Mango Diplomacy
Mango Diplomacy
Date: Thursday, March 02, 2006 3:24 PM
JOB DESTRUCTION NEWSLETTER
March 02, 2006 No. 1432
In the previous newsletter I explained how Bush is busy in India trading
middle class jobs and nuclear technology for Indian Mangoes. Little did I
know just how important it is for the global economy for India to have more
plutonium and uranium-235. If you are an inquiring mind that wants to know,
read this newsletter.
I assumed that the Indians were going to use all of those highly
radioactive materials that they get from the U.S. to make bombs, but I was
wrong! As it turns out, Indian mangoes were banned from the U.S. because
they have diseases and insects that could devastate our environment. With
all of that fissile material the Indians will be getting, they can zap the
mangoes with heavy doses of gamma and X-rays. The insects go poof, the
within seconds those mangoes are ready to export to the U.S. Yummy! I
wonder if they will be called gamma-mangoes?
Food irradiation hasn't been approved by the FDA, but of course they only
have jurisdiction for food made in the USA. Bush and his crony CEOs in the
food retailing business won't let such petty details impede free trade. All
of this sure sweetens the global trading pot, doesn't it?
Now, Indian farmers will instead irradiate the fruit to
kill any pests, making them fit for consumption in the
eyes of U.S. agricultural officials. The fruit should
again be available in U.S. markets in about 18 months.
It's interesting to note that the skids were already greased before Bush
came to India as trade negotiations were underway. Did you ever hear about
them on the news? Of course not! That's because most of us aren't CEOs so
we don't have privy to Bush's free trade dealings.
William Klein, US consul for political-economic affairs
in India, said the US commitment to develop strong economic
ties had begun well before the presidential visit. For instance,
India and the United States have finalized a series of
agreements to scrap non-trade barriers in a bid to double
bilateral trade to US$40 billion in three years.
In the previous newsletter Bush was quoted as saying that CEOs are
developing our foreign policy. Bush is against gay marriages but apparently
thinks that dating CEOs is A-OK.
20 top CEOs are getting ready for their date with President
Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The forum headed by
Ratan Tata on the Indian Side and Bill Harrison of JP Morgan
Chase will submit a report outlining concrete proposals to
boost trade and investment.
These CEOs want unlimited H-1Bs, and as Bush explained what CEOs want, CEOs
get!
From GE and Motorola to Levi's and MacDonalds, American
companies are vying for the Indian wallet in the great
Indian bazaar. But some believe it's time to focus on the
Indian brain and the American wallet.
The CEOs want the cap on H1B visas utilised by IT
professionals, engineers and scientists to go.
OUCH! This one hurts. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh toasted and made this
public announcement to Laura Bush:
"I am truly sorry the president is not taking you to Taj
Mahal this time," Singh said. "I hope he will be more
chivalrous next time you are here."
CHALLENGE: If there is a graphics expert on this list, why not make a mango
that glows in the dark? I'll put it on my website, I promise!
Articles Used for this Newsletter
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1151AP_Unchivalrous_Bush.html
Singh gives Bush grief over Taj Mahal snub
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/HC03Df04.html
Nukes and mangoes on Bush's mind in India
http://news.moneycontrol.com/india/newsarticle/stocksnews.php?autono=204559
No beating around the Bush!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1151AP_Unchivalrous_Bush.html
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
Thursday, March 2, 2006 7 Last updated 12:57 p.m. PT
Singh gives Bush grief over Taj Mahal snub
By DEB RIECHMANN
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
U.S. President George W. Bush, left, leans in to listen to Indian Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh as they participate in a meeting with U.S. and
Indian CEO's at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, India, Thursday, March 2,
2006. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
NEW DELHI -- Add India's prime minister to the list of people giving
President Bush a hard time for not visiting the country's famed Taj Mahal.
As the leaders toasted each other and their nation's ties Thursday before
lunch alongside several hundred guests, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
briefly paused and addressed Bush's wife, Laura.
"I am truly sorry the president is not taking you to Taj Mahal this time,"
Singh said. "I hope he will be more chivalrous next time you are here."
The president said Singh was not alone in his disappointment. "I've been
hearing about it from Laura ever since I told her that we weren't going,"
Bush said.
The majestic 17th-century white marble mausoleum is a monument of love,
built by Mogul Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz
Mahal.
