India today is a trillion dollar market with an enviable rate of GDP growth. India's economy is fuelled by a combination of a large services sector, a strong and diversified manufacturing base and a significant agricultural sector that continues to provide a framework for the growth of the domestic economy. The country's resilience in weathering the recent global downturn and financial crisis has made governments, policy-makers, economists, corporate houses and fund managers believe that India can play a significant recovery of the global economy in the months and years ahead.

AALEP Chair- M. Christian D. de Fouloy was invited on 10 February by the Geneva-based Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies(GI) to deliver a presentation on Lobbying in the United States of America within the framework of the Executive Certificate "Advocacy in International Affairs".

The 9th ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting Summit) will be held in Ventiane, Laos on 5-6 Novmber 2012. ASEM 9 will gather the leaders of 48 ASEM partners to share their thoughts and exchange views on current and global issues of common interest. The ASEM Dialogue addresses political, economic and cultural issues with the objective of strengthening the relationship between the two regions. ASEM 9 will chart out the future direction for ASEM cooperation under the theme "Friends for Peace, Partners for Prosperity".

Many global companies are flying blind when it comes to managing their in-country public affairs activities. According to the Washington-based Public Affairs Council, most country managers who are business heads in a particular host country, lack consistent public affairs training. Yet they are often responsible for the public affairs function.

Over 30 countries including India, Russia, China, Indonesia, USA, Brazil etc. will meet in Moscow on 21st and 22nd February to take decisions on what retaliatory measures could be taken against the EU if it insists on imposing the carbon tax on non-EU flights as there is a growing agreement on the matter. Already China has made it clear that its airlines will refuse the pay the charges called for.

Russia needs the strength of the West and Western expertise to keep the country relatively modern and strong. But at the same time it can be strongonly with a consolidated government, economy and security service.

The first Russian weakness is that it is surrounded by great powers from which it is not insulated by geographic barriers. The second weakness is that its population is comprised of numerous ethnic groups, not all of which are happy with centralized Kremlin rule. A strong hand is the only means to consolidate the country internally while repelling outsiders.

What happens now that EU leaders have signed off on the fiscal compact treaty in Brussels? The first step is that the text will be translated into all 23 official EU languages (including Irish) and lawyers in each member state (26 since the UK is not participating) will check the legal compatibility in the relevant language. That process should take a month, then it will be signed at the next EU summit at the beginning of March.

Russia's support for Syria dates back to the days of the Soviet Union. The continuing partnership can be attributed to several factors- historic ties, economic interests and geopolitics. Recent Russian arms sales to Syria are worth $ 4 billion, including fighter jets and advanced missiles. Russian business investments in Syria encompassing infrastructure,energy and tourism amount to nearly $ 20 billion. A natural gas processing plant about 200 kilometres east of Homs is being constructed by Stroytransgaz, a Russian company.

Globalization presents challenges that demand a new perspective on public affairs. The global economy has shaped a new business-government relationship, blunting the regulatory capacity of governments and introducing greater complexity to the design of public policies to promote important social goals.

While the European Commission and the European Parliament are to be commended for having jointly established a 'Transparency Register', the point remains that making information publicly available does not automatically make information useful. Indeed, for transparency policy to be effective, the information must be both easy to understand and easy to utilize. Users must be able to register their choices clearly, and disclosers must have the ability and incentive to respond meaningfully.