Vientiane/New Delhi, Oct 11 (FN Agency) India on Friday signed the Host Country Agreement (HCA) with the Global Biofuels Alliance, an initiative launched during India’s G20 Presidency last year to further encourage biofuels uptake globally. The agreement was signed by Dammu Ravi, Secretary (ER), Ministry of External Affairs and Pankaj Jain, Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas as Interim Director General of GBA. The inking of the agreement comes after the Union Cabinet on October 3 approved signing and ratification of the Host Country Agreement for setting up its Secretariat in India.
The HCA shall facilitate GBA to set up its Secretariat in India, comprising both Indian and international staff, enabling GBA to fulfil its intended objectives, a statement said. Further, the HCA will provide necessary legal status to GBA, including immunities and privileges under the United Nations (Privilege & Immunities) Act, 1947, enabling efficient discharge of its functions and programs in accordance with the laws, rules and regulations of India. GBA, a unique multistakeholder alliance, was launched during India’s G20 Presidency by the Prime Minister Modi, along with leaders of eight other countries, i.e.. Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Italy, Mauritius, Singapore, UAE, and USA, on September 9, 2023, as an initiative of the G20 Chair. GBA intends to address challenges related to feedstock availability, developing policy frameworks, streamlining biomass supply chain, and encouraging financing and investment in biofuel production, including promoting clean cooking. GBA will work towards defining common technical standards, quality standardization, and uniform certification to further encourage biofuel’s uptake globally. Since its launch, GBA has made immense progress. In less than a year of its announcement, its membership has expanded to 27 member countries as well as 12 international organizations. The GBA Secretariat will provide job opportunities for Indian experts in the sector. Indian experts and the private sector will gain a platform for showcasing their considerable expertise and prowess in the biofuels sector (across a variety of feedstocks) globally, empowering “ATMANIRBHAR BHARAT”.