But it's in Agra, 130 miles east of New Delhi, a distance that apparently
was deemed too far for the president, even to demonstrate his affection for
the first lady.
In an interview with Indian reporters before the trip, Bush blamed the
decision on his scheduler and said he'd have to come back to India to make
up for it.
"Look, if I were the scheduler, perhaps I'd be doing things differently,"
he said. "But you want me doing one thing. I'll be the president, we've got
the scheduler being the scheduler. I'm going to miss a lot of the really
interesting parts of your great country."
Besides nuclear diplomacy, Bush also succeeded at mango diplomacy.
The sweet, juicy staple of Indian chutneys and dessert tables was a feature
of the joint agreement between the two countries. Bush said the United
States would reopen its market to Indian mangoes, banned 17 years ago over
concerns about pesticide use.
"The United States is looking forward to eating Indian mangoes," Bush said
as both leaders stood side-by-side before the media in a garden at
Hyderabad House.
Now, Indian farmers will instead irradiate the fruit to kill any pests,
making them fit for consumption in the eyes of U.S. agricultural officials.
The fruit should again be available in U.S. markets in about 18 months.
Bush followed through on his promise perhaps sooner than he thought. On the
lunch menu were fresh mangoes, served with creme brulee.
To honor India's independence leader, M.K. Gandhi, Bush and his wife,
Laura, followed Indian tradition to the letter by kicking off their shoes.
Bush, in black socks, and Mrs. Bush in white slippers, laid a wreath at a
memorial to Gandhi and bowed their heads for a moment of silence. They then
walked around the slab of black marble, marking the spot where Gandhi was
cremated in 1948, for the customary tossing of flower petals.
But it's doubtful that what happened next is in any of the protocol books.
An Indian photographer apparently didn't get the coveted shot of Bush
throwing colorful petals on the memorial, and so called for a redo. With a
somewhat quizzical look, Bush complied, and then threw even more petals to
make sure photographers had snapped what they needed.
Bush worried about reaching a nuclear deal. The Secret Service was worried
about keeping him safe. Demonstrators worried about everything from
globalization to gay rights.
But for tens of thousands of local teenagers, Bush's visit meant only one
worry: test stress.
India is an exceedingly education-conscious country, and students and
parents - particularly in the growing middle class - are known to tie
themselves into emotional knots over major exams.
So for days, Indian officials and newspapers have warned that New Delhi
would be a commuter's nightmare during Bush's stay, and that students
should plan ahead to make sure they weren't late for the national Board
exams.
The rigorous three-hour tests are held over a series days in various
subjects for high school students in grade 10 and 12. On Thursday,
10th-grade students faced their social science exams.
Newspapers printed maps showing alternate routes. Some even listed phone
numbers for counselors who could soothe particularly angst-ridden test
takers.
"We were worried," said 15-year-old Kadi Panmei. "In fact, we took another
route today to escape the jam and I reached the center on time."
In the end, there was far less traffic disruption than expected.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/HC03Df04.html
Mar 3, 2006
Nukes and mangoes on Bush's mind in India
By Indrajit Basu
KOLKATA - Although US President George W Bush's India visit that officially
started on Thursday is hardly expected to grab headlines in terms of
business and economic deals between the two countries - rather, the nuclear
separation agreement that the two nations have just announced will dominate
coverage - both are looking forward to several new initiatives to boost
bilateral commercial ties expected to be announced in the next few days.
"[The] Indo-US relationship will [reach a] strategic partnership level now,
which will be underpinned by close trade and commercial ties," said Indian
Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath on the eve of Bush's arrival in
India on Wednesday evening. "Today India is actively seeking foreign direct
investment from the US, but India is also eager to invest in the US."
William Klein, US consul for political-economic affairs in India, said the
US commitment to develop strong economic ties had begun well before the
presidential visit. For instance, India and the United States have
finalized a series of agreements to scrap non-trade barriers in a bid to
double bilateral trade to US$40 billion in three years. The most
significant feature of that agreement is that the two sides have also
resolved the long-pending dispute over India getting entry into the US
market, particularly its agricultural-commodities markets.
While the US has agreed to clear imports of mangoes, for instance, from
India, the Indian side is finalizing plans to address US farmers' market
access concerns on pulses (beans and peas) and almonds. The Indian step
that could benefit the US the most is a relaxation of India's
specifications for wheat imports. Imports of fruits and vegetables are also
expected to be cleared during Bush's visit.
