1.   

Cross border trade between India and Pakistan flourishing

Flourishing cross border trade between India and Pakistan provides an impetus to people-to-people contact and gives boost to the confidence-building measure in Jammu and Kashmir. Basheer Ahmed Lone, the custodian of cross LoC trade in Chakan Da Bagh, said that cross border trade has increased. "The trade is flourishing. All the items in the SOP (Standard Operating Procedure), which were there for the last one and half years, are still there.

2.   

Israel reaches out to states to further enhance bilateral ties

Two decades after New Delhi established formal ties with Jerusalem, Israel’s diplomatic corps here has learnt to do business with India the smart way. They are now focusing on forging partnerships with India’s provincial governments, including the four prosperous southern states, far away from the politically-sensitive relations with the Centre. Speaking to Express, Israeli Ambassador to India, Alon Ushpiz talked about ‘triangle of partnership’ between Israel.

3.   

Iranian delegation holds talks over exports, manufacturing with industry

A business delegation from the Western Azerbaijan province of the Islamic Republic of Iran visited India and met captains of the Indian industry at Mumbai's World Trade Centre on Friday. The event was organised by the All India Association of Industries and supported by the Consulate General of Iran. Among other things, the objectives of the meeting included facilitating export of fresh fruit (especially apples) and dry fruit (especially raisins); dealing in concentrated fruit; manufacturing of agricultural products; importing of rice machinery and bananas, and packaging of fresh fruit.

4.   

Thailand, India agree to speed up free trade negotiations

The leaders of Thailand and India have agreed to accelerate talks aimed at establishing a Free Trade Area Agreement (FTA) between the two countries as soon as possible, Thai official media said on Friday. The FTA was on the agenda of talks between Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who arrived in Bangkok on Thursday for a two-day official visit.