Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Safety of the Railway Board, Shri K.K. Choudhary will act as the coordinator of the Task Force. The other members are : Executive Director (Traffic Transportation), Shri R.N. Verma, E.D (Establishment) Shri M.Z. Ansari, IG Security, Shri R. Tiwari, E.D (Signal), Shri K.D. Sharma, ED(Mechanical) Traction, Shri Shakeel Ahmed, E.D (Finance),Shri R. Shivdasan and ED (Land Management) Shri. H.K. Jaggi. The members have been assigned different subjects like operating and commercial, establishment, staff and medical, security, S&T and electrical, Mechanical and Stores, Finance and Civil Engineering pertaining to the Northeast Frontier Railway.
 
 

    The majority of prosecutions launched by the Registrars of Companies related to default in non-submission of documents under Section 162 (non-filing of annual returns), Section 210 (non-laying of balance sheets and profits and loss accounts in the annual general meetings) and Section 220 (non-submission of balance sheets and profits and loss accounts).
 
 

    Cautioning that trade negotiations cannot continue to be an exercise in which the developing nations yield market access even as access obtained by them was thwarted or undermined by developed nations, Shri Hegde said that as a major developing bloc, the G-15 should coordinate their position more closely to formulate strategy for Seattle WTO Conference. While we (G-15) are ready to listen and examine the proposal of others, we must obtain understanding and concessions on our own proposals on implementation issues in advance, he added. Shri Hegde further said that different countries in the G-15 family are in different stages of development and their reaction to the WTO proposals might differ from the one to the other, but they need to totally reject the inclusion of new issues such as social clauses or governance which are not related to trade.

    The Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Mrs. Vasundhara Raje in her address said the international economic situation today warranted collective action and understanding on many issues of mutual concern, especially amongst developing countries. Delivering his inaugural address, Governor of Karnataka, Shri Kursheed Alam Khan said that the globalization process has missed out on the goals of equity, poverty eradication and enhanced human security, but new opportunities for global integration through information technology revolution and foreign investments have been achieved.

    The Karnataka Chief Minister, Shri J.H. Patel in his address said that the implementation of Uruguay Round of WTO agreement have shown that the dice in the multilateral trading systems continued to be loaded against several developing countries. The G-15 countries could play an important role in reversing this unfortunate state of affairs.

    In his opening remarks, Shri P.P. Prabhu, the Union Commerce Secretary said that the experience of the last few decades has shown that mere market liberalization is not enough for global prosperity. What is more important and essential is new economic order which should be based on equity, access to markets, technology and resources, he added. Shri Prabhu further said that over the years, the G-15 has emerged as a useful platform for in-depth discussions and consensus building from a development perspective on various issues in the international agenda. The G-15 can hopefully provide the necessary inspiration to all developing countries in forcefully arguing the case of developing countries in the World Trade Organisation. He further hoped that the deliberations in the meeting on the issues before the Third Ministerial Meeting of WTO in Seattle will prove to be constructive and lead to common understandings so that developing countries can speak with one voice in Seattle.
 
 

    Shri Hegde said that though the Indo-Algerian bilateral trade has been rising streadily over the years, the volume, however, still remains low (US$ 26 million in 1998-99 and US$ 17-64 million in 1997-98) and needs to be raised to a reasonable level. During 1998-99 the total trade between the two countries registered a growth of over 47.34% over the trade during 1997-98. Major portion of our trade with Algeria constitutes Indian exports and accordingly, the balance of trade has been perennially and substantially in favour of India. Shri Hegde emphasised upon the greater interaction at official as well as business levels for expanding trade to an appropriate level. Shri Hegde offered Indian pharmaceuticals and coffee for the Alerian market while Algeria expressed their keeness to export phosphate to India.

    The Indo-Algerian Joint Commission last met in New Delhi in March 1997 under the chairmanship of the then Commerce Minister. The next meeting is scheduled to be held in Algiers and the dates for the same will be fixed through diplomatic channels. Shri Hegde stated that India’s efforts are towards increasing economic cooperation with Algeria.

