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The III India-Spain Dialogue Forum took place in the city of Valladolid (Spain) on the 16th and 17th of October 2007. It was organized by Casa de la India, Casa Asia and the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), in close collaboration with the Foreign and Cooperation Office of Spain and the Spanish International Cooperation Agency (AECI), the Indian Foreign office, the Spanish Embassy in India, the Indian Embassy in Spain, the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science, the Spanish Ministry of Culture, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), the University of Valladolid and the City Council of Valladolid.The third edition of the Forum included 144 participants and representatives from 80 public and private institutions from Spain and India from the fields of international relations, culture, academic and economic, and public and governmental administrations.
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The Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), with its headquarters in New Delhi, sent a delegation of 20 people to the Dialogue Forum.
In this edition, the Spain-India Dialogue Forum was organized around four consecutive tables with different subject matters: Session I, International Relations and Geostrategy; Session II, Economy and Society; Session III, India and Spain as Cultural Powers and their Future Projection and Session IV, Education. session IV held the 1st Meeting of University Vice-Chancellors from India and Spain: Cooperation between Universities, which took place in Santa Cruz Palace in the University of Valladolid. Sessions I-III took place in the Casa de la India headquarters.
Also within the framework of the Dialogue Forum the following activities took place: a conference on "Gandhian Legacy : Its relevance in the 21st century" in the Conde Ansúrez Congress Hall presented by Y.P. Anand, Gandhian scholar and former director of the National Gandhi Museum and Library of New Delhi; two music and dance recitals (a collaboration between Ravi Prasad and the Raúl Olivar flamenco quartet, and the Pragati Sood dance company) held in Casa de la India in collaboration with the Spanish Ministry of Culture and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, respectively; and the inauguration in Casa de la India of the photographic exhibition by Alain Danielou: "Music and Rhythms of Traditional India (1935-1957)."
The Opening Ceremony was presented by Pasqual Maragall, ex-President of the Autonomous Government of Cataluña and S.J.S. Chhatwal, former Ambassador, Member of the Vice-Chancellor Council and President of the organization board of the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA). After the Welcome Remarks by the Mayor-President of Valladolid, Francisco Javier León de la Riva, the following speakers spoke to the participants Evaristo Abril Domingo, President of Casa de la India, Ashok Kumar, acting Director-General of the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) and Director-General of the Indian Foreign Office, and Jesús Sanz, Director-General of Casa Asia.
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TABLE I: International Relations and Geostrategy.
The first session of the III Spain-India Dialogue Forum was held in the headquarters of Casa de la India Foundation in Valladolid on the 16th of October 2007. The following speakers presided the session José Eugenio Salarich, Director-General of Foreign Policy for Pacific Asia from the Spanish Foreign Office and Cooperation and Ashok Kumar, acting Director-General, Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) and Director-General of the Indian Foreign Office. Having finalized the introductions and the opening of the table the following speakers took the floor: Andrés Ortega Klein, journalist and Director of the Spanish edition of Foreign Policy and Ummu Slava Bava, professor of the Centre for European Studies, School of International Studies of Jawaharlal Nehru University and member of the Government Council of Asia Society in New York.
The main topics dealt with in this session referred to the following questions and proposals:
- The need to increase the political exchange and institutional visits between India and Spain.
- The evolution and consolidation of the Spain-India Tribunal as a dialogue Forum, which could become even more extensive like those which already exist with Japan and China.
- The opportunity for Spain to play an important role in strengthening relations between India and Latin America.
- Proposal and launching of feasible multilateral projects: developing joint projects between India and Spain on various levels (institutions, universities, intergovernmental agencies, media, etc.).
- Close collaboration between India and Spain in areas such as climate change, natural resources and sustainable development: water, renewable energy, agriculture, etc.
- Relations in view of energy and geopolitical security.
- Establishment of direct flights between India and Spain.
TABLE II: Economy and Society
The second table was presided by Mario Buisán, Director-General Information and Investments, Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade (ICEX) and Prakash G. Apte, Director, Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Bangalore.
