1.   

India, EU FTA gains momentum

The long-running negotiations between India and the European Union on a free trade agreement (FTA) gained fresh momentum from the ministerial-level talks held in Brussels on Monday, with the two sides airing optimism about making further progress in the coming months. Indian and EU trade negotiators agreed to continue their efforts to overcome the remaining issues, which have been blocking an agreement after more than six years of negotiations and shared the view that the talks in Brussels will give a new thrust to move forward.

2.   

Tajikistan moots trade, transit corridor to India

Marking a major shift in conventional thinking that seeks to exclude Pakistan and Afghanistan from any equation with India, Tajikistan has proposed a Trade and Transit Corridor that will link the four countries. "India did not negate the idea and asked Tajikistan to go ahead and talk with Afghanistan and Pakistan,'' a source privy to the discussion between Vice-President Hamid Ansari and Tajikistan's Economic Development and Trade Minister Sharif Rahimzoda told The Indian Express late on Tuesday night.

3.   

Czech Republic offers soft loans to JK farmers

Ambassador of Czech Republic, Miloslva Stasek called on Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Hassan Mir here this afternoon. The Minister briefed the Ambassador about the initiatives taken by the state Government to boost the activities of Agriculture, Horticulture and other allied sectors. He said that government exempts Tax and VAT on agriculture inputs. The Minister gave him a detailed account of agriculture activities and its allied sectors in three regions of the state adding that saffron, apple, walnut and Basmati rice are being produced in the state in abundance which is world famous.

4.   

India likely to export 7.5 MT wheat, says UN body

India’s wheat exports are likely to touch a record high of 7.5 million tonnes in the current marketing year ending June 2013, on account of record crop and larger carry-over stocks, while many other exporting nations are expected to face tight supplies, an Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) report said. In 2011-12 marketing year (July-June), shipments from the country remained lower, as wheat export was allowed via private trade only after lifting the ban on the same in September 2011, according to market experts.