1.   

India and Pakistan to soon sign pact on customs, trade issues

India and Pakistan will soon sign three agreements in areas of customs cooperation, mutual recognition of standards and redressal of trade issues, to enhance economic ties between the two countries. Addressing a Pakistani Parliamentary Delegation here, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma saidbilateral trade between the two nations are well below the potential and there is a need to enhance it.

2.   

Organic exports treble in 3 years

Exports of organic agricultural products, such as cotton, medicinal plants and food items, have more than tripled in value terms in the past three years. In volume terms, the shipment of such products has also grown close to three times, according to the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda). In a written reply to Lok Sabha, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said cultivable land under organic certification, including wild collection area.

3.   

India basmati rice exporters eye growing Africa market

After international sanctions hindered trade with top basmati rice importer Iran, Indian basmati rice exporters are exploring the Africa market which has shown promising growth in the last few years. According to local sources, Africa imports about 10,000 tonnes to 12,000 tonnes of basmati, compared to millions of tonnes imported by the Middle East countries. However, Africa's basmati rice imports have grown substantially in recent years.

4.   

US will continue to invest in partnership with India

The United States would "continue to invest" in long-term strategic partnership with India and also support its ability to serve as a regional economic anchor and provider of security in the broader Indian Ocean region, the Democratic Party Platform says. "We will continue to invest in a long-term strategic partnership with India to support its ability to serve as a regional economic anchor and provider of security in the broader Indian Ocean region," says the 40-page Platform.