12-Nov-2019: Finance Minister says Farmers’ concerns and rural development is top priority at 6th World Congress on Rural and Agricultural Finance
The Government of India’s top priority is to put the farmers’ concerns and rural development on a larger landscape, said Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman. 6th World Congress on Rural and Agriculture Finance is jointly organised by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and Asia - Pacific Rural Agricultural and Credit Association (APRACA).
The Finance Minister said that the Government is looking at acknowledging huge dependence on rural life and agriculture and further emphasised on the immediate need for taking up water management and water-related stress points. She also enumerated benefits of soil health cards provided to farmers. While talking about energy security, the Finance Minister said that there is a need for the farmers contributing in solar energy generation, participation in wind energy, installing solar panels in his farms, etc. and also to become an Urjadaata from Annadata.
The Finance Minister also directed NABARD to take up immediate and necessary steps to extend support to the farmers in the states of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh; so that the next crop of saffron, peaches, walnuts and other agriculture produce in the state is procured at the right time. She also stressed the need to promote solar energy in the Ladakh region.
The Finance Minister said that the Government was focusing on the priorities of fishermen in the coastal and inland water areas. She encouraged NABARD to focus on marketing of nutrients in the coastal areas. She said NABARD can work with the FPOs and SHGs in these areas to help increase nutritional input of the area, which could be well-received in the wellness industry.
India provides $200 billion agriculture credit every year to small and marginal farmers. This will be enhanced once the formation of 10,000 FPOs, as announced in this year’s Budget, will be functional. There will be a huge traction when the farmers will anchor the value chain, which in turn, will augment the value chain funding. These inclusive measures aided by technology interventions would bolster financial inclusion and rural financing efforts.
NABARD’s largest SHG-Bank Linkage Programme benefiting millions of rural women will soon move to a digital platform. This will revolutionise the lending to women SHGs.
The representatives of banks and financial institutions from over 40 countries such as China, Nepal, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, etc. have gathered in New Delhi to deliberate on the subject of Rural and Agriculture Finance: Critical Input to Achieve Inclusive and Sustainable Development.
APRACA, representing 81 member institutions from 21 countries, is a regional association that promotes cooperation and facilitates mutual exchange of information and expertise in the field of rural finance. Over the years it has developed a repository of knowledge in managing and serving rural financial institutions, financial inclusion and to help avert financial risks and improve efficiency.
9-Sep-2019: 24th World Energy Congress to commence in Abu Dhabi
The 24th World Energy Congress will commence in Abu Dhabi today under the patronage of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates.
The four-day World Energy Congress aims to bring together international energy stakeholders, including governments, private and state corporations, academia and media. With over 15,000 participants expected, the Congress is set to welcome over 250 high-level speakers, 72 Ministers, 500 CEOs, 1000 media persons with 40,000 square-metre exhibition space that will cover the entire energy spectrum.
Speaking at the opening press conference held at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, ADNEC, Minister of Energy and Industry Suhail Al Mazrouei said, the UAE is honoured to be hosting the Congress, which builds on and reflects the ambitious energy transformation that the country is going through at present.
The Minister added that the theme of this World Energy Congress is Energy for Prosperity which also represents the ambitious and dynamic energy transition of the country.
9-Aug-2019: Arjun Ram Meghwal addresses 3rd International Electric Vehicle Conclave
The Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, Arjun Ram Meghwal, inaugurated the 3rd International Electric Vehicle (EV) Conclave at the International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) in Manesar, Gurugram. The Conclave was held to create a knowledge-sharing platform to ensure flow of information at all levels in the automotive sector.
The EV Conclave organized by ICAT in association with India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) has grown and transformed itself into a global event since its inception in 2017. Owing to the growth of electric mobility and in order to meet the demands of the automotive sector, the EV Conclave is organized with a focus on new trends and challenges in the field of electric mobility.
Addressing the Conclave, Arjun Ram Meghwal, said that the Electric Mobility Mission will be implemented in phases based on feedback from the auto industry. He also promised all support to the industry on policy matters to ensure smooth and efficient transformation of the automotive industry from internal combustion(IC) to electric powertrain. He informed that 3 lakh electric vehicles have already been sold under the FAME India Scheme. He said the provision of Rs. 10,000 crore have been made for electric mobility in the Union Budget of 2019-20.
The Conclave was attended by more than 200 delegates from more than 80 organizations. The next Conclave will be organized in July 2020.
On this occasion, an exhibition was organized in which component manufacturers, system suppliers and service providers showcased their products and services to promote self-reliance, encourage designers and promote innovations in the electric vehicle industry in India.
Arjun Ram Meghwal also inaugurated various new facilities including Photometry Lab for General Lighting and Power Train Engine Test Cell (ETC)- Expansion. In the expansion of the Photometry Lab for general lighting, various performance and safety testing facilities like mirror Goniometer, LED testing facilities were also inaugurated. Powertrain ETC lab expansion includes two transient and five Eddy current dynamometers-based test cells for functional validation of engines.