1.   

India-China body sets up 8 committees to help promote trade

The India China Trade Centre (ICTC) has decided to set up eight committees to help promote bilateral trade in areas including auto components and automobiles and film, media and communication. The ICTC board, at a meeting earlier this week, approved the formation of panels on agro & food processing and marine products, regulatory affairs & taxation, law & justice, films, media & communication, metals, minerals & chemicals, IT & ITES, MSME, automobiles & auto components, according to a statement.

2.   

The emerging Asean hotspot for India

India, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam can work towards a more sustainable economic partnership. As the global economic heft shifts eastwards, Indian industry too is looking for new opportunities in Asia. This is particularly true in our neighbourhood of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV), with which India has close historical links and which are emerging as resurgent economies.

3.   

Optimism on agricultural growth this year

At the outset, it might seem that a below one per cent increase in kharif (summer crops) foodgrain production for 2013-14 has dashed the hope of a five per cent agricultural growth for the year. With this, any cooling of food inflation, around 18 per cent in Wholesale Price Index terms and 11 per cent on the basis of the Consumer Price Index, would be a far dream. However, analysts say a deeper analysis shows over five per cent farm growth in 2013-14 is within reach.

4.   

Omani team visits poultry farms in India for export certification

A team representing officials from the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources (MRMWR), the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs, Muscat Municipality and the Public Authority for Consumer Protection is in India to check methods of slaughter and processing of poultry to give farms the certificate to export their products to the sultanate. In a decision in May this year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries lifted the import ban on poultry and its products from India but with certain clauses which makes necessary for an Indian company to get its premises and husbandry procedures verified by Omani officials first.