PM Modi Arrives In Brunei Darussalam On Historic Two-Day Visit

by Shambhu Datta Mishra

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

During his visit, the Prime Minister will engage in bilateral discussions focusing on exploring new areas for cooperation in multiple areas like defence, trade and investment, energy, space technology, health, capacity building, culture and vibrant people-to-people exchanges

Last month, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar had met Erywan Pehin Yusof, Foreign Minister of Brunei on the sidelines of ASEAN meetings in Vientiane and jointly launched the logo celebrating 40 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries

Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei), Sept 3: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the Bandar Seri Begawan Airport Tuesday afternoon as he began a two-day visit to Brunei Darussalam - the first ever bilateral trip by an Indian PM to the southeast Asian nation - at the invitation of Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah.

"As we celebrate the 40 years of our diplomatic relations, I look forward to my meetings with His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and other esteemed members of the Royal family to advance our historical relationship to new heights," said PM Modi in his departure statement ahead of his visit to Brunei Darussalam and Singapore.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Brunei Sultan met for the first time on the sidelines of 25th ASEAN Summit at Nay Pyi Taw in November 2014. They met once again during the 2017 East Asia Summit held in Manila.

In January 2018, the Brunei Sultan, along with the 10 ASEAN Heads of State and Government, visited India for the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit. The leaders were also 'Guests of Honour' at India's 69th Republic Day celebrations on January 26, 2018.

In 2013, then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Brunei Darussalam to participate in the 11th ASEAN-India Summit and the 8th EAS Summit.

Crowned as the 29th Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam in August 1968, Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah undertook his first State Visit to India in September, 1992. His second State Visit to India came in May, 2008.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Brunei Darussalam government has been supportive of India's 'Look East' and 'Act East' policies for expansion and deepening of cooperation with ASEAN.

"Brunei is an important partner for India's Act East Policy and our vision for the Indo-Pacific, and as we mark a decade of our 'Act East' Policy this year, the visit assumes additional significance. Brunei has been our country coordinator in ASEAN from 2012 to 2015 and played a key role in our further engagements with ASEAN and continues to do so today," Jaideep Mazumdar, MEA Secretary (East), said ahead of the PM's landmark visit.

Indian naval and coast guard ships have also regularly visited Brunei and two Indian defence companies - Bharat Electronics Ltd and MKU Limited - participated in the Defence Industry Exposition organised by Brunei Armed Forces in June 2024 for the first time. Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah visited the Indian stalls during the expo and appreciated the Indian companies' participation.

There are currently around 14,500 Indians living in Brunei Darussalam out of the total population of about 450,500 with more than half of the Indian expatriates being semi and unskilled workers, who work in oil and gas industries construction, retail businesses, etc. There is also a substantial number of Indian doctors and teachers working in Brunei.

After Brunei, PM Modi will travel to Singapore - a country with which India is exploring enhanced cooperation in digital, skill development, sustainability, healthcare, connectivity and advanced manufacturing areas.

In his departure statement on Tuesday, PM Modi said that he is looking forward to meeting Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong besides the leaders of Singapore's vibrant business community.

"I look forward to my discussions to deepen our Strategic Partnership with Singapore, particularly in new and emerging areas of advanced manufacturing, digitalization, and sustainable development. Both countries are important partners in our Act East Policy and the Indo-Pacific Vision. I am confident that my visits would further strengthen our partnership with Brunei, Singapore and the larger ASEAN region," said Prime Minister Modi.

Last week, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw led the Indian delegation at the second India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR) held in Singapore on Monday.

During their visit, the Indian ministerial delegation also jointly called on Singapore Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong who had led the Singapore delegation for the first ISMR held in New Delhi in September 2022.

"Glad that progress has been made on several fronts since our last meeting. And new ideas for cooperation are being pursued, including in advanced manufacturing and connectivity. These initiatives will pave the way for closer strategic cooperation and partnership between India and Singapore," the Singapore PM said after his meeting with the visiting Indian ministers on Monday.

(IANS)

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15th NMC Teachers Meet in Odisha Organised by National Medicos Organisation at AIIMS Bhubaneswar

by Hemanta Pande

Bhubaneswar, Sep 16: The 15th NMC Teachers Meet in Odisha was organised by the National Medicos Organisation at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, officials said Monday.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Vijendra Kumar, Professor of Pediatric surgery Member of UG Curriculum Board National Medical Commission, said that there is need of more medical colleges to produce new doctors to strengthen the health care delivery in rural India (Gramin Bharat) as well as the urban India.

Dr Aruna Vanekar President UG Curriculum Board NMC highlighted the different changed in MBBS curriculum such as criteria for MBBS attendance, maximum numbers and years of attempts to complete the MBBS course and Internship . She also said the provision of mandatory thesis submission before Postgraduate final examination has been removed and included as part of final practical examination.

Dr BN Gangadhar Padmashree chairman of the National Medical Commission emphasised on role of Doctors as social reformers. Dr BN Gangadhar along with Dr Aruna Vanekar also interacted with Deans of all 17 medical colleges of the state clarified the queries pertaining to Family adoption programme, AETCOM module and competency-based curriculum.

Dr Viswambar Singh, Professor ENT, IMS BHU Varanasi and National coordinator for NMS Teachers meet, briefed about different health activitis of National Medicos Organisation throughout the year in Northeast states, Kashmir and other parts of the country.

Dr Yogendar Mallik President Ethics and Regulation Board of NMC briefed about the different forum to address the Doctor’s grievances, and changes made in regulations to allow the foreign graduates to practice in India and uniformity in medical registration.

Professor Manas Ranjan Sahoo Vice chancellor of Odisha University Health Sciences said the change in teaching learning pattern between previous and current generation students. He also said the NMC’s approach to reach the Deans medical teachers in medical colleges in different states to brief about their ideas and taking feedback is a novel approach to bring the desired changes in medical curricula. Dr Sailesh Kumar President of AIIMS Bhubaneswar told for this joint effort by NMO and NMC the AIIMS Bhubaneswar and other institute of National importance can play a crucial role.

Among others Dr N Deep Bag, Director Incharge AIIMS Bhubaneswar; Dr P.R. Mahaptra, Dean AIIMS Bhubaneswar; Gr Braja Kishore Dash, Additional DMET were also present in the meeting.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda in his message appreciated the NMC’s effort to hold such meeting and 14 such meetings already conducted in other states.

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A total of 175 medical teachers from all 17 medical colleges of the state including their Deans and from AIIMS Bhubaneswar attended the meeting.

Security Beefed Up In Bhubaneswar Ahead Of PM Modi's Visit

by Hemanta Pande

Bhubaneswar, Sep 16: Tight security arrangements have been made in Bhubaneswar ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Odisha on Tuesday, September 17, informed a senior police officer on Monday.

PM Modi during his one-day visit to Odisha on September 17 will launch the state government's 'Subhadra Yojana’ and will also lay foundation stone and dedicate to the nation railway projects worth over Rs 2,800 crore.

Under the Subhadra Yojana, all eligible women beneficiaries in the age group of 21 years to 60 years, would receive Rs 50,000 over a period of 5 years between 2024-25 to 2028-29. An amount of Rs 10,000 per annum in two equal instalments will be credited directly to the beneficiary's Aadhaar-enabled and DBT-enabled bank account. The Prime Minister would initiate the fund transfer into the bank accounts of more than 10 lakh women tomorrow.

The Prime Minister will land at the Biju Patnaik International Airport at 10.50 AM tomorrow and then travel to Gadkana village on the outskirts of the State Capital, where he is scheduled to interact with the beneficiaries of PM Awas Yojana, officials said.

PM Modi would then reach Janata Maidan around 12 PM, from where he will launch the Subhadra Yojana, and unveil railway projects worth Rs 2,871 crore and highway projects worth Rs 1,000 crore, they said.

PM Modi would leave for Delhi around 1.15 pm, they added.

This is the PM’s first visit to the state after attending the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on June 12.

Security has been heightened in the state capital with 3,000 police personnel, including 500 officers, being deployed. The entire roads on which the PM will travel have been barricaded, said Police Commissioner Sanjeeb Panda

A total of 11 DCP-rank officers, 22 additional DCPs, 66 ACP-rank officers, 100 inspectors, and 300 officers, along with 81 platoons of forces (each comprising 30 personnel) and 500 home guards would be deployed, he said.

Additionally, three special tactical units along with two companies of CRPF and the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODARF) would also be on standby, he added.

PM Modi Arrives In Brunei Darussalam On Historic Two-Day Visit

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