The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) was created in 2004 to promote cooperation among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development.
The 180 cities in 72 countries currently make up this network.
All the cities work together in placing creativity and cultural industries at the heart of their development plans at the local level.
Gastronomy, music, crafts and folk art, media arts, design, film and literature are the seven fields of creativity highlighted by the network.
Chennai has been recently included in the list of UCCN for its rich musical tradition.
Some of the other cities included along with Chennai are Alba (Italy) for gastronomy, Almaty (Kazakhstan) for music and Auckland (New Zealand) for music.
Jaipur (crafts and folk art) and Varanasi (Music) are the other Indian cities that feature on the list.
Island Development Agency
The Island Development Agency was setup this year to bring holistic development in 9 islands.
It includes four in A&N Islands i.e. Smith, Ross, Long, Avis and five in Lakshadweep i.e. Minicoy, Bangaram, Thinnakara, Cheriyam, Suheli.
The agency is headed by Union Home Minister and the projects are being directed by NITI Aayog.
It aims at promoting and implementing development based on sustainable approach to building a thriving maritime economy of the project islands.
Its second meeting was recently held and it was decided to develop PPP package for the development of Airport in Minicoy Island and promoting of Tuna fishing Industry for improving livelihoods in Lakshadweep.
Technology and Innovation Support Centre (TISC)
Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP)under Ministry of Commerce is establishing TISC under the World Intellectual Property Organizations (WIPO) TISC program.
DIPP has recently signed an Institutional agreement with Anna University, Chennai to establish India’s second TISC.
TISC in Punjab is the India’s first TISC.
It provides innovators in developing countries with access to locally based, high quality technology information and related services.
It will help the innovators to exploit their innovative potential and to create, protect, and manage their Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs).
The objective is to foster creativity and innovation, thereby promoting entrepreneurship and enhancing social, economic and cultural development.
Organic World Congress
The Organic World Congress (OWC) is organized once every three years in a different country by the International Federation of Organic Farming Movements (IFOAM).
This year, the congress is being organized in Greater Noida, UP.
The last edition of the Organic World Congress took place in Istanbul, Turkey, in 2014.
It will see the participation of 1,400 representatives from 110 countries, and 2000 delegates from India.
In the event, 55 seeds group from 15 Indian states will showcase 4,000 varieties of seeds.
IEA Ministerial Conference
IEA is a Paris-based autonomous intergovernmental organization established in the framework of the OECD in 1974 in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis.
It acts as a policy adviser to its member states, but also works with non-member countries, especially China, India, and Russia.
India recently declared its “Association” status with the International Energy Agency (IEA).
This year IEA Ministerial conference is being held in Paris.
At the Conference, India signed joint work programmes with IEA and other key members of the IEA Family i.e. Brazil, Chile, India, Indonesia and Thailand.
The event focusses on energy security, clean energy technology.
State wise “Ease of Doing Business” ranking
Commerce and Industry Ministry is the nodal body at the Centre for the state wise ease of doing business ranking.
It is based on the assessment of implementation of the Business Reforms Action Plan’ (BRAP).
Telangana is currently in the top followed by is Haryana, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and West Bengal.
The final ranking is likely to be released in January, 2018.
Telangana was the joint topper with Andhra Pradesh, in the ranking last year.
However, Andhra Pradesh is currently ranked 14th.
Gujarat, ranked third last year, is now number eight with a score of 41.94%
