CONTENTS
- Union Cabinet Approval for India-Italy Migration and Mobility Agreement
- India’s MICE Promotion and Mega Events Line-up
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.
Relevance:
GS II: International Relations
India-Italy Migration and Mobility Agreement: Key Points
Objective and Cooperation:
- 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.
Relevance:
Facts for Prelims
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.
