1.   

Exports up 13.47 % in Oct

Growing in double digits for the fourth straight month, exports rose 13.47 per cent in October. Though the exports performance is good news for the slowing economy, as it indicates a turnaround might be round the corner, it was not strong enough to compensate for the increased imports of gold during the month owing to the festival season.As a result, the trade deficit, or the excess of imports over exports, widened again in October.

2.   

Strong Indian presence at Commonwealth Business Forum

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's skipping the Commonwealth summit in Colombo under domestic political pressure may take some sheen off the meet, but a strong Indian presence will be felt at a gathering of business leaders from developed and emerging markets, showing the importance the country accords to the multilateral forum and the immediate neighbourhood.Representatives from 15 non-Commonwealth countries such as China, the United States, Japan and Brazil will also take part in the Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF) meeting.

3.   

Support early conclusion of FTA with GCC: India to Kuwait

India today urged Kuwait to support its efforts for early conclusion of talks for the proposed free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). "We are currently negotiating FTA with GCC. I would urge you (Kuwait) to support for the early conclusion of the FTA," Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said at an interactive meeting of Indian chambers with Kuwait Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah here.

4.   

Indo-Pak businessmen should meet at Wagha-Attari border without Visa: SAARC

India and Pakistan should develop a Zero Point Border Market at the Wagha-Attari border where businessmen from both the sides would meet without any visa requirements, SAARC Chamber of Commerce & Industry today said. The point which would have state-of-art infrastructure and facilities will provide businessmen an opportunity to meet each and discuss without any visa requirement as it will be built in a 'no man's land' area, SAARC Chamber of Commerce & Industry President Vikramjit Singh Sahney said in a statement.