Lok Sabha Question No. 2481 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-30
Subject: Trade with SAARC Countries
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: RAMESH POKHRIYAL NISHANK

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2481

TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.11.2016

## TRADE WITH SAARC COUNTRIES

† 2481. DR. RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK':

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  quantum of bilateral trade with various SAARC countries during  the  last  five  years  and  the  country-wise  and  amountwise details in this regard;
- (b) the  amount  of  grant/assistance  provided  by  India  to  these countries during the last five years;
- (c) the  names  of  the  countries  where  joint  venture  projects  are being set up and the cost thereof; and
- (d) the  number  of  students  of  various  SAARC  countries  being given education grant/scholarship by the Government?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

- (a) The quantum of bilateral trade with various SAARC countries during  the  last  five  years  and  the  country-wise  and  amount-wise details in this regard is as under:

Source: DGCI&S data base

| S No.   | Name of Country    | Trade Year-wise (figures in USD million)   | Trade Year-wise (figures in USD million)   | Trade Year-wise (figures in USD million)   | Trade Year-wise (figures in USD million)   | Trade Year-wise (figures in USD million)   |
|---------|--------------------|--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
|         |                    | 2015-16                                    | 2014-15                                    | 2013-14                                    | 2012-13                                    | 2011-12                                    |
| 1       | India- Afghanistan | 834.50                                     | 684.47                                     | 683.10                                     | 632.18                                     | 643.94                                     |
| 2       | India-             | 6762.10                                    | 7072.85                                    | 6651.30                                    | 5784.32                                    | 4374.94                                    |
|         | Bangladesh         |                                            |                                            |                                            |                                            |                                            |

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| 3                 | India-Bhutan      | 750.22   | 483.81   | 507.77   | 397.22   | 432.41   |
|-------------------|-------------------|----------|----------|----------|----------|----------|
| 4                 | India-            | 183.33   | 156.70   | 110.05   | 128.65   | 143.51   |
|                   | Maldives          |          |          |          |          |          |
| 5                 | India-Nepal       | 4400.67  | 5198.68  | 4122.23  | 3631.94  | 3271.45  |
| 6                 | India-            | 2612.18  | 2354.60  | 2701.18  | 2606.75  | 1903.50  |
|                   | Pakistan          |          |          |          |          |          |
| 7                 | India-Sri         | 6052.32  | 7459.89  | 5201.27  | 4609.68  | 4956.83  |
|                   | Lanka             |          |          |          |          |          |
| India-SAARC Total | India-SAARC Total | 21595.42 | 23411    | 19976.9  | 17790.74 | 15726.58 |

(b) The  amount  of  grant/assistance  provided  by  India  to  these countries during the last five years:

|   S No. | Name of the SAARC Country   | Grant/Assistance provided by India during last five years ( figures in INR in crore )   |
|---------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Afghanistan                 | 3,805.53                                                                                |
|       2 | Bangladesh                  | 635.17                                                                                  |
|       3 | Bhutan                      | 18,401.189                                                                              |
|       4 | Maldives                    | 164.64                                                                                  |
|       5 | Nepal                       | 14,78.27                                                                                |
|       6 | Pakistan                    | nil                                                                                     |
|       7 | Sri Lanka                   | 17,54.8                                                                                 |

- (c) The names of the countries where joint venture projects are being set up and the cost thereof:

Joint  ventures  have  been  set  up  by  Indian  PSUs  and  private companies  in  various  sectors  in  Bangladesh,  Bhutan  and  Nepal. Some of the notable JV projects and their cost wherever available is given below:

Bangladesh:

-  The Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company (Pvt.) Limited  (BIFPCL)  is  a  50:50  JV  of  NTPC  and  Bangladesh Power Development Board for the setting up of a 1,320 MW coal-fired  super  critical  thermal  power  plant  named  the 'Maitree super thermal plant' at Rampal, Bagherhat district,

Bangladesh.  The  estimated  cost  of  the  project  is  USD  1.68 billion.

-  Hero MotoCorp Limited is setting up a plant in Bangladesh in a  joint  venture  with  Niloy  Motors  Limited  of  Bangladesh); approximate investment of USD 30 million
-  LIC  Bangladesh  is  jointly  promoted  by  LIC  India,  Strategic Equity Management Limited (an asset management company in Bangladesh) and Mutual Trust Bank, Bangladesh.
-  Tata Motors is in Bangladesh in partnership with Nitol Group.
-  CEAT  Tyres  Limited  is  investing  in  Bangladesh  in  a  joint venture with A. K. Khan & Company Ltd of Bangladesh.
-  Godrej Agrovet Ltd of India entered into a joint venture with ACI Limited, Dhaka to form ACI Godrej Agrovet Private Ltd in 2004.
-  Dabur  India  has  set  up  a  joint  venture  company,  Asian Consumer Care Ltd., with ACI Limited, Dhaka.

## Bhutan:

600  MW  Kholonghchu  HEP  is  the  first  HEP  in  Bhutan  to  be implemented  under  the  Joint  Venture  model,  by  a  JV-company between Druk Green Power Corporation(DGPC) of Bhutan and SJVN Ltd. of India. The estimated cost of the project is 3868.8 crore(June 2013 Price level). Three other JV projects have been agreed upon770  MW  Chamkharchhu,  570  MW  Wangchhu  and  180  MW  Bunakha HEPs.

Nepal:

Indian firms are the largest investors in Nepal, accounting for about  40%  of  the  total  approved  foreign  direct  investments.  The Indian private sector and PSUs are engaged in the development of two important hydro- electric projects viz. Upper Karnali and Arun III each of 900 MWs, which would result in additional investment to Nepal of about US $ 2 billion. There are about 150 operating Indian ventures  in  Nepal.  They  are  engaged  in  manufacturing,  services (banking, insurance, dry port, education and telecom), power sector and tourism industries.

(d) Number  of  students  of  various  SAARC  countries  being  given education grant/scholarship by the Government is given below:

|   SN | Country     | No of Students   |
|------|-------------|------------------|
|    1 | Afghanistan | 2139             |
|    2 | Bangladesh  | 202              |
|    3 | Bhutan      | 1165             |
|    4 | Maldives    | 64               |
|    5 | Pakistan    | nil              |
|    6 | Nepal       | 3000             |
|    7 | Sri Lanka   | 334              |

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