The Centre has given its
‘in-principle’ approval to set up the country’s 13th major port at Enayam, near
Colachel in Tamil Nadu. A special purpose vehicle (SPV) will be
formed for the development of port that will act as a major gateway container
port for cargo and become a trans-shipment hub for East-West trade route. The
initial investment for the SPV will come from three major ports in Tamil Nadu —
V. O. Chidambaranar Port Trust, Chennai Port Trust and Kamarajar Port Limited.
The new port at Enayam will also reduce the logistics cost for exporters and
importers in south India who currently depend on trans-shipment in Colombo or other
ports leading to additional port handling charges.
The Centre has approved an
outlay of Rs.10,000 crore towards a scheme to provide apprenticeship training
to 50 lakh youth by 2020. The approved National Apprenticeship Promotion
Scheme will provide financial incentives to employers to engage
apprentices. Under the scheme, the Ministry of Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship will share 25% of the total stipend payable to an apprentice
with employers. The government will also fund 50% of the total expenditure
incurred by the employer in providing basis training to apprentices.
The Union Cabinet has given its
approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
between India and Mozambique on Drug demand reduction and prevention of illicit
trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and
precursor chemicals and related matters. The MoU is aimed to enhance mutual
cooperation between the two countries in combating illicit trafficking in
Narcotic drugs, Psychotropic substances and their precursors through exchange
of information, expertise and capacity building.
The Union Cabinet has approved
signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and
Tanzania in the field of Traditional Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy. The MoU will provide structured frame work for the cooperation
between the two countries for the promotion and propagation of Indian
Traditional Systems of Medicine & Homeopathy in Tanzania.
