Tag: International Convention

III International Convention on Sustainable Trade and Standards’

 Quality Council of India (QCI), an autonomous organization of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry hosted the International Convention on Sustainable Trade and Standards (ICSTS) in New Delhi today. ICSTS, a two-day event, has been organized by the India National Platform on Private Sustainability Standards and hosted by QCI in collaboration with the United Nations Forum on Sustainability Standards (UNFSS).

The event witnessed a bilateral Agreement between QCI and African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) to strengthen trade relations and harmonize standards, enhancing the global trade landscape. Benchmarking of IndG.AP. by the GLOBAL G.A.P. through the National Technical Working Group (NTWG) mechanism and creation of National Interpretation Guidelines (NIG) also took place at the ICSTS, which is expected to benefit around 12,000 farmers. Continuing with the engagement, India has inked agreements with Brazil, Mexico and now the African Regional Standards Organisation for cooperation on Voluntary Sustainability Standards.

The digitalization initiative of the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) initiative would align with its commitment to foster the e-commerce revolution, making trade more accessible and efficient in the digital age, support the IEC / ISO standards about material, product properties, calculation methods, formats of declarations, ensure Confidentiality and trustworthiness, facilitate Peer-to-peer communication decentralized architecture for full data sovereignty of all partners. ONDC identified QCI to assess Digital Readiness of entities to understand their readiness to seamlessly onboard on the Seller App in the ONDC Network.

The event witnessed presence of the esteemed dignitaries including Shri Jaxay Shah, Chairperson, QCI; Dr Harsha Vardhana Singh, Chair, India PSS Platform & Former DDG, World Trade Organization (WTO); Shri Rajesh Maheshwari, Secretary General, QCI; Dr Virpi Stucki, Chief, Division of Fair Production, Sustainability Standards and Trade, UNIDO; Mr Charles Gachahi, Eco Mark Africa, CACO and COCO Coordinator (ARSO); and Mr Santiago Fernandez De Cordoba, Chief, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) VSS Program among others.

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PM addresses SPIC MACAY’s International Convention

Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today addressed the Spic Macay’s International Convention via video conference.

Prime Minister appreciated the fact that even under these trying circumstances, the spirits of the musicians remained undeterred and that the theme of the convention is focusing on how to alleviate the stress amongst the youth owing to the COVID -19 pandemic.

He recalled how historically music played an inspiring role and a cohesive role in times of war and crisis.

He said poets, singers and artists always scripted songs and music to bring out the valour out of the people in such times.

Prime Minister said that even now, in such trying times when the World is fighting an invisible enemy, the singers, lyricists, and artists are scripting lines and singing songs that would increase confidence of the people.

Prime Minister recalled how the 130 Crore people of this country have come together to clap, sound bells, blow conch shells to energise the entire nation in its fight against the pandemic.

When 130 crore people come together withthe same feeling and emotions it becomes music, he said.

Just as there is a need for harmonyand discipline in music,there is a need for similar harmony, restraint and discipline from every citizen to fight the Corona Pandemic he said.

He appreciated the new elements in the Spic Macay convention this year like nature walk, heritage walk, literature and holistic food along with Yoga and Naad Yoga.

Elaborating on Naad Yoga, he said in India, Naad is considered to be the basis of music and also as the basis of the energy in self.

He said that this Naad reaches its crescendo or Brahmnaad when we regulate our inner energy through yoga and music.

This is the reason that both music and yoga have the power of meditation and motivation, both are immense sources of energy, the Prime Minister added.

Prime Minister said, music has not only been a source of happiness, but also a means of service and a form of penance.

There have been many great musicians in our country who have lived their entire lives to serve the humanity, he said.

Prime Minister said, the fusion of ancient art and music with technology is also a demand of the times.

Rising above the boundaries of states and languages, today music is also strengthening the ideal of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ more than ever, he said.

Prime Minister appreciated the fact that people are giving  new messages on social media through their creativity, furthering the country’s campaign against Corona

Prime Minister expressed the hope that this convention will also give a new direction to in our fight against the corona virus.