This session was open to representatives from the business world, who attended the presentation of the "Report on business opportunities in India" presented by the editors: Sanjay Peters, Professor of the Superior College of Business Administration and Management (ESADE), Jacint Soler, Economist and Associate Professor, Pompeu University, Fabra, Xavier Mir, Consultant and Associate Professor of ESADE. Also participating in this presentation was Julio Juberías, President of the Bilateral Committee of Spanish-Indian Business Cooperation. The report carried out by the experts showed an analysis of 6 successful cases of Spanish companies investing in India, as well as a decalogue of practical advice to follow by Spanish business people on investing in this country.
After the presentation of the report speakers from the Indian delegation intervened. First, Amita Batra, Associate Professor, Hindu College, Delhi University, who presented her conference entitled: "India's Global Comparative Advantage: opportunities in the manufacturing sector." And in second place Roney Simon, Director of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), gave his presentation under the epigraph: "Doing Business with India: The Role of FICCI", then Saugat Mukherjee intervened, Director of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), with his work: "Infrastructure Sector in India: Initiatives of CII." And finally S.J. Khaitan, Member of the Management Committee, Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM) intervened.
Among the most important points worth mentioning in this session are:
- Means of arousing interest of Spanish companies in India and vice versa. Promote business meetings between both countries, participating in business fairs, trade fairs, etc. In this sense, the work already being carried out by ICEX (Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade) was outlined and it was mentioned that in December 2007 a delegation of Spanish business people presided by the Minister of Industry, would have a meeting between business people from both countries in Bombay organized by the ICEX.
- The need to provide Spanish and Indian business people with a modern and up to date view of both countries, and of their respective business culture.
- The important role of the Indian Chambers of Commerce, especially that of FICI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce), and CII (Confederation of Indian Industry) and of ASSOCHAM (Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry) as facilitators and experts in commercial relations between India-Europe.
- The importance of outlining the diversity of business opportunities with India in the different States of the Union of India and by sectors to Spanish business people.
- Creation of a bilateral Chamber of Commerce.
- The advantages of investing in the manufacturing sector of India.
- The need for direct flights between India and Spain.
- Facilitate the issuing of visas for business exchange between both countries
- Encourage the business sector to create Joint Ventures between Spain, India and third countries.
- Setting up future logistic programmes.
As regards to the most significant sectors, the promotion of business exchanges and cooperation in different areas was assessed:
- Promote investment in infrastructure. India would be interested in receiving Spanish delegations to assess projects on the construction of infrastructure: roads, motorways, ports, railway lines.
- Investment in the energy sector: improvement of quality and distribution of energy.
- Investment in urban development. Due to the growth of cities, India needs urban planning, plumbing networks, etc.
- Collaboration between both countries in mutual interest sectors for example tourism and service sectors, biotechnology, food processing...
- Other sectors in which each country stands out and can be studied together:
* Leading sectors in Spain: fishing, tourism, infrastructure and food.
* Significant sectors in India: textile industry, electrical appliances, motor industry and motor parts, electronic parts, iron and steel.
TABLE III: India and Spain as cultural powers and their future projects
The second day of the Spain-India dialogue Forum began with table III: India and Spain as cultural powers and their future projects, presided by Josep Piqué, Economist and ex-Minister of Science and Technology and by Manmohan Malhoutra, Secretary-General of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation.
The following speakers took the floor: Maria Fernanda Santiago, Director of the Department of Education and Culture of the Presidential Office of the Government; Sonya Surabhi Gupta, Director of the Hispanic and Latin American Centre of Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi with her presentation "And Miles to go before I sleep: New Horizons in Indo-Spanish Cultural Relations" and Ashok Das, Deputy Director-General of the Indian Council for Culture Relations (ICCR) who spoke about the role of ICCR under the title of "Projecting India's Culture: The Role of ICCR".
The speakers analyzed the cultural relations between Spain and India in the last few years and the possibility of future collaboration. They put forward projects and proposals in several areas of action to promote culture and view of each country in the other, and to, in this way, encourage a larger flow of exchange.
I) Cinema:
The role of cinema as an industry and as a means of revealing both countries' culture, highlighting the following specific actions:
- An agreement on the joint production of films between Spain and India (under process).
