1.   

India, Burundi to further strengthen bilateral trade: President Pranab Mukherjee

Expressing India's willingness to support East African nation Burundi in its growth, President Pranab Mukherjee today said both the countries need to systematically pursue new areas of economic cooperation and investment for their mutual benefit. Mukherjee sought Burundi's support for India's candidature for permanent membership in an expanded UN Security Council. "India stands ready and willing to join hands with the people of Burundi in pursuing their aspirations for development and growth.

2.   

Indo-Pak Commerce Secretaries to meet this month

The Commerce Secretaries of India and Pakistan will hold talks on normalising and boosting bilateral trade in Islamabad during September 20-21. Indian Commerce Secretary S R Rao will visit Pakistan with an 11-member delegation for the talks with his Pakistani counterpart Munir Qureshi, officials of the Commerce Ministry said Monday. The two sides will discuss a wide range of issues, including bilateral trade and the grant of Most Favoured Nation-status to India by Pakistan.

3.   

US Pitches for Greater Role for India

Noting an upswing in bilateral ties over the years, the US today pitched for greater role for India in the world and said it was keen to work with New Delhi on it."The US can work with India over its growing role in the world," US Ambassador to India Nancy Powell stressed during a panel discussion which included Indian Ambassador in Washington Nirupama Rao. "Trade relations are growing. It reflects our desire to proceed with arrangements for the civil nuclear deal,".Powell said as Rao noted the India-US relationship has "wide political support across the spectrum" in both countries and stressed that it will not change.

4.   

Food Ministry planning to sell additional 5 million tonne wheat

The Food Ministry is planning to sell additional 5 million tonne wheat in the open market to bulk consumers like flour millers and biscuit makers in a bid to check rising prices and offloading the surplus stock. "We are planning to release another 5 million tonnes of wheat to bulk consumers under the open market sale scheme (OMSS)," Food Minister K V Thomas told reporters here. In June, the government had allocated sale of 3 million tonne wheat from its godowns under the OMSS to ease storage pressure during the monsoon season.