1.   

India exploring Azerbaijan-Iran road route for trade with CIS

India is exploring using the existing road link between Rasht in Iran and Astara, Azerbaijan, to get easier access to the lucrative markets of Russia and other Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) nations, as a proposal to build a rail link between the two places is taking more time than expected. The commerce ministry has asked Freight Forwarders’ Association of India (FFAI) to conduct a dry run to study the feasibility of using the road route between the two places.

2.   

India, China, Bangladesh and Myanmar to boost cooperation

An inter-governmental mechanism has been established by India, China, Bangladesh and Myanmar to help boost economic cooperation, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said today. The establishment of the system was the outcome of a two-day meeting of the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Economic Corridor working group, which ended yesterday in Kunming, capital of the southwestern Yunnan Province.

3.   

Rabi crop sowing crosses 536 lakh hectare area

The total rabi sown area, as per reports received from states, during the week ending December 20th stands at 536.37 lakh hectare as compared to 507.26 lakh hectare at this time last year. The area under pulses stands at 126.84 lakh hectare and it exceeds the normal area of 126.70 lakh hectare for the entire rabi season. Details of the areas sown so far this year and last year are given below:

4.   

Venezuelan Minister Meets MOS Agriculture Dr. Mahant Possibilities Explored in Different Agricultural Areas

Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries Dr. Charan Das Mahant met Venezuelan Minister of State for Agriculture Mr. Faiz Kasan Casttelo here today. The two Ministers discussed trade flow between the two countries during 2012-13. Training to Venezuelan officers in poultry and dairy sectors, especially buffalo breeding and export of buffalo germ plasm to Venezuela were discussed.