1.   

Manmohan Singh heads for St. Petersburg G20 Summit Wednesday

With policy actions in the US shaking currency markets globally and the world economy still in the risk zone, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh leaves on a three-day visit to St. Petersburg Wednesday to join other leaders at the G20 Summit and find ways to tackle the challenges. The visit is also expected to provide an opportunity for the Indian prime minister to meet with leaders from Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa, which collectively form the BRICS nations, to take forward what is called the Durban Process, officials said.

2.   

India to grow at 5.5%, exports outlook optimistic: Sharma

Commerce and industry minister Anand Sharma on Saturday hoped that India’s gross domestic product (GDP) would grow by 5.5 per cent during the current financial year and that exports would be better despite the global slowdown. “Regardless of the GDP numbers released yesterday (Friday), I am confident that India’s GDP growth will not be less than 5.5 per cent this year” he said while addressing exporters here after inaugurating the new office of the Federation of Indian Export Organisation (FIEO).

3.   

35,000km expedition to woo Latin America

A 35,000 km overland expedition from Arctic to Antarctic is the latest enterprise by India to build ties with resource-rich Latin America. Led by explorer Akhil Bakshi, the four-month expedition will start this week at Dead Horse Creek on the Arctic Ocean in Alaska and pass through the US west coast before entering Latin America and ending at Cape Horn, the southernmost tip of the continent.

4.   

August export growth to be in double-digits: Commerce Secretary

Merchandise export in August is expected to be in double-digits once again and this upward trend is expected to continue in the months to come, according to commerce secretary SR Rao. While export will continue to rise during rest of the months in this financial year, trade deficit is expected to narrow down on the back of import containment, Rao told Business Standard.