1.   

Need for comprehensive economic agreement with Russia: India

Ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit here, a senior government official on Thursday stressed on the "critical" need for a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement between Russia and India to boost trade ties. He also highlighted that the countries are "strategic partners" not due to "sentimentalism" or common history but because their interests coincide.

2.   

Five pc duty agreed for Pak-India trade, says Indian HC

India and Pakistan have agreed on a maximum duty of five percent for trade between the two countries, Sharat Sabharwal, High Commissioner of India, said on Thursday. “All the items, other than in the sensitive list, will go down to no more than five percent,” he said at a meeting with members of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI).

3.   

Malaysia looks to buy Indian wheat

At a time when warehouses are choked with wheat, Indian wheat is seeing good demand from West Asia and Southeast Asian countries. After Iran showing its intent to buying at least 1 million tonne of wheat for the next three years, Malaysia has sought regular supply of wheat from India. "We have asked the Malaysian government to send a formal proposal and also a technical team to India to check the quality of our grain," said food minister K V Thomas.

4.   

ASEAN's agriculture meet to focus on greater utilisation of resources

The second ASEAN-India ministerial meeting on agriculture and forestry – jointly organised by the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) – commenced at NASC Complex, New Delhi on October 17, 2012 and will conclude on October 19, 2012.