. And, we will train African peacekeepers here and in Africa. We must also have a stronger voice in decisions on UN Peacekeeping Missions,” he said and noted that Africa has its concerns about security and stability, especially from terrorism and extremism and hoped its leadership will rise to the challenges, ‘ said PM Modi.

India

Expanding trade tries to be main focus in India-Africa Summit : PM Modi

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Newsroom24x7 Desk

PM ModiNew Delhi : The upcoming India-Africa Summit in this month end may well be an opportunity for expanding trade ties between the nations, as indicated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a series of TweetComs – his communications via recent tweets, where the central point was that India is looking forward to the summit and is proud to play host to the month-end India-Africa Summit.

Representatives of 54 African nations including heads of state and government of around 40 countries and powerful African Union are expected to participate in the four-day India-Africa Summit beginning here on October 26.Ahead of the India-Africa Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today stated India was proud to host the event which reflects a desire by the two sides to engage more intensively for a better future.

In a series of tweets, Prime Minister said India’s engagement with Africa has been scaled up and trade has been growing remarkably in recent years.

He tweeted – India is proud to host @indiafrica2015. The Summit reflects India & Africa’s desire to engage more intensively for a better future. India’s relations with Africa are historic. India is a major investor in Africa & trade has been growing remarkably in recent years.

PM Modi also expressed that the level of engagement for @indiafrica2015 has been tremendously scaled up, and ‘Several African leaders will join us. In run up to @indiafrica2015 many events are being organised to promote friendship & trade.’

The central agenda of this summits is expected to revolve around pointers like sepping up trade ties, particularly in oil and gas sector, strengthening maritime cooperation and lifting the overall engagement to a new high. India’s current trade with Africa stands at approximately around USD 75 billion dollar. To strengthen it further, it has granted a whopping USD 7.4 billion for various developmental and capacity building projects in the last four years. India has implemented a total of 137 projects in 41 African countries during the period.Expanding trade ties would be a major thrust area in the summit which is expected to register participation of over 400 business delegates from Africa besides all major Indian chambers of commerce.

A large number of African countries including Tanzania, Sudan, Mozambique, Kenya and Uganda are flushed with huge oil and gas reserves, and it is in this sector where India has focused its trade-eyes upon, by which India hopes to invest in the sector and thereby fuel its economic growth. Having a deeper partnership in exploiting the blue economy would be another focus area for which attempts would be made to tap it in.

There will be strategies on expanding ties with Africa in the sectors related to areas of energy, health care, infrastructure, technology and innovation.

Business, World

Over to Hanover Fair 2015: Modi will be top speaker at the opening ceremony

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Newsroom24x7 Desk

merkel-modiHanover (Germany): The Stage is all set for the inauguration of Hannover Messe 2015 or the Hanover Fair today by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will be the chief speaker at the inaugural event.

The Hanover Fair will commence with the Indo-German Business Summit. During the summit Prime Minister Modi and Chancellor Merkel, along with business leaders from the two countries – India and Germany, will discuss India’s role in the global economy and its future growth perspective They will also take a close look at opportunities to strengthen Indo-German Partnership.

Hanover Fair is the world’s biggest industrial fair. It is being held from 13 to 17 April. The fair will provide an opportunity, especially to Global Business & Markets to take an in-depth look at a number of export and investment destinations, including the USA, Japan, the BRIC countries, Latin America, Africa and Europe.

The trade fair business is one of the leading service sectors of the German economy. When it comes to hosting international trade fairs, Germany is the world’s number one venue.

Germany is one of the world’s leading industrial nations. As the world’s third strongest national economy, Germany holds a leading position in terms of its total economic output. With the highest gross domestic product and the largest number of inhabitants in the European Union, it is the most important market in Europe.

In global trading of goods and services, the Federal Republic of Germany is in second place after the USA.

Germany stands out as a centre for business through

  • innovative and internationally active companies,
  • qualified and motivated employees,
  • an internationally recognised education system,
  • an excellently developed infrastructure, as well as top achievements in research and development.
  • Due to its central geographical location, Germany is at the same time an interface to the new markets of Southern and Eastern Europe, as well as beyond the boundaries of the new EU.

Although German Basic Law does not prescribe any particular economic order, the embodiment of the principle of the welfare state rules out a completely “free market economy”.

Germany adheres to the principal of social market economy. It is secured by flanking market forces with social policy measures.

The model of the social market economy is designed to allow market forces free reign within certain limits and to prevent unsocial outgrowths of market development:

  • The supply of goods is increased and diversified.
  • The providers are motivated to be innovative.
  • Income and profits are distributed based on individual performance.
  • At the same time, the social market economy prevents excessive pooling of market strength, ensures participation by employees in basic economic decisions and therefore their participation in social achievements.

The task of the state and politics is to create the framework for functioning competition and to moderate the various interests.

Germany’s great competitive strength internationally is illustrated most clearly in its high level of and rapidly growing merchandise exports. The rise in direct investments in Germany by international companies also underlines the good position of the German economy.

Germany’s most important trade partners are western industrial nations. Its closest trade relations are with members of the European Union, with which Germany generates more than half of its turnover from foreign trade. Nearly 72 per cent of German exports remain within Europe; 71 per cent of German imports also come from Europe.

The most important branch of the economic activity in Germany, with traditionally a very high share of total economic production, is industry.

Alongside industry, the services sector also plays an outstanding role and it has now become almost as large as industry. A German peculiarity and traditional core of economic life is the crafts trade.

German industry is very diversified and in many sectors it is a global leader. Germany is the world’s third largest automobile producer, with more than 70 per cent of vehicles produced here intended for export. Machine and plant construction, in which most German industrial undertakings are involved, is also of outstanding international importance.

