1.   

Mauritius offers zero customs duty regime for Indian companies setting up shop in the island nation

Mauritius has offered a zero customs duty regime for Indian firms to gain easier access to European Union and Africa. Mauritian minister for trade and industry Sayyad Abd-Al-Cader Sayed Hossen discussed the country's free port policy with commerce and industry minister Anand Sharma on Friday.

2.   

PM to visit Dubai in March

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will make an official visit to Dubai in March. This was conveyed by Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma to his UAE counterpart Lubna Bin Khalid Al Qasime here today. During the talks Sharma sought UAE support for early conclusion of India-GCC free trade agreement. Sharma also hoped that the UAE government would give a special concessional treatment to textile imports from India.

3.   

Reenergize Negotiations for Concluding India-GCC FTA Talks: Anand Sharma

Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma has urged the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to take the lead in re-energizing the negotiations for concluding the India-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, which have been stalled for a while. In a bilateral meeting with Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of Foreign Trade,

4.   

Budget 2013: Agriculture Ministry seeks more fund allocation to push output

The agriculture ministry is seeking more budgetary support to increase farm sector growth rate to 4% per annum from 3.5% at present. "The allocation this year would be more as the country needs to produce more to provide food security to the nation," an agriculture ministry official said. "The scheme 'Bringing Green Revolution in Eastern India' has done well with increased funds of Rs 1,000 crore. We expect more allocation."