1.   

FM confident of 5-5.5 pc growth in FY'14

Finance Minister P Chidambaram is confident of achieving 5 to 5.5 percent growth in the current fiscal, reports media. "The green shoots are visible and measures taken by the government will help the economy achieve the potential growth rate of 8 percent," Chidambaram said Friday. Addressing bankers and economists at Bancon 2013, a flagship event of the Indian Banks' Association, Chidambaram told the lenders to deal firmly with willful defaulters, but handhold those who are reeling under the impact of the economic slowdown.

2.   

Pakistan hints at MFN status, allowing more products from India

The government of Pakistan, it was hinted on Friday, might soon accord 'Most Favoured Nation' (MFN) trade status to India, something it has been postponing for a considerable while. And, that it might allow imports of some more goods from this country which are presently prohibited, such as pharmaceuticals and agricultural items. "We have liberalised our trade regime with India. Last year, we shifted to a much smaller negative list; only pharmaceutical and agricultural items are left.

3.   

‘India-EU trade deal unlikely in FY 2013-14’

A free trade deal between India and the European Union is unlikely before the 2014 general elections as the current government won`t be willing to make any unpopular compromises required to conclude the agreement, says a top diplomat from the grouping. Belgian ambassador to India Pierre Vaesen said both India and the 28-nation European Union (EU) need to make compromises and unpopular concessions to conclude the deal.

4.   

India is committed to bring the people closer by boosting trade :Shinde

Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde has said that India is developing border infrastructure along the neighboring countries to bring the people closer by boosting trade and economy. He was speaking on the occasion of opening the ICP at Akhaur here at the Bangladesh border. Just after opening the ICP, Shinde said, "India would build 13 international standard ICPs (Integrated Check Posts) along the borders with Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar to boost trade and economy with the neighbouring countries.