- Support for Indian and Spanish film festivals in both countries. Celebration of the forthcoming Spanish film festival which will take place in March 2008 in Delhi, Bombay and Trivandrum.
- Promote the visiting of Spanish and Indian directors to both countries.
- Offer Spain as the set for Bollywood films.
II) Music:
- Musical fusion projects between young Indian and Spanish artists.
III) Heritage:
- Spanish support to India for the conservation and restoration of its historic-artistic heritage.
IV) Literature:
- Promote the setting for meetings between writers from both countries.
- Encourage the participation and promotion of female writers and meetings of writers as the one carried out in the past in the Spanish Embassy in Delhi, "Meeting of Spanish and Indian female Poets".
- Support to the translation of literary works to the different languages of both countries.
- As India and Spain are countries which have a long tradition in children´s and youth literature, it was proposed that their mutual knowledge and diffusion should be encouraged.
V) Gastronomy:
- The organization of Spanish gastronomic festivals in India and vice versa.
VI) ICCR and Cervantes Institute:
ICCR:
It was recommended to improve the exploitation of ICCR´s means and resources in all its areas to promote cultural relations between Spain and India.
- Organizing Spanish and Indian cultural festivals, in the same way that ICCR already organizes in other countries (for example Russia and China).
- Spreading the collaboration programme with libraries.
Cervantes Institute:
- The establishment of the Cervantes Institute in India in New Delhi will be useful to spread the Spanish language and culture in India, and it is also hoped to promote the opening of new Cervantes Institute Halls in other universities in India.
- Promoting Spanish studies in India outside of the academic area.
- Promoting Spanish-American culture.
VI) Institutional programmes and collaboration between cultural centres and other agencies:
- Developing of networking through the collaboration networks which combine all the institutions involved in the cultural area of both countries, including all types of institutions large and small, European centres, councils, universities, Casa de la India, Casa Asia, etc.
- Helping residence exchange and programmes scholarships and other types of incentives between artists from both countries.
- Promoting and supporting the artistic joint productions and collaborations in music, dance, theatre, and literature between both countries; not only in classical arts but also in modern arts (graphic arts, etc.).
- Working in spreading and programming cultural events and festivals in both countries, accompanying them with parallel programmes of artistic and cultural investigations (seminars, meetings, etc.).
- Carrying out great tours of Spanish artists around India.
- Taking advantage of the support given by, not only the Spanish Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Culture, but also the Spanish Foreign and Collaboration Office, to increase relations between Spain and India.
- Counting on the presence and support of the Indian community in Spain when organizing cultural events in Spain.
VII) Youth and sports:
- Involve young people by organizing youth forums to exchange ideas and knowledge of the real interests in both countries.
- Promoting sports and specific events as a means of bringing them closer together.
TABLE IV: Education
The final table at the Forum, which spoke about cooperation on the matter of education, took place in the University of Valladolid, in the boardroom of Santa Cruz Palace. This table accommodated the 1st Meeting of Spanish-Indian Vice Chancellors: Cooperation between Universities, attended by Spanish and Indian vice chancellors and deputy vice chancellors.
Evaristo Abril Domingo, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Valladolid and President of Casa de la India and Panjab Singh, Vice-Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University presided the table. In first place Félix García Lausín, secretary-General of the University Coordination Council of the Ministry of Education and Science, gave an opening speech for the 1st Meeting of Vice-Chancellors. Next to take the floor were Daniel Miguel San José, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of development and innovation; Prakash G. Apte, Director of the Indian Institute of Management of Bangalore with a presentation entitled: "Business/Management studies programmes in India: present scenario and prospects for international cooperation" and Pankaj Mittal, Director-General of University Grants Commission (UGC) of New Delhi, under the title of "International Cooperation with Institutions of Higher Learning in India - role of the UGC". After the presentations the debate was opened to the participants.
