1.   

Trade flows between India and Pakistan despite tensions

Trade between India and Pakistan, one of the most significant confidence building measures (CBM), has been moving smoothly despite the recent cross-border firing in Jammu and Kashmir which have escalated tension and overshadowed the resumption of the dialogue process for normalization of relations. In fact, traders form both sides have been asking for upgradation of infrastructure to keep pace with expanding trade, especially through the Attari-Wagah land route.

2.   

PM to visit China in October, border, trade talks on agenda

Breakthroughs in border management and addressing growing trade imbalance would dominate the agenda of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s expected visit to China in the last week of October. It is learnt that Singh will be clubbing his China visit with his trip to Russia for the annual India-Russia summit slated for October 21. The main thrust of the new border management mechanism will be reflected in the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA) with China, expected to be signed during the visit.

3.   

Finance Minister P Chidambaram seeks 10-point action plan to revive economy

Finance minister P Chidambaram has asked each of the secretaries in his ministry to present a 10-point action plan on Monday that could help draw up an agenda to kick-start a wider set of measures to revive the economy and improve business sentiment. Chidambaram has asked all the four departments to come up with ideas that could be implemented or prioritised over the next few months. This will also send out a signal that the government was for the time done with steps to stabilise the rupee and wants to move on to other pressing issues.

4.   

Sensitisation meet on north-east focusses on horticulture, food processing

The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) with support from National Horticulture Board (NHB) organised a sensitisation programme on horticulture & food processing – Focus on North Eastern States - at Guwahati, Assam, recently. The aim of the programme was to sensitise the stakeholders of the north-eastern region regarding the role of NHB in helping the growers regarding effective commercialisation of the horticulture sector in the north-east region.