$5 m for economic reform in India in US budget

WASHINGTON, FEBRUARY 8: US President Bill Clinton has allocated five million dollars for economic reforms and liberalisation in India, bes...

WASHINGTON, FEBRUARY 8: US President Bill Clinton has allocated five million dollars for economic reforms and liberalisation in India, besides funds for several welfare schemes in his fiscal 2001 budget.

The amount for India is "contingent on progress in our dialogue with India" and is part of 20 million dollars Clinton has provided for South Asia under Economic Support Fund (ESF), US State Department says in the budget document.

"These funds would go toward improving the efficiency and transparency of the capital markets and promoting private financing of urban infrastructure," the budget document, presented yesterday, says.

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Another one million dollars would go toward funding programmes to promote regional stability and confidence building between the peoples of India and Pakistan.

Besides, Clinton has also sought from Congress 475,000 dollars for International Military Education and Training (IMET) for Indian defence personnel, it said.

A court in Antwerp passed the order initiating the formal process of bringing Choksi back to India. But, he still has options to challenge the order passed by the lower court.

Belgian court clears fugitive jeweller Mehul Choksi’s extradition to India

India19 min ago

Mehul Choksi, a fugitive diamantaire wanted in India for a Rs 13,000 crore loan fraud case, has been cleared for extradition by a court in Antwerp, Belgium. The Indian government has assured that Choksi will be held in a specific jail complex and provided with basic amenities if extradited. Choksi's extradition proceedings have advanced in Belgium and he has the option to challenge the order.

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