India, SciTech

Apollo Hospitals celebrates 15 years of bridging the access gap to quality Healthcare

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Newsroom24x7 Desk

Apollo Hospital, DelhiChennai: ​The Apollo Telemedicine Networking Foundation, a not-for-profit organization offerinLg telemedicine services enabling continuous access to the most sophisticated healthcare support systems, celebrated its 15th anniversary today.

Founded in 1999, Apollo Telemedicine Networking Foundation (ATNF) and Apollo Telehealth Services (ATHS) is the largest and oldest multi-speciality telemedicine network in South Asia. Acknowledging telehealth as the most promising solution to bridge the urban rural health divide, Indian Medical Association (IMA) is declaring March 24 as IMA National Telemedicine Day.
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Apollo HospitalsThe telemedicine unit at Apollo Hospitals has been creating a silent revolution in bridging the accessibility gap in healthcare sector. With 92,000 teleconsults in 25 specialities through 153 telemedicine centres, Apollo has now undertaken to provide telehealth to 10,000 functioning Common Service Centres under the Govt of India.

Speaking about innovation in technology and its eminent need in India’s healthcare sector, Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited said, “The need of the hour right now is innovation that will break distance and infrastructure barriers and ensure seamless healthcare delivery across geographies. Successful amalgamation of medicine and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), I believe, has improved and will improve access to quality healthcare services even in remote locations. Facilities like “I SEE YOU” enable virtual visits to the ICU from anywhere in the world, bringing patients and doctors together, irrespective of location and time. Remote healthcare has transformed healthcare delivery in rural areas and will play a huge role in achieving universal healthcare. A proven catalyst, telemedicine might perhaps replace the need for physical consultations and regular follow-up.”

Prof. K. Ganapathy, Founder President ATNF, and Past President Neurological Society of India and Past President Telemedicine Society of India, who has been campaigning to popularise telehealth in India, carried out a detailed study to prove the urban rural health divide. A detailed analysis of 3666 members of the Neurological Society of India and the Indian Academy of Neurology has shown that not a single member lived in a geographical area covering 934.5 million people. 30.09% of India’s neurologists and neurosurgeons live in the four metros, 29.54% in the state capitals, 30.58% in Tier 2 cities, 7.12% in tier 3 cities and 2.67% in rural areas covering a population of only 84.59 million. This Uneven distribution of specialists is probably similar in other specialities and super specialities confirming that remote health care is the only solution for specialist care in suburban and rural India.

Acknowledging telehealth as the most promising solution to bridge the urban rural health divide, Indian Medical Association (IMA) is declaring March 24th as IMA National Telemedicine Day. IMA recognising telehealth is a major forward step for telehealth activists. With 225,000 members IMA can play a major role in ensuring that telehealth is indeed embraced by the medical community.

Vikram Thaploo, CEO Apollo Tele Health Services (ATHS) and HealthNet Global (HNG) believes that health care delivery is shifting from hospitals to patients in their households. “In a country like India where time is a rare luxury and health is a forgotten necessity we need quality healthcare expert 24 X 7 X 365. A holistic healthcare service provider who can monitor and manage health round the clock and is accessible at all times is the need of the hour. Apollo will soon be launching a comprehensive healthcare app which will enable the users to access all medical information and connect with doctors from Apollo hospitals just at the click of a button. This service will be delivered at cost round the clock. The app will empower the users to take control of their health by catering to all their health needs from anywhere, anytime. Consultation service will be delivered through video conferencing, phone calls and emails and the patients will even have the option to connect to a board of specialist doctors using the mobile app or the website.” We have also tied up with the real estate leaders like TATA housing and other senior living projects to provide Telemedicine centres in all the projects they undertake he said.

India’s healthcare problem, though unique and complex, offers remarkable opportunity for innovation. Urban-rural mismatch and inequity makes it difficult for traditional healthcare delivery models to fulfil its objective, calling out the need for innovative technologies that will help even remote areas with access to healthcare.

Apollo Hospitals

It was in 1983, that Dr. Prathap Reddy made a pioneering endeavour by launching India’s first corporate hospital – Apollo Hospitals in Chennai. Over the years Apollo Hospitals has established itself as home to the largest cardiac practice in India with over 160,000 cardiac surgeries. Apollo Hospitals is also the world’s largest private cancer care provider and runs the world’s leading solid organ transplant program.

Now, as Asia’s foremost integrated healthcare services group, its presence includes Hospitals, Pharmacies, Primary Care and Diagnostic Clinics and Telemedicine units across 10 countries, Health Insurance services, Global Projects Consultancy, colleges of Nursing and Hospital Management and a Research Foundation with focus on global Clinical Trials, epidemiological studies, stem cell & genetic research, and the first Proton Therapy Center across Asia, Africa and Australia.

The Government of India issued a commemorative stamp in recognition of Apollo’s contribution, the first for a healthcare organization. Apollo Hospitals Chairman, Dr. Prathap C Reddy, was conferred with the prestigious Padma Vibhushan in 2010. For more than 32 years, the Apollo Hospitals Group has continuously excelled and maintained leadership in medical innovation, world-class clinical services and cutting-edge technology. Today, Apollo hospitals are consistently ranked amongst the best hospitals globally for advanced medical services and research.

  • In Feb 2012 Apollo implemented the world’s largest Telecamp at Ajmer.
  • The “I SEE U” initiative, which enables highly secure virtual visits to the ICU from anywhere in the world, won the 2014 HIMSS Asia Pacific ICT Innovation Award