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Cooperation between India and US is a significant aspect and strategic cooperation between the two countries. India and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) agreed to work together for a new India. Following are the text of India-US Bilateral Documents in the field of Space, Energy, Maritime Security, Wildlife Trafficking, Cyber Security, Health and Knowledge Initiative on Agriculture Education, Research, Services and Commercial Linkages.
2 March 2006 India-US Bilateral Documents
India-US Space Cooperation
Civil Space cooperation between India and US is a significant aspect of the emerging high technology and strategic cooperation between the two countries. This is one of the areas identified under the now completed Next Steps in Strategic Partnership (NSSP) and has advanced through discussions within the ambit of the India-US High Technology Cooperation Group and the India-US Space Conference in June 2004 in Bangalore.
With a view to expand further the scope of cooperation, a Joint Working Group (JWG) on Civil Space Cooperation has been established and it held its first meeting at Bangalore in June 2005. The next meeting of the JWG is expected later this year. The JWG serves as a permanent platform for joint review and formulation of policy, for monitoring and review of joint programmes and to create, establish and modify mechanisms for smooth collaboration in the field of civil space cooperation between both the countries.
In an important step forward and one that opens up a wide array of opportunities on both sides for cooperation in outer space exploration, US has authorized its entities for export of two US scientific instruments enabling their inclusion in the first Indian instrumented lunar mission Chandrayaan-1.
These two US instruments are - (1) Miniature Synthetic Aperture Radar to map the polar landscape and deposits of water ice in these cold traps up to a depth of a few metres and (2) a Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) to assess the mineral resources of the Moon and to characterise and map the composition of the surface at high spatial resolution.
These NASA funded instruments were selected from 16 firm proposals from all over the globe received by ISRO against its announcement of opportunity and are expected to contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge about the moon. Towards this end, ISRO and NASA have formulated two MoUs which define the scope of the experiments and sharing of responsibilities and data.
Further, to facilitate the launching of US licensed satellites and also foreign satellites carrying US controlled items, as envisaged under the NSSP, a Technology Safeguard Agreement has now been mutually agreed to safeguard protected technologies of the either side associated with such a mission.
The two sides continue to explore the possibilities of cooperation in earth observation, satellite navigation and its application, space science, natural hazards research and disaster management support, and space education.
India–US Energy Dialogue
The India-U.S. Energy Dialogue, launched on May 31, 2005, is aimed at increased India-U.S. trade and investment in the Indian energy sector by working with the public and private sectors to further identify areas of cooperation and collaboration and build on the broad range of existing cooperation between India and the United States to mobilize secure, clean, reliable and affordable sources of energy, focusing on (i) oil and natural gas (ii) coal (iii) power and energy efficiency,(iv) new technologies and renewable Energy and (v) civil nuclear energy. Short and longer-term work plans have been formulated and several bilateral Agreements are ready to be signed or under finalisation below:
(1) FutureGen Project : India has accepted the U.S. government’s invitation to participate in the Future Gen project, an initiative to build the world's first integrated sequestration and hydrogen production research power plant. FutureGen, a billion dollar project to which India is contributing $10M and the U.S. government and industry are responsible for funding the balance will create the world's first zero-emissions fossil fuel plant, drawing upon the best scientific talent to pursue an innovative 'showcase' project focused on the design, construction and operation of a technically cutting-edge power plant. Indian companies are also expected to participate in the private sector segment.
(2) India has sought membership in the Integrated Ocean Development Program (IODP), an international drilling programme for scientific deep-sea research led by Japan and the USA which aims to study, inter alia, the unknown deep biosphere by studying core samples and monitoring boreholes, an important first step towards harnessing gas hydrates as a source of energy. The National Gas Hydrate Program (NGHP) has identified specific areas in Indian deep-sea waters for conducting further geo-scientific surveys/studies. It is believed that commercial exploitation of gas hydrates may start sometime in the period 2015-2020.
(3) ITER: ITER is a multi-billion dollar international project that seeks to make use of fusion energy for electricity production a reality. The main ITER facility will be built in Cadarache, France, and all ITER partners will participate in its construction, research and development. Pursuant to the nuclear understanding of July 18, 2005, the USA supported India’s membership in ITER. India was invited on December 6, 2005 to join the initiative as a full partner by the USA, and its other ITER partners - the European Union, Russia, Japan, South Korea, and China - at the ITER negotiations meeting in Jeju, South Korea. India will join the international team that will work on this project.
