The Cabinet has given its approval for signing of Memorandum of Understanding between India and Brazil on Bioenergy Cooperation. India and Brazil are major consumers of energy in the world and Brazil is one of the most important trading partners of India in the entire Latin America and Caribbean region. Brazil is currently the world’s second largest producer and consumer of biofuels.

Biofuels and bioelectricity accounted for 18 per cent of Brazil’s energy mix. India also has a strong focus in the area of bio-fuels and has set a target to achieve 20 per cent blending of ethanol in petrol and 5 per cent blending of biodiesel in diesel by 2030 with the announcement of new policy on Biofuels in 2018. During the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of Brazil in India in 2016, the two sides agreed to cooperate on research and development of renewable energies, as well as in the field of second-generation biofuels.

The Union Cabinet approved the signing of the Protocol to amend the Agreement between the Swiss Federal Council and the Government of India related to air services and to exchange Diplomatic Notes with Switzerland for bringing the amendments in the Air Services Agreement into force as per Article 17 thereof. The amendments in the Air Services Agreement between India and Switzerland will bring it in tune with the developments in the civil aviation sector. It will provide enabling environment for enhanced and seamless connectivity while providing commercial opportunities to the carriers of both the sides ensuring greater safety and security.
The Cabinet also gave its ex-post facto approval to the Adaptation of Laws (Amendment) Order, 2019 issued by the President of India under clause (2) of article 372 of the Constitution to amend the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations (BEFR), 1873.

The notification will extend BEFR to the State of Manipur to give its indigenous people protection from the provisions of Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 and make necessary changes in the Regulation.
The Cabinet gave ex-post facto approval on an Agreement on Security Cooperation between the India and Saudi Arabia that was signed on 29th October this year during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Saudi Arabia.

The Agreement aims to improve the effectiveness of both countries in the prevention and suppression of crimes including crime relating to terrorism and its financing and organized crime and to establish a framework for enhancing cooperation between the officials of intelligence and law-enforcement agencies of the two countries, in line with national and international obligations.

The Cabinet also gave ex-post facto approval on an Agreement between India and Uzbekistan on Cooperation in the field of Combating Transnational Organized Crime and International Terrorism. It was signed by Union Home Minister and the  Uzbek Minister of Internal Affairs in New Delhi on 20th of last month during the visit of Minister of Internal Affairs of Uzbekistan to India.

The agreement aims to improve the effectiveness of both countries in prevention and suppression of crimes including crime relating to terrorism and its financing, organized crime and to establish a framework for enhancing cooperation between the officials of intelligence and law-enforcement agencies of the two countries, in line with domestic laws and international obligations.

The Cabinet was apprised of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between India and Bangladesh on cooperation in Youth matters. The MoU was signed on 5th October this year at New Delhi.

Exchange programmes in the field of Youth Affairs between India and Bangladesh will help in promoting exchange of ideas, values and culture amongst Youth and in consolidating friendly relations.  It will help in developing international perspective among the Youth and expanding their knowledge and expertise in the areas of youth affairs.

The Cabinet gave its ex-post facto approval for the Agreement between India and Sweden on Recognition of Seafarer Certificates, pursuant to Regulation I/10 of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watch-Keeping for seafarers, 1978. The Agreement will pave the way for recognition of maritime education and training, certificates of competency, endorsements, training and documentary evidence and medical fitness certificates for seafarers issued by the Government of both the countries, in accordance with the provision of regulation 1/10 of the STCW Convention, and cooperation between the two countries in the training certification and management of seafarers.

The Agreement will be beneficial to both the countries as Sweden is a ship owning nation while India is a net seafarers supplying nation.