» Workshop on implications of FTAs in the North-East
Madhyam (New Delhi) is conducting a series of workshops with activists, social movements and public interest groups, on India-EU FTA in the country. In January 2009, a workshop was held in Bangalore for the participants from Southern India. This time, Madhyam, Centre for Social Development (CSD) and United NGOs Mission Manipur (UNMM) are jointly organizing a workshop on the EU-India FTA, on April 23, at Hotel Imphal, Awang BOC, Imphal, Manipur, for the participants from Northeast India. The EU is one of the largest sources of foreign investment in India, much of which is concentrated in the energy, telecommunications and transport sectors. In recent years, the North-East has been the hub of investment for projects relating to infrastructure, dams, hydro-electric power projects and roads. The workshop is meant to create awareness amongst NGOs, trade unions, political groups and social movements on the status of negotiations. It also aims at identifying likely impacts and implications of the proposed India-EU FTA, which covers not just trade, but also services, investments, intellectual property right, amongst other sensible issues. It will focus on building campaign and strategies to address the identified key issues and concerns. About 35 participants from diverse backgrounds are expected to attend. For further information, contact Sudheer Rawat, Madhyam (madhyamdelhi@gmail.com) or Nobo Urikhimbam, CSD and UNMM (unmmanipur@sancharnet.in).