(4) In the area of Oil and Natural Gas, it has been decided:
•To hold a Natural Gas Conference - with focus on /Coal-Bed Methane in New Delhi in April /early May 2006,
• to hold a Natural Gas Conference in New Delhi-in early May 2006, with focus on , gas infrastructure development and operations, LNG and non-conventional gas, including coalbed methane, and gas sector regulation
• MOU’s are ready on (i) offshore drilling for gas hydrates and (ii) safety, standards, codes of practice and procedures
• Dialogue continues on a proposed MOU between IOC and the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory on hydrogen.
• Possible co-operation is being discussed in treatment of (i) residues from refineries and production and (ii) storage, safety regulation of hydrocarbons.
• USTDA is funding an Oil and Gas Refinery Orientation Visit for nine representatives from the Indian public and private sectors to visit the U.S. in late summer 2006 to provide an introduction to U.S. expertise and equipment in downstream oil and gas manufacturing, and introduce small and medium size U.S. companies to opportunities in India
India and the USA have just signed an MOU on exchange of Information between India and US relating to the Hydrocarbon sector
(5) A High-level Work Plan on Coal has been prepared which provides for exchange of visits by experts – starting with
- a series of on-site studies, workshops and conferences on (i) coal beneficiation/waste coal utilization, fine coal recovery (ii) Coal Bed Methane/Coal Mine Methane resources estimation and block delineation (iii)in-situ coal gasification,(iv)prevention of overburden dump failures,(v) exploitation of reserves of steeply dipping coal seams in north eastern coalfields, (vi) mine safety – practices, training and regulatory regime.
- Coal related information relevant to coal technologists, US coal industry partners and investors has been shared with the US side.
- A Business Advisory Council will be established by March 31, 2006.
- U.S. members of the India-U.S. Coal Working Advisory Group visited in January this year and agreed to have several workshops in 2006.
- U.S. experts in coal preparation and coal liquefaction will visit India in March 2006 to discuss pilot projects with Indian coal companies. India will host the 3rd Working Group Meeting in New Delhi in the first week of April 2006 which will focus on (i) Coal reserve exploitation, (ii) washing of high ash coal, (iii) development of expertise for estimation of reserves of coal bed methane, (iv) exploitation of coal locked up due to underground fires, and (v) development of a new technology showcase project of 250-270 MW.
• A three-day meeting of the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum also would be held in early April 2006.
• India and US are also finalizing an Agreement for the setting up an information center, the Coal Bed Methane (CBM) and Coal-mine Methane (CMM) ‘clearing house’ in India with joint funding by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and U.S. Trade Development Agency (USTDA) and Government of India.
• An Agreement on USTDA funding of a feasibility study of alternate mining technology for Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) is also under finalisation.
(6) In the co-operation for Power and Energy Efficiency, it has been decided to:
• Hold a U.S. – India Energy Efficiency Technology Cooperation Conference on May 2-3, 2006 at New Delhi.
• A “Clean Coal Technology Partnership” between the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) of the USA and the National Thermal Power Corporation of India (NTPC) is being discussed to advance R&D in clean and efficient power generation using Indian coal.
A Clean Coal Business Development Council is being established to expand participation of well-known service providers for R&M of old thermal plants and a conference on this theme is proposed for June 2006.
(7) In the area of New Technology & Renewable Energy, a delegation from India led by the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources will visit the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in spring, 2006 to explore co-operation with the USA in (i) standards and testing of solar thermal and photovoltaic systems, (ii) development of concentrating collectors, and (iii) energy efficient buildings.
(8) Under co-operation on civil nuclear energy, a workshop was held in January 2006 on a range of topics including best practices for nuclear power plant design, new concepts in construction, commissioning, operations, safety, life extension and regulatory oversight. The next workshop will be held later this year in the USA. The ongoing cooperation in high-energy and nuclear physics continues. With India joining the ITER project, both Governments have agreed to correspond on establishing a mechanism for cooperation between scientists working on fusion science. Similarly, the ongoing cooperation between India’s Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission will continue in an autonomous manner.
U.S. - India to Establish a Bi-National Science and Technology Endowment Fund and Joint Commission
President George Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced the intention to establish a Bi-National Science and Technology Endowment Fund and a standing Science and Technology (S&T) Joint Commission. These initiatives will accelerate cooperation in many technical fields of mutual interest to India and the United States and benefit the economy and well-being of citizens of both countries. These initiatives build on the S&T Cooperation Agreement signed October 17, 2005.
India and the US have a highly-developed educational and research and development capacities. Scientific and economic links between India and the United States have remained strong since the early 1960s, first in agriculture, and then spreading into a broad range of areas involving most U.S. government technical agencies.
