PIB Summary- 4th January, 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Union Cabinet Approval for India-Italy Migration and Mobility Agreement

Context
Recently, the Union Cabinet granted ex-post facto approval to the Migration and Mobility Agreement between India and Italy.

India-Italy Migration and Mobility Agreement: Key Points

• The agreement aims to enhance cooperation on issues related to irregular migration while strengthening people-to-people ties between India and Italy.

Facilitation of Mobility:

• The agreement facilitates mobility for various segments, including students, skilled workers, businesspersons, and young professionals, promoting exchange and collaboration.

Temporary Residence for Indian Students:

• Graduates seeking professional exposure in Italy after academic or vocational training can obtain temporary residency for up to 12 months.

Reserved Quotas for Workers:

• The agreement outlines quotas for both non-seasonal and seasonal Indian workers. A reserved quota range is specified for the years 2023-2025 under Italy’s existing Flows Decree, which sets the maximum number of non-EU citizens allowed to enter Italy for work and self-employment.

Duration and Renewal:

• The agreement is valid for 5 years, with automatic renewal unless terminated.

Joint Working Group (JWG):

• A Joint Working Group (JWG) will oversee the implementation of the agreement, convening periodically to assess progress and propose supportive measures for effective execution.

India’s MICE Promotion and Mega Events Line-up

Context
The Ministry of Commerce & Industry is actively promoting India as a global MICE destination, aiming to showcase the country’s MSME sector, traditional handicrafts, artisanal offerings, weavers, and manufacturing capabilities on the international stage. Additionally, the Ministry has unveiled India’s ambitious line-up of Mega Events for the coming months, including Aatmanirbhar Bharat Utsav, Indus Food, Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2024, and Bharat Tex.

MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions): Key Insights

Definition and Scope:

• MICE is a term in the tourism and events industry representing business and corporate tourism.
• Involves organizing events, meetings, conferences, exhibitions, and incentives for companies and groups to facilitate networking, knowledge exchange, and business collaborations.

Objectives:

• Aims to create a networking platform for business, industry, government, and the academic community, fostering meaningful conversations.

Infrastructure and Global Rankings:

• Core MICE infrastructure in India is comparable to developed countries.
• India’s consistent improvement in World Bank Ease of Doing Business and WEF Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Rank (54th in 2021).

India’s Progress and Global Scenario:

• Rapid progress in areas like Information Technology and Scientific Research.
• In the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Country and City Rankings 2019, the USA, Germany, and France led in international association meetings.
• India ranked 28th with 158 meetings in the 2019 ICCA ranking.

Challenges and Strategies:

• Indian MICE has less than 1% share in the estimated global MICE business.
• Strategies include the “Meet in India” brand promotion, providing infrastructure status for financing MICE infrastructure, and skill development for the MICE industry.