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Journalism of Courage
TILL a few weeks ago, IBSA was not even a four-letter word in India. A big idea, maybe, but this was an arrangement that looked good only when WTO or Uruguay Round or other such trading systems meets came up.
But after the adoption of the Joint IBSA Declaration on Wednesday, the three heads of state of the three largest democracies of their respective continents did everything to make a pitch for it as not just an arrangement but as a partnership.
THE two agreements sealed between the IBSA trinity include one on Agriculture, and the other on Merchant, Marine and Maritime Transport. Agriculture is a key sector in all three countries, and there is plenty to be gained by the coming together, in terms of technology transfers and even merger of natural resources. The Maritime Agreement will be a crucial one if it takes off, as it underpins the logistical basis required for any opportunity for the three nations.
As the three economic giants and their populations grow, energy will be a key requirement, and the MOU on setting up a task force in the area of bio-fuels is meant to develop these to reduce dependence on oil alone.
The bid to get MERCOSUR, the South American common area Brazil is part of, and the South African Customs Union that South Africa is involved in, to cooperate with India8212;so as to provide a ground for preferential access to India8212;is also a work in progress.
India, Brazil and South Africa have been taking the lead in multi-lateral trade agreements to make common cause, since even before the WTO. More recently, they initiated G-20, the group of developing countries that is fighting big country domination in world trade. IT, common pharmaceutical interests as the three countries battle HIV, TB and malaria are also potential areas for cooperation. As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said, each of the three countries is a 8220;locomotive economy8221; which, if they pool themselves together, can benefit each other tremendously.
BUT even other than economy, there is a fundamental meeting ground at a political level on the world stage. As far as reform of the UN goes, Brazil and India have already thrown their hat in the ring as part of G-4, arguing for a permanent seat in the Security Council. With Brazil and South Africa being agreeable to supplying India with 8220;technology, equipment and material, under appropriate safeguards8221;, it makes the India project of winning over countries other than the US to the civilian nuclear energy cause much easier.
High sounding phrases of together creating a 8216;New World Order8217; were used in Brasilia last week. Much was said against terrorism and there were statements supporting peace moves in West Asia.
It is unclear how much of the world order would be new even if the three powerhouses get their act together. And as one of the few alliances that is being built not because of geographical compulsions but a sense of shared commonalities.
And as far as a 8220;New World Order8221; goes, even if not world 8216;order8217;, then at least 8216;new8217; should be a target worth rooting for.