For several years, Indian mangoes have been facing non-trade barriers such
as sanitary and phyto-sanitary (plant health) measures from the US side.
"We are looking forward [to] Indian mangoes," Bush said in his public
address to the country on Thursday.
The United States says that while US companies have been demanding liberal
market access for agricultural exports to India for some time, they could
not participate in recent Indian import tenders since specifications laid
down by the Indian side were "unrealistic".
"[That] issue was resolved at a meeting of the India-US Trade Policy Forum
and US Trade Representative Rob Portman," said Indian government sources in
an address to the media. Portman added that "US businessmen are looking at
large investments into India, particularly in [the] infrastructure and
energy sectors". He also indicated that the trade group was looking into
the issue of the US allowing entry to refurbished Indian computers, as well
as lifting anti-dumping duties on Indian shrimp.
According to the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce, even though the two
countries have shared a strong economic and trade relationship for years,
there has been a transformation in recent years. For example, the bilateral
trade in merchandise goods has increased to $22 billion in 2004, from $5.6
billion in 1990. "This represents an impressive 387% [increase] in a span
of 14 years," said K R Chopra, the secretary general of the chamber.
Indian merchandise exports to the US grew 19.28% from $13 billion in 2003
to $16 billion in 2004, while US merchandise exports to India increased
from $5 billion in 2003 to $6 billion in 2004 - an increase of 23%. During
2005 the total bilateral trade in merchandise goods recorded a growth of
23% to $27 billion compared with 2004's $22 billion.
The Indian investment base in the US has been expanding as well.
"Just a few years back India was struggling to meet the quickly changing
demands of the global marketplace. Today Indian companies are proving
themselves to be credible and lucrative partners of American enterprises,"
said Chopra.
The chamber adds that for US multinationals - particularly
information-technology (IT) companies - India has moved up in importance,
not just as a source of talent but also out of a US desire tap the
country's burgeoning market fueled by an economic growth rates of about 8%,
one of the fastest growth rates in the world. International (mostly US) IT
majors, including Microsoft, Intel and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), have
committed investments of $10 billion in the past three months alone.
Experts say India is not only an important market for US products but is
also important as a partner in opening up the world markets. That is why,
said Nath, "with contours of India changing on various fronts, US
corporates need to take advantage in terms of investing and selling in
India".
Nath said that besides IT, there are many opportunities for US companies to
explore in India. These include infrastructure, energy, health, and other
high-technology areas, and consumer sectors both in the medium and long
term. "The growth is going to be there simply because there are more
opportunities for US businesses," said the commerce and industry minister.
Klein said, "Bush's visit marks a milestone as the world's two largest
cultural democracies reach for new heights in their relationship.
However, more significant is the fact that this visit showcases India's
emergence as a potential economic superpower that along with the US can
create "history", said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
http://news.moneycontrol.com/india/newsarticle/stocksnews.php?autono=204559
No beating around the Bush!
20 top CEOs are getting ready for their date with President Bush and Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh. The forum headed by Ratan Tata on the Indian Side
and Bill Harrison of JP Morgan Chase will submit a report outlining
concrete proposals to boost trade and investment.
From GE and Motorola to Levi's and MacDonalds, American companies are vying
for the Indian wallet in the great Indian bazaar. But some believe it's
time to focus on the Indian brain and the American wallet.
The CEOs want the cap on H1B visas utilised by IT professionals, engineers
and scientists to go. But Bush has been unable to convince Congress on this
one. They will also push Bush to relax stringent US rules on imports of
commodities like mangoes and shrimps and the President is expected to
respond positively.
India Inc will also push for transfer of technologies of special importance
for the defence and farm sectors, while their American counterparts will
want to see the retail, insurance and banking sectors opened up.
Just last year, India became the US' fastest growing export market. It
powered into that league, thanks to just one mega buy, Air India's USD 10.5
billion deal with Boeing for 68 aircraft.
CMD of Biocon, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw says, "Private sector has played a very
important role in forging a much closer alliance between the two countries.
We will try and build on this by trying to bring to the surface at least
some of the issues holding back much bigger co-operation."
American companies have outsourced about a million American jobs to India.
But George Bush has not indulged in India bashing. Instead, he wants
Americans to gear up for competition from India and China. In the end the
world's most powerful leader has given in to simple economic logic.
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