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Free trade pact with EU on verge of completion : Anand Sharma

The long-negotiated free trade pact with the European Union is “on the verge of completion”, commerce minister Anand Sharma said on Sunday. Addressing delegates at a meeting organised by lobby group Confederation of Indian Industry in Agra, Sharma noted that the global economic recovery remained fragile though there was some hope for “cautious optimism.” Against this backdrop, partnerships among nations is the key to ensure that growth picks up, he said.

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Minister in India for trade talks

Trade Minister Craig Emerson arrives in India today for the 14th Australia-India Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC), to be held in New Delhi. This is Dr Emerson's second visit to India as Trade Minister and his first since being assigned to assist the Prime Minister on Asian Century Policy. His talks with the Indian Minister for Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma will cover the trade and investment relationship between the two countries, as well as global issues such as food security, poverty alleviation and trade liberalisation.

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India launches G2B portal for 24X7 business related info

India has launched its first Government-to-business portal to provide a round-the-clock, secure, one-stop-shop for all investment and business related information. “This mission mode project will mark a paradigm shift in the Government’s approach to providing G2B services for India’s investor and business communities,” Commerce & Industry Minister Anand Sharma said while launching the eBiz portal at the CII Partnership Summit in Agra on Monday. The portal has been developed by Infosys in a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.

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Oman’s Sohar Port to set up agro-bulk terminal

The commercially busy Port of Sohar in Oman will soon have a major bulk terminal dedicated to the handling of foodgrains, agro-commodities, sugar and other food-related bulk cargoