1.   

Punjab's Basmati rice will bridge Indo-UK trade ties

British Prime Minister David Cameron felt that there was a great business opportunity for enhanced Indo-British Economic ties. Welcoming the Memorandum of Understanding signed for the supply of 12000 metric tons of Lal Qilla Basmati rice to East End Foods Company based in England, the Prime Minister said here today that it would usher in a new era for developing trade relations.

2.   

Pak to bring down trade barriers with India, vows MFN status

Despite recent flare ups on the Line of Control in Kashmir, Pakistan is focused on bringing down trade barriers with India, including extending the MFN status to it, Islamabad’s top diplomat here said today. “Our regional pivot focuses on bringing down an architecture of trade barriers both with India and Pakistan, and we are on course, despite flare-ups on the Line of Control in Kashmir, to forge with building investments in peace, trade, economic integration and opportunities for our huge youth cohort,” the Pakistan Ambassador to US Sherry Rehman said in her address to the prestigious Harvard University.

3.   

Honey from forests of Central India sweetening American lives

With the Americans being more conscious of environmental sustainability and organic products, the honey harvested in the forests of Central India by tribal groups has found favour in a small American city in the state of Iowa called Fairfield. The mayor of this town, Edward Malloy came calling to the city to see for himself the organic method of harvesting honey and look at the prospects of inclusion of other organic products from the region in the city's import list.

4.   

Wheat procurement likely to rise 15% to reach 44 MT

The government's wheat purchase is expected to reach 44 million tonne (MT) in the 2013-14 marketing year starting April, surpassing last year's record of 38.1 million tonne, Food Minister K V Thomas said on Tuesday. This year, wheat procurement is expected to increase by over 15 per cent despite marginal fall in output by 2.6 million tonne to 92.3 million tonne. Procurement of wheat, a major rabi crop, begins from April and continues till June.