1.   

People trying to find excuses: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on United States business inc concerns

With the US business community questioning "predictability" of policies in India, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has hit out, suggesting that they were finding "faults and excuses" because of economic slowdown in this country. "There have been US business concerns but very largely these are concerns which arise out of the slowdown of the Indian economy," Singh said. "When Indian economy was growing at the rate of eight to nine per cent, I think everybody was quite happy. Even when there were defects in our policies, they were overlooked, and when the economy slows down, people try to find faults and excuses," he said.

2.   

Need to raise India, Africa trade to $200 bn by 2020: Anand Sharma

Calling for greater cooperation between India and Africa to meet the challenges of currency volatility, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma today made a strong case for raising the bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2020. "We should aim to take the bilateral trade between India and Africa to $200 billion by 2020," the Minister told on the sidelines of the third India-Africa Trade Ministers meeting which he co-chaired with South African Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies.

3.   

Sharad Pawar calls for strengthening procurement machinery in eastern states and monitoring of prices

Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Wednesday said that the programme, " Bringing Green Revolution in Eastern India" has shown commendable progress and paddy production in the country is poised to steadily increase in the coming years. He was speaking at the conference of food ministers in New Delhi. He said ""We have crossed all records in exports of agriculture produce. We need to strengthen the procurement machinery in eastern states, not only to ensure remunerative prices for farmers but also to diversify the geographical coverage."

4.   

China to boost imports from India, bridge trade deficit

India can expect some pruning of the massive trade deficit it has run up with China as the world's largest exporter is looking to boost its imports, in part to help stimulate economies around the world. "China is taking new policy measures to facilitate the importing process. It will further eliminate non-tariff measures, simplify import management measures and shorten import procedures," Jia Guoyong, vice-director general of China's Trade Development Bureau, told IANS in an interview here.