Current Affairs - International

India and Saudi Arabia are enhancing their media ties ahead of WAVES 2025. An Indian delegation, including I&B Secretary Sanjay Jaju and Prasar Bharati CEO Gaurav Dwivedi, visited Saudi Arabia for strategic meetings. They focused on strengthening media collaboration during discussions at Riyadh's "Future of Media" Exhibition and Saudi Media Forum. Key topics included advancements in broadcasting technology, digital marketing, and content exchange, aimed at fostering stronger media partnerships between the two countries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Mauritius next month to participate in the country's National Day celebrations as the Guest of Honour. Mauritius celebrates its National Day on March 12, marking its independence from British rule in 1968. The visit underscores the strong bilateral ties between India and Mauritius, with Modi's presence reinforcing the long-standing friendship and cooperation between the two nations. Mauritius values India's support in development initiatives, infrastructure, and strategic partnerships, making this visit a testament to their deep and historic relationship.

India’s National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) and Sri Lanka’s Institute of Development Administration (SLIDA) finalized a plan to train 1,500 Sri Lankan civil service officers over a period of five years. The training program, which includes eight annual training modules, is a result of the MoU between the two countries, aiming to enhance the skills of Sri Lankan civil officers.

India officially assumed the Chairmanship of the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO) from Bangladesh during the 13th Governing Council Meeting in Malé, Maldives. Leading India’s delegation, Dr Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary of the Department of Fisheries, emphasized India’s commitment to sustainable fisheries and regional cooperation. Under India’s leadership, the organization will focus on marine resource management, capacity building, research, and addressing issues like Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, in line with India’s broader vision of 'Viksit Bharat 2047'.

Vietnam's parliament approved an $8 billion project for a rail link that will connect the country’s largest northern port city, Haiphong, to the border with China. The proposed rail route will span 390 kilometres, passing through the capital city, Hanoi, and ending in the mountainous city of Lao Cai, which borders China's Yunnan province. This infrastructure development is expected to strengthen trade and improve connections between the two communist-ruled countries.