MANU/PIBU/1204/2017

Department/Board : Press Information Bureau

Date : 26.09.2017

Fiji, Niger and Tuvalu deposited instrument of ratification of the Framework Agreement of the International Solar Alliance

Fiji, Niger and Tuvalu deposited instrument of ratification of the Framework Agreement of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in the 5th meeting of International Steering Committee (ISC) of the ISA that was held in New Delhi yesterday . In this meeting representatives from 121 prospective member countries, who either completely or partially lie between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn participated. The meeting was Chaired by Shri Anand Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and Co-chaired by Mrs Sgoln Royale, Ambassador for Arctic and Antarctic Poles and Special Envoy for the Implementation of the International Solar Alliance, Government of France. Till date 40 countries have signed and 11 countries have ratified the Framework Agreement of the ISA. With ratifications by 15 countries, the ISA will become a treaty based inter-governmental international organization.

While welcoming the participants Shri Anand Kumar, Secretary, MNRE and the Chair of ISC thanked the prospective ISA member countries for their continued support. He stated that the ISA is a reflection of our common desire to significantly augment solar power generation in our countries, and make joint efforts towards technology development and mobilization of the required investment to promote energy security and universal energy access. He urged the prospective member countries of the ISA to expedite the ratification process.

Shri Kumar informed that the second edition of the Renewable Energy Global Investors Meet & Expo, Re-Invest 2017 will be held from 7 to 9 December 2017. The venue of the three day Global meet, organized by MNRE will be the India Expo Centre, Greater Noida, National Capital Region of Delhi. Elaborating the details of Re-Invest 2017, Shri Kumar said the aim of the event is to develop partnerships with relevant stakeholders including international bilateral and multilateral financing institutions, equipment manufacturers, technology providers, developers, Public Sector Enterprises, Central and State governments, research institutions and academia. The Re-Invest 2017 will deliberate upon and evolve strategies for financing renewable energy and also showcase the Government of India's commitment to the development and scaling up of renewable energy to meet the national energy requirement in a socially, economically and ecologically sustainable manner.

Shri Kumar also stated that the Founding Conference of ISA and Solar Summit will also be held on the margins of RE-Invest 2017 on 8 & 9 December 2017. Hon'ble Prime Minister of India, His Excellency President of France and the Secretary General of United Nations are likely to grace the ISA Founding Conference.

The Co-Chair,Mrs Sgoln Royale  detailed the actions taken by her Government for supporting solar energy projects in ISA countries. She stated that concerted actions undertaken in the context of the Alliance should focus on realizing the objectives enshrined in the Paris Declaration, which included: bringing our efforts together to reduce the........