    The Commerce Minister expressed the hope that discussions on Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement and Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement will be concluded shortly which will facilitate expansion of bilateral trade and investment. He also expressed his keenness for early finalisation of Trade Agreement between India and Algeria, for which Drafts have already been exchanged.

    Shri Hegde further indicated India’s willingness for establishment of India-Algeria Joint Business Council between FICCI (Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry) and Algerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. As Algerian response is still awaited to the FICCI proposal, Commerce Minister suggested for their early and positive respons.
 
 

    Shri Hegde said that Egypt has traditionally been India’s largest trading partner in Africa and during 1998-99, the total trade between the two countries registered a growth of 4.63% over that of 1997-98. The larger portion of our trade with Egypt has been the Indian exports and accordingly, the balance of trade has been in favour of India Shri Hegde added. The volume,however has come down over the years (US$466.66 million in 1998-99 and US$ 446 million in 1997-98) but it does not reflect the true potential of trade between the two countries. Shri Hegde called for further ways and means, which need to be explored by both sides to realise this potential.

    The Commerce Minister also welcomed the recently concluded Partnership Agreement between the two countries which provides for enhanced economic and commercial cooperation through exchange of commercial information, technical exchanges, development of private sector delegations. He expressed the hope that this agreement would further facilitate promotion of bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

    Shri Hegde further referred to the recent economic developments in India and mentioned that the Government of India was committed to economic liberalisation and free market reforms. He stated that India would like to work with the Egyptian Government and the private sector to realise the potential of trade as well as joint ventures and business collaboration between the two countries.

    In the context of bilateral industrial cooperation, the Commerce Minister underlined the fact that 20-odd Indo-Egyptian joint ventures and investment projects in Egypt are functioning successfully. "The Alexandria Carbon Black Company, set up by Grasim India Ltd., is the most successful among the Indian joint ventures in Egypt. It contributes 1.5% of Egypt’s total non-oil exports. It is also going into acrylic fibres in a big way", he added. Shri Hegde expressed hope that more such profitable joint ventures will come up in the two countries in future.

    The Commerce Minister mentioned about the Indo-Egypt Joint Business Group which was established following the visit of the then Indian Prime Minister to Egypt in October 1997 whose first meeting was held in Cairo on 17/5/99. A large number of new areas were discussed and identified for joint ventures and business collaborations between the two countries. He welcomed it as a serious private sector initiative where the business people will get opportunity to interact with both Governments providing encouragement and support.

    Expressing the general satisfaction at the growing Indo-Egyptian economic relations, the Commerce Minister mentioned that Indian institutions have developed a great deal of expertise in imparting training in various fields like computer software, management, defence, energy etc. and that India will favourably look at any request for institutional training from Egypt.
 
 

    Foreign exchange earning during July 1999 from tourists arrivals was Rs. 957.45 crore ( US $ 222.66 million) which is also 10.4 per cent more than the earning of July, 1998. Upto July tourism arrivals have contributed foreign exchange of Rs.6913.13 crore ( US $1617.77 million) to national exchequer. The total foreign exchange earning during the seven months of this year was 10.5 per cent more than the earning of corresponding period of previous year.
 
 

    Representatives of Political parties, who received a comprehensive briefing from the concerned officials in this meeting, were unanimous in their appreciation of the efforts being made by the Government and offered their unstinted cooperation in ensuring success of the arrangements being made for the security of their leader.

    While appreciating the need for ensuring physical safety and security of highly threatened leaders of Political parties, several representatives of these Parties expressed simultaneous concern for the security of common citizens. They emphasised that in every incident where an attempt is made on the life of a leader by causing an explosion, several innocent men and women also loose their lives. They have, therefore, advised that the Government should consider taking suitable measures to educate the public so as to protect them from such risk and harm. Shri Kamal Pande, Union Home Secretary assured them that the Ministry of Home Affairs will initiate suitable measures to act on this suggestion.
 
 

    His assumption of charge follows the Press Communique issued by the President on 16^th August, 1999.