The United States and India will each contribute to start the Bi-National S&T Endowment Fund. Additional contributions are anticipated to be added from private sources. Income from the Fund will support the joint research and the development of India-U.S. S&T projects selected through a competitive process. Projects considered for funding will span a broad spectrum of topics of mutual priority, particularly those with potential to jump from the laboratory into the private sector. Topics include: biotechnology; health and infectious diseases; advanced materials and nanotechnology science; climate science; clean energy technologies; clean water technologies, hydrology and watershed management; cyber-security; natural resource and wildlife conservation management; basic space, atmospheric and earth sciences; and marine sciences.
Recognizing the unique and expanding role of Science and Technology in Indo-U.S. relations, the Prime Minister and the President also agreed to form a Binational S&T Joint Commission that would provide a framework for a vigorous public-private partnership aimed at:
- Serving as a bridge and forum for dialogue between the government science and technology agencies in both countries;
- Fostering R&D and scientific exchanges between government, universities, research institutions, and the private sectors;
- Encouraging the joint research and development of fast and medium S&T projects for commercial products for mutual benefit of both countries through mutually agreed mechanisms.
- Overseeing Indo-US cooperation in Science and Technology implemented through existing and emerging arrangements, including the Indo-US S&T Forum and the Binational S&T Endowment Fund, and;
- Encouraging commercialization of new technologies and identifying and promoting reduction of regulatory and bureaucratic barriers in both countries.
The Joint Commission will be appointed and serviced by the Department of State of the Government of the United States of America and the Government of India, co-chaired by senior leaders from each country, and composed of representatives from the scientific community, government and industry.
Taken together, these activities herald a new era in S&T cooperation between the two countries.
Indo-U.S. Framework for Maritime Security Cooperation
Consistent with their global strategic partnership and the new framework for their defence relationship, India and the United States committed themselves to comprehensive cooperation in ensuring a secure maritime domain. In doing so, they pledged to work together, and with other regional partners as necessary, to protect the free flow of commerce and to counter threats that could undermine maritime security.
2. The two countries reaffirmed their commitment to support existing multilateral efforts to enhance maritime security, including initiatives undertaken by the International Maritime Organization and other relevant UN programs. They noted the contribution to maritime security of the ongoing Indo-U.S. cooperation on disaster relief.
3. India and the United States will address, in a joint and combined manner as necessary, consistent with respective national legal authorities and relevant international law, maritime threats, including: piracy and armed robbery at sea; threats to safety of ships, crew, and property as well as safety of navigation; transnational organized crimes in all dimensions; the illicit trafficking in weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems, and related materials; environmental degradation; and natural disasters.
4. In pursuance of the above objectives, the two countries will:
- Hold regular maritime security policy and implementation discussions in the Defense Policy Group, the Naval Executive Steering Group, and Military Cooperation Group. They will discuss current policies and emerging maritime issues to develop new avenues of cooperation, including exercises.
- Pursue cooperation in the following areas:
- Prevention of, and response to, acts of transnational crime at sea such as piracy, armed robbery at sea, smuggling, and trafficking in arms and drugs.
- Search and rescue operations at sea.
- Exchange of information and facilitation of technical assistance on combating marine pollution, as mutually agreed.
- Enhancement of their cooperative capabilities in the maritime domain through technology cooperation and defense trade, as well as an appropriate agreement on logistic support.
Wildlife Trafficking
On September 23, 2005 United States announced the formation of the Coalition against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT). This global coalition focuses political and public attention on growing threats to wildlife from poaching and illegal trade. Seven major U.S.-based environmental and business groups with global interests and programs have joined the Coalition: Conservation International, Save the Tiger Fund, the Smithsonian Institution, Traffic International, WildAid, Wildlife Conservation Society, and the American Forest & Paper Association. Membership of CAWT is open to Governments, NGOs and corporations committed to combating wildlife trafficking.
Wildlife trafficking is a global problem with trading in animals, animal parts and exotic species fueling a $10 billion trade. Wildlife trafficking problem is compounded because of a global nexus with criminals operating in the areas of drugs and weapons and needs to be tackled by a multilateral effort. In order to address the problem both the supply and the demand side issues need to be addressed simultaneously. Whereas US, China and Europe are the major markets, a lot of wild animals and illegal wildlife parts/products are sourced from Asian countries. CAWT is focusing its initial efforts on Asia, a major source of illegal wildlife and wildlife parts to the world, including North America, Europe as well as the US. CAWT aims to support the initiatives of the countries in the region, including the Regional Action Plan on Trade in Wild Flora and Fauna, an ASEAN initiative.
