1.   

Northeast India can become major centre for trade

Northeast India has a huge strategic importance for the country and can turn itself into a major centre for trade and business, President Pranab Mukherjee said in Kisama (Nagaland) on Sunday.He said this after inaugurating the Nagaland State's Golden Jubilee Year Celebrations and Hornbill Festival 2013 at Kisama Heritage Village, 12 km from state capital Kohima. He said his frequent visits to the Northeast region reflect its "strategic importance and the role it can play in the building of a strong and powerful India".

2.   

India exported Rs 2.32 lakh crore agricultural produce this year

Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Saturday said the country exported agricultural produce worth Rs 2.32 lakh crore this year after addressing the consumption need of 1.2 billion population and stocking foodgrain much above the buffer norms. Addressing a function at the College of Agriculture Engineering and Post Harvest Technology near Ranipool in Sikkim today, Pawar said India is today highest producer of milk, pulses, jute and second in the production of rice, wheat, sugarcane, groundnuts, vegetable foods and cotton in the world.

3.   

Cabinet exempts some agriculatural exporters from stockholding limit

To facilitate larger export of food and agriculture items, the Union Cabinet has exempted exporters who have IEC Code issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) from stockholding limits imposed under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. However, this exemption will be only available for exporters of edible oilseeds, edible oil and rice and will be limited only to the stocks meant for export and not domestic sale.

4.   

India hopes for positive outcome at Bali meet

India is seriously and sincerely engaged in negotiations and continues to hope for positive and balanced outcome from the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial Conference at Bali next week that will be acceptable to the developing and least developed countries, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said here on Friday. “India is spearheading the G33’s proposal on agricultural subsidies which seeks from Bali outcome that will correct the WTO agriculture subsidy norms that are at present unfairly loaded in favour of some countries as they contains inherent imbalances,” Mr. Sharma said addressing a press conference.