1.   

Montek Singh Ahluwalia pitches for more Free Trade Agreements

Coming out in favour of free trade pacts, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said that India "clearly and unambiguously" needs to ink more such agreements. India has signed free trade pact with about 20 countries including Japan, Korea, ASEAN nations, Sri Lanka and Nepal, while it is negotiating market opening pacts with Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the European Union.

2.   

India may produce record wheat output this year, says Agriculture Secretary

The country's wheat production this year is likely to surpass the previous record of 94.88 million tonnes on better coverage and good weather condition, Agriculture Secretary Ashish Bahuguna said today. Production of gram, mustard seed and barley output may also exceed the previous record if farmers receive one-two good spells of rains next month, he added. India, the world's second-biggest wheat grower, had produced a record 94.88 million tonnes of wheat in the 2011-12 crop year (July-June), buoyed by a good monsoon. Poor rains in 2012-13 lowered the output to 92.46 million tonnes.

3.   

China, India trade through roads can reduce cost: Report

India and China should consider stepping up bilateral trade through Nathu La, the mountainous pass in the Himalayas and the road connecting India's northeast with Myanmar to reduce transportation cost so that the entire region can prosper, a Chinese daily said today. "In recent years, Beijing and New Delhi have been engaged in road projects near border regions, and have also made plans to build railways. Mutual suspicion will increase if the highways and railways cannot be connected between the two countries. But if the two can be connected, the entire region can prosper," Global Times said.

4.   

Better trade ties with India priority: Pak

Pakistan High Commissioner Salman Bashir on Thursday said that improving trade and investment relations with India was the topmost priority for his country. Bashir said Pakistan was “committed” to normalising two-way bilateral trade with India, which would also help in bringing prosperity to the region. He said Pakistan would do all it could to remove hurdles which were hampering this process from taking off successfully.