1.   

Rice exports may rise 15% as government scraps export floor price

India's rice exports are likely to jump as much as 15% this year after the government scrapped the minimum export price (MEP) of $700 per tonne. "India's annual basmati exports will surpass last year's figure in the current fiscal," said Sumeet Saluja, managing director, Whitefields Overseas, which markets basmati under the brand name India Crown.

2.   

India-Israel FTA: Next round of talks this week

India and Israel will hold this week another round of negotiations for the proposed free trade agreement, a move which would increase bilateral trade and investment between the countries. "The 5th round of negotiations between Israel and India on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will be taking place in New Delhi on 14th-16th August," Israeli Embassy said in a statement here.

3.   

Sharma to meet industry leaders Tuesday on exports slowdown

Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma is scheduled to meet industry leaders on Tuesday for discussing ways to contain decline in the country's exports. Hit by slowdown in the Western markets, India's export growth declined 5.45 percent in June for the second month in a row to USD 25 billion. The minister has also called a meeting on August 16 on declining industrial production.

4.   

India's trade with Latin America may touch $50 billion by 2014

India's trade with Latin American countries is expected to touch USD 50 billion by 2014 on account of healthy economic growth in both the regions, PHD chamber said today. In a function at PHD chamber, ambassadors of countries including Chile, Colombia and Mexico sought investment from India and deliberated on trade and business opportunities in their countries for Indian businessmen.