1.   

Indian exports set to grow 24% in the four months to December: FIEO report

India's double-digit exports growth story, which has helped the rupee stage a remarkable recovery and ease current account deficit worries, is likely to get even better in the coming months, according to a government- commissioned assessment of the order books of exporters. Outbound shipments of goods are projected to grow nearly 24% in the four months to December, and by about 16% during the entire 2013-14 fiscal, helped by a recovery in developed countries and newfound competitiveness because of nearly 15% rupee depreciation in the current financial year.

2.   

India plans barter trade pact with Singapore

To provide a cushion to the foreign exchange reserves, India plans to do a barter trade deal with Singapore and follow it up with similar deals with other Asian nations. It is based on the assumption that more of the exports by these countries to India will be settled in Indian rupees. The assumption is that the rupee is now acceptable de facto as a unit of currency by traders in economies like Singapore and so the barter trade will give it legitimacy.

3.   

Canada hopeful of trade deal with India by year-end

Canada hopes the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with India will be concluded by the year-end but believes the next round of negotiations likely next month will be crucial for making progress. "We are optimistic that when we have the next round, we could be moving more quickly to a resolution. It depends on ambition on both sides. There are certain things India is looking for and there are certain things we are looking for," Canadian High Commissioner to India Stewart G. Beck told IANS in an interview here Friday.

4.   

States' agri ministers to discuss implementation of NMFP at MoFPI meet

The ministry of food processing and industries (MoFPI) will host a conference in New Delhi on September 20, 2013. The state agriculture and food processing ministers will discuss the implementation of the National Food Processing Mission (NMFP) – constraints and issues requiring intervention; the policy issues related to the development of the food processing sector (outlining a way forward), and the issues related to the fiscal incentives given to the food processing sector by state governments at the meet.