This table had a special relevance as it accommodated, for the first time, a meeting of university representatives from India and Spain, highlighting the number and importance of the participants: for its part India had 10 representatives from universities and academia institutions, among which we must mention Panjab Singh, Vice-Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University; Narendra Jadhav, Vice-Chancellor of Pune University; Abhai Maurya, Vice-Chancellor of English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad and Prakash Apte, Director of Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore. On the Spanish side there were 31 participants including representatives from 17 universities lead by Evaristo Abril Domingo, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Valladolid. Also worth mentioning are Juan José Mateos, Education Counsellor of the Autonomous Government of Castilla and León, Oscar Pujol, Director of the Cervantes Institute in New Delhi, Félix García Lausín, Secretary-General of the University Coordination Council of the Ministry of Education and Science, As well as Pankaj Mittal, Director-General of University Grants Commission (UGC, New Delhi) and Ashok Das, Deputy Director-General Indian Council for Culture Relations (ICCR).
The Indian Government and the Spanish Government are aware and motivated in collaborating in the matter of education. In 2007 an agreement of Cooperation in Science and Technology was signed by Spain and India. However, it has been established that there is a need to create a Work Commission or Platform to set up means to implement these agreements (working group for cultural and educational exchange programmes"). In light of this, the opening of Cervantes Institute in Delhi is emphasized and the visits that have been and will be carried out to India in the near future by delegates from the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science.
The variety of themes and questions dealt with in this table on education can be outlined under the following points:
I. Promoting Spanish and Spanish universities:
- Strengthening means to attract Indian graduates to Spanish universities and companies, and show the Spanish educational choices in India by means of fairs (for example Pune Fair).
- Creating intensive courses for directors, to show the business culture, including classes on culture and language in programmes for Indian executives.
- Creating mixed programmes suitable for graduates in economics, management and scientific degrees, combined with Spanish culture and language classes.
- Introduce studies on the Hispanic world in English in India, which would include the study of the Spanish language.
- Increase the number of Spanish readers in India.
- Creating an on-line Platform to teach Spanish.
II. Promoting studies on India and Indian academic institutions:
- Creating a Masters Degree in Indian studies in Spain, with the collaboration of different universities and institutions.
- Creating courses on modern India in Spain aimed at different groups.
- Increase the number of regular courses of Hindi and Sanskrit in Spain.
- Increase the support of ICCR in its different collaboration programmes with Spain and increase the number of Hindi teachers in Spain sent by ICCR.
- Give information about Indian university courses to attract foreign students, especially Spanish students.
- Develop, through internet, contents of interest on the Spanish speaking world in general for India.
III. Cooperation and exchange programmes:
- Promotion of ways to boost cooperation of India with Spanish America and Portugal through Spain.
- Collaboration between Indian and Spanish bodies to combine criteria on the recognition of qualifications.
- Facilitate means so that universities and educational centres from both countries can receive information about educational programmes in both countries in light of future collaboration.
- Setting up financial programmes for exchanges and visits for students, teachers and investigators in both countries.
- Establishing work experience programmes in companies in both countries for students and young professionals.
- Encourage mixed university-company programmes: not only Spanish universities-Indian companies, but also Indian universities-Spanish companies, in light of boosting the flow of students between both countries and the collaboration with companies.
In this session the Vice-Chancellor of Pune University proposed the celebration of the 2nd edition of Spanish-Indian Vice-Chancellors in 2008 in the city of Pune.
The Closing Act of the III Spain-India took place in the headquarters of Casa de la India, on the 17th of October. The following people participated in this session; Jesús Sanz, Director-General of Casa Asia; Ashok Kumar, Deputy Director-General of the Indian Council for World Affairs (ICWA) and Director-General of the Indian Foreign Office; Guillermo Rodríguez, Managing Director of Casa de la India, Sudhir Kumar, Business Manager from the Indian Embassy in Spain and Ion de la Riva, Spanish Ambassador in India.
The representatives of the Forum organizing bodies, as well as those from the Indian-Spanish Embassies, gave their assessments on the development of the two day Forum and they summarized the contents of the various sessions. They highlighted the important role of the Spain-India Forum in the civil cooperation between Spain and India, as well as the definitive consolidation of the Forum as platform for this dialogue. Finally, the organizers voiced their satisfaction to the participants about the quality of the speakers and speeches and they undertook the celebration of the third edition of the Spain-India Forum in 2008 in Pune.
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