1.   

PM arrives in Russia for G20 summit

Setting the tone on a key issue of concern for India at the G-20 summit, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday pushed for an “orderly exit” from unconventional monetary policies being pursued by the developed world to avoid “damaging” growth prospects of the developing world. With India hit by a declining rupee, widening current account deficit (CAD) and stunted growth, the country’s anxiety over imminent phasing out of the fiscal stimulus by US Federal Reserve was reflected by the Prime Minister on the eve of the eighth summit of the group of industrialized and major emerging economies.

2.   

Industry should come forward with suggestions to improve exports, says Tripathy

Even as the country has been looking at the eastern countries for exports growth for past years, the exports to these countries is yet to grow as the industry has to come up with initiative to increase exports, said Asit Tripathy, joint secretary, Ministry of Commerce & Industry. Delivering key note address in a seminar on Leveraging FTAs (Foreign Trade Agreements) for promoting exports and investment, organised by the Ministry and the Confederation of Indian Industry, he said that the Indian companies has to come up with suggestions to improve exports to these countries.

3.   

Talks on for preferential trade pact between India, South Africa

Negotiations are on to sign Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between India and South Africa as a part of efforts to boost bilateral trade, a South African envoy said today. "It is in negotiation. We negotiated with the Indian Government. But we still need our African brothers to agree. The process is on...," M W Mogale, Acting High Commissioner of Republic of South Africa to India, said at a conference organised by Southern India Chambers of Commerce and Industry ( SICCI) here.

4.   

Weak rupee, strong demand likely to propel rice exports

Rising global demand and the rupee’s devaluation against the US dollar are having a positive impact on the country’s rice exports, estimated at more than R30,000 crore annually. Commerce ministry officials and exporters are bullish in the wake of higher price realisation for the India’s rice, particularly Basmati shipments, in the current fiscal. Even in case of non-Basmati rice, there has been an increase in the contracted amount in the current fiscal.