India and United States have been collaborating in the area of wildlife conservation. The US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWLS) and Wildlife Institute of India have had collaborative projects since 1989. USFWLS has also supported projects with Bombay Natural History Society and other organizations for implementation in various States of India to train specialists of international repute in wildlife management and conservation. Given the diversity of wildlife in our two countries, India and US have been exploring new areas of possible cooperation. Discussion between our officials have focused on exchanges of National Park and Customs Officials, educating public about this illegal trade, wildlife and national park management, sharing of best practices and eco-tourism. A clearer and scientific understanding of reasons of human-animal conflict, habitat degradation and animal behaviour is also required to manage this conflict as well as drafting of local people to promote eco-tourism.
An effective strategy requires media and public participation as well as curbing wildlife crime with strong investigation and prosecution regimes. India will join the CAWT in coherence with its national legislations as well as the International Conventions to which it is a party.
India-US Cyber Security Forum
The India-US Cyber Security Forum was established in 2001 pursuant to a decision taken during the visit of the then Indian Prime Minister to the United States in 2001. The Forum, which grew out of our counterterrorism dialogue, is dedicated to protecting the critical infrastructure of the knowledge-based economy. Government agencies and private sector participants from India and the United States, working under the Forum’s auspices, have identified risks and common concerns in cyber security and crafted an action-oriented work plan on securing networked information systems.
The Forum focuses on cyber-security, cyber-forensics and related research and works towards enhancing co-operation among law enforcement agencies on both sides in dealing with cyber crime.
CERT-In and US National Cyber Security Division will share expertise in artifact analysis (i.e. analysis of traces of virus / worm software), network traffic analysis, and exchange of information.
Defence services of both the countries will enhance their interaction through exchange of experience in organizational, technological, and procedural aspects.
Ongoing co-operation between India’s STQC and the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will expand to new areas including harmonization of standards.
CII and their US counterpart have decided to set up an India Information Sharing and Analysis Centre (ISAC) and India Anti-Bot Alliance (‘bot’ refers to software that can be tasked to invade computers and undertake malicious activities remotely on behalf of hackers).
The January 2006 3rd Plenary in New Delhi resulted in ambitious action plans for the Forum’s five Working Groups, which include seminars, workshops and expert level exchanges. Two additional areas of co-operation (i) transportation and (ii) financial sectors are being discussed to be included in the scope of IUSCSF – and safeguards for sub-outsourcing by India are also under discussion.
A draft Protocol on cyber security, between the NSCS and the State Department is under discussion.
India-US: Health
In the Joint Statement of July 18, 2005, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President George Bush committed our two countries to strengthen cooperation and combat HIV/AIDS at a global level. Under this initiative they agreed to expedite FDA review of generic Indian ARV drugs, collaboration in basic sciences, product development and clinical trials, establishment of a private sector capital, fund and expansion of HIV/AIDS workplace programme.
HIV/AIDS-Expedited FDA approval: Since 2005, 12 ARVs and 5 APIs have received expedited FDA approval within 3 months as compared to 1-2 years earlier (10 other applications are currently under advanced stages of FDA review). With WHO granting pre-qualification to all such FDA approved Indian drugs, they can be distributed by WHO and other UN agencies in Asia and Africa where the AIDS epidemic is raging.
COLLABORATION WITH US FDA: US supports India’s plan to raise the capability of its drug approving agency to those comparable with US FDA. The introduction of Internationally accepted FDA testing standards, would lead to greater confidence and marketability of Indian drugs and foods.
HIV/AIDS-Collaborative research and product development: Institutions in the two countries have been identified for collaborative research and product development. Vaccine Development and clinical trials for new HIV/AIDS drugs are taking place in India. Two senior US researchers have been deputed by US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for joint product development/clinical trials with ICMR, DBT and NACO. Joint efforts are on to develop capacities to conduct Phase III clinical trials in India. Centres of Excellence in clinical trials are being planned in collaboration with US counterparts.
HIV/AIDS-Corporate Effort: An India-US Corporate Fund for HIV/AIDS, which is managed by GIVE Foundation and ICICI Bank has been established. President Bush has announced a contribution of US$ 7 million to this fund. With the help of contributions from Indian and US businesses, the fund seeks to increase resources to support prevention, treatment and control of HIV/AIDS in India. CII has also established the Indian Business Trust (IBT) for expansion of HIV/AIDS workplace programmes.
PUBLIC HEALTH: India and US are also exploring opportunities to establish two Schools of Public Health in India.
AVIAN FLU: Avian Flu represents a real danger to mankind and the sides are united in their resolve to work with world institutions in preventing or mitigating a potential pandemic. India has agreed to host a regional meeting, funded and technically supported by WHO and the US on Avian Flu pandemic preparedness in New Delhi in 2006. ICMR has also agreed to host a meeting of International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Flu in 2007. India welcomes US plans to increase its participation in the Avian Flu sector to enable US and India to work together.
COLLABORATION IN PREVENTION OF STDs AND HIV/AIDS: Prime Minister and President are pleased to note that US and India have agreed to renew for a period of five years their collaboration in this sphere, which first began in 2000.
FUTURE DIRECTIONS: Health Tourism from US to India is an area with enormous potential for collaboration. With Indian offering world-class medical care facilities at reasonable costs, the two countries could leverage Indian expertise for their economic and social benefit. India and US would continue to work on harmonization of Indian and US healthcare systems, development of specialized medical insurance and legal packages for US patients and accreditation of Indian Health Care institutions/professionals in the US.
US Knowledge Initiative on Agriculture Education, Research, Services and Commercial Linkages
Pursuant to the understanding on cooperation in Agriculture reflected in the Joint Statement of US President George Bush and Indian Prime Minister Dr. Man Mohan Singh on July 18, 2005 during the visit of Dr. Man Mohan Singh to the USA, the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) agreed to work together for a new India – US Knowledge Initiative on Agriculture Education, Research, Services and Commercial Linkages, identified the objectives of this Initiative and created the Board of the Knowledge Initiative on Agriculture (AKI) who have, after identifying areas of priority focus, agreed on Work Plan which includes:
(i) Under Education, learning resources, curriculum development and training, building of human and institutional capacity with the objective of preparing graduates to harness science and technology for the pursuit of attaining and sustaining the ‘Evergreen Revolution’. It has been agreed that a critical mass of faculty and scientists in subject domains and need-based niche/strategic/emerging areas will be developed through post-doctoral programs, faculty exchange, trainings and workshops. These select faculty and scientists, in turn, would serve as catalysts for further change and improvement.
Mechanisms include establishing a standing Indo-US Joint Working Group, sharing the US experience in curriculum development to benefit the ongoing curriculum revision exercise in India, identifying the number of slots for training and faculty exchange during 2006 with consideration of additional slots in the coming years and organizing a range of collaborative activities such as conferences, exchange of visits and workshops. With regard to building institutional capacity, the focus will be on extension and outreach activities, library resources, networking and leadership development through sharing of experiences to take the knowledge initiative forward.
Modalities for implementation of the training and other activities were also finalized.
(ii) Under Food-processing and Marketing, the Work Plan targets training, capacity building and joint research, including quality assurance and food safety, reduction of post harvest losses, market information systems, value addition, strengthening grades and standards, facilitation of agro-business investment, advanced processing technologies, byproduct utilization and bio-fuels from bio-mass.
(iii) Under Biotechnology, a strategic alliance has been envisaged for training and research on development of transgenic crops with resistance to economically important viruses, tolerance to drought, heat and salinity and micro-nutrient utilization efficiency; molecular breeding and genomics in crops and animals, molecular approaches in plants and animal health protection have been agreed.
(iv) Under Water Management, research and training proposals on sustainable use of water resources, water quality management and remediation, use of modern tools in water management, integrated nutrient management and precision agriculture have been decided.
2. Funding: The proposed Work Plan, which includes scholarships, exchange programmes, training and collaboration of scientists, will be supported by a financial commitment of the Governments of India and USA over a period of three years. About 40 premier agriculture research universities, many of whom already have US linkages, have been identified for the programmes-including the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Veterinary Research Institute, Punjab Agricultural University, National Dairy Research Institute, G.B.Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Tamil Nadu Agriculture University, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore and the Haryana Agriculture University. The US partners will be identified on a competitive basis by the US Department of Agriculture with the concurrence of GOI.
3. The initiative aims at attaining excellence in agricultural education, to enhance employability of the graduates, developing human resources to fulfill commitments towards the Millennium Development Goals, and improving quality of life through sustainable rural development including innovative agricultural extension, agri-business programmes and wider participation of women. The AKI is expected to significantly re-invigorate the US-Indian partnership in agriculture and offer a win-win situation for both the countries and will trigger benefits in perpetuity.
4. A Framework Equivalency Plan has been signed between India and the USA that outlines the fundamental requirements to allow bilateral trade of commodities treated by irradiation as phyto-sanitary measure. With this, the regulatory process for export of irradiated mangoes from India to the USA may be initiated and hopefully completed in about a year.
5. The assessment system used by APEDA for accreditation of agencies for certification of organic products has been recognized by US Department of Agriculture Marketing Services enabling export of organic agricultural products from India with effect from February 16, 2006.
2006-03-02 07:26:14
Original Source : MoEA
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