The Press Information Bureau (PIB) is a government agency that releases news and information about the activities of the Indian government. On July 6, 2023, the PIB released a number of important news items, including the In-USN Salvage and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Exercise, IIT Madras in Zanzibar- Tanzania. This news analysis will provide a brief overview of each of these news items and discuss their implications. The analysis will also highlight some of the other important news items that were released by the PIB on July 6, 2023. Additionally, it will highlight other important announcements made by the PIB on the same day.
Top Press Information Bureau (PIB) News of the day:
1. In-USN Salvage and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Exercise – Salvex
The seventh edition of the Indian Navy – US Navy (IN – USN) salvage and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) exercise, Salvex, was conducted from 26 Jun – 06 Jul 23 at Kochi. IN and USN have been participating in joint salvage and EOD exercises since 2005. The exercise saw participation from both the navies which included the ships – INS Nireekshak and USNS Salvor, in addition to specialist diving and EOD teams. Spanning over 10 days, the diving teams of both the countries shared experiences on maritime salvage and trained together in various facets of EOD operations on land as well as at sea. Salvex also saw the conduct of joint training exercises towards enhancing interoperability, cohesiveness, and gaining from best practices mutually in maritime salvage and EOD operations. The constructive engagements on operational terms enhanced the skill sets of the diving teams in a number of diverse disciplines such as mine detection and neutralization, wreck location, and salvage.
2. MoU for setting up of campus of IIT Madras in Zanzibar- Tanzania signed
- The memorandum of understanding (MoU) for setting up a campus of IIT Madras in Zanzibar, Tanzania, was signed today between the Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of India, IIT Madras, and the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (MoEVT) of Zanzibar, Tanzania, in the presence of Dr. S. Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of India, and Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar. This is the first-ever IIT campus to be set up outside India. It reflects the longstanding friendship between India and Tanzania and highlights India’s focus on building people-to-people ties across Africa and the Global South.
- This unique partnership will bring the top-ranked educational expertise of IIT Madras to a prime destination in Africa and address the current needs of the region. The academic programs, curricula, student selection aspects, and pedagogical details will be managed by IIT Madras, while the capital and operating expenditure will be covered by the government of Zanzibar-Tanzania. Students enrolled in this campus will be awarded IIT Madras degrees. The state-of-the-art interdisciplinary degrees are expected to attract a diverse cohort of students from Tanzania and other countries. Indian students will also be eligible to apply for these programs.
- The establishment of the IIT campus will enhance India’s global reputation, diplomatic relationships, and expand the international footprint of IIT Madras. It is also likely to further improve the quality of education and research at IIT Madras, thanks to the student and faculty diversity from the international campus. Additionally, it will deepen research collaborations with other top-ranked academic institutions worldwide.
- The IIT campus in Zanzibar, Tanzania, is envisioned as a world-class higher education and research institution with a broader mission to develop competencies in response to emerging global requirements, strengthen ties between the nations, and support research and innovation in the region. It will serve as an example to the world of the aspirational qualities of Indian higher education and innovation.
3. World Food India-2023: Roundtable interaction in New Delhi
- An investor roundtable meeting took place in New Delhi, co-chaired by the Secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and the Secretary of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries. The event involved prominent global and Indian agri-food processing companies and focused on discussing their future plans and potential partnerships with the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) for World Food India-2023.
- The companies expressed optimism about the Indian market and praised the government’s efforts to enhance the business environment, including favorable policies like the Production Linked Incentive Scheme and the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana. They also expressed interest in sponsoring the event, showcasing their products and technologies, and collaborating with MoFPI for the planned sessions during the event. The Additional Secretary of MoFPI mentioned that Invest India and FICCI would coordinate with the companies to finalize participation details, while EY would serve as the event’s knowledge partner.