1.   

New system may cut export customs clearance to few hours: Chidambaram

Finance Minister P Chidambaram today expressed hope that the time taken for customs clearance of export cargo will come down to a few hours after implementing a risk management system. "I sincerely hope that with the introduction of RMS in exports, the dwell time which now ranges from 1.6 days to 3.68 days will be brought down to a few hours," Chidambaram said after launching the all-India Risk Management System (RMS) for exports.

2.   

UK PM to visit India, strengthening business ties on agenda

Expansion of business ties, exploring new areas of cooperation and the Vodafone tax dues issue are likely to figure during talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his British counterpart David Cameron here on Thursday. Cameron will be here on a day-long visit, his third in two years, on his way to Colombo to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) on November 15-16.

3.   

Khurshid calls for tangible cooperation between Asian, European nations(Update/ASEM Conference)

External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on Monday emphasised the need for result-oriented initiatives and promotion of tangible cooperation between the members of ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting), as they came together to enhance strategic partnerships for growth and development here. Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari inaugurated the two-day Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), which is being held for the first time in Gurgaon.

4.   

Bumper groundnut crop led to procurement after 11 years

Even as groundnut production expected to rise this year cooperative bodies have started procurement to avoid any sudden fall in groundnut prices. Gujarat Co-operative Marketing Federation Limited (also known as Gujcomasol) has started procurement of groundnut in Gujarat first time after as many as 11 years. The cooperative body will buy groundnut on behalf of National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (Nafed). The Federation has started buying groundnut since last Friday from 17 centers across Gujarat including Rajkot, Gondal, Junagadh Himmatnagar, Modasa and others.