Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: In a significant move, India signed the Host Country Agreement (HCA) with the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA) to officially establish the Alliance’s Secretariat in India.
According to a statement of Ministry of External Affairs, the agreement was signed by Dammu Ravi, Secretary (Economic Relations) from the Ministry of External Affairs, and Pankaj Jain, Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, who is serving as the Interim Director General of the GBA. The Union Cabinet had approved the signing and ratification of the agreement on October 3.
The Ministry noted that this agreement will enable the GBA to set up its Secretariat in India with a combination of Indian and international staff, which will help it achieve its goals. “The HCA (Host Country Agreement) shall facilitate GBA to set up its Secretariat in India, comprising both Indian and international staff, enabling GBA to fulfil its intended objectives,” said the Ministry.
Additionally, the agreement grants GBA legal status, including privileges and immunities under the United Nations (Privileges and Immunities) Act of 1947, facilitating the smooth execution of its functions while adhering to India’s laws. The Global Biofuels Alliance was launched on September 9, 2023.
This multi-stakeholder initiative aims to promote the global use of biofuels by addressing challenges such as feedstock availability, developing favourable policy frameworks, and improving biomass supply chain. The GBA seeks to attract investment into biofuel production, particularly for clean cooking, while working towards defining common technical standards and certifications for biofuels to encourage their global adoption.
