1.   

Govt to announce incentives for exports soon: Anand Sharma, Commerce and Industry Minister

The government today assured industry that it will soon announce incentives for exporters to provide them a cushion in the wake of declining shipments due to global slowdown. Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma assured the industry that measure to support exporters will be announced as early as Monday", an official release said. During the April--November this fiscal, the country's exports have shrunk by 5.95 per cent to USD 189.2 billion.

2.   

Indo-Pak friendship highlighted at PAU alumini meet

The two-day alumni meet at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) concluded on Friday, with India-Pak friendship and peace being the highlight. A technical session of "India-Pak Trade: Present and Future Prospects" saw keen participation from local alumni and Pakistani delegates. In his keynote address, Karam Singh, economist and consultant of Punjab State Farmer's Commission, said enormous trade opportunities exist between two Punjabs - West Punjab in Pakistan and East Punjab in India.

3.   

India builds closer ties with ASEAN

Building a strategic partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, India has become closer with a region experiencing robust economic growth. India and the 10-member ASEAN concluded a two-day summit in honor of their 20-year relationship on Friday. They reached a free trade agreement in services and investments and vowed to improve air and land links.

4.   

Germany remains India's top trading partner within Europe

Germany has emerged as the top trading partner of India within Europe with around $23.8 billion or 18.3 billion euro turnover during 2011-12, according to the latest figures of the Commerce and Industry Ministry. Speaking about this, German Ambassador to India Michael Steiner said the figures showed clearly that the Indo-German trade relations were at an all-time high. “Within the European Union, Germany remains in the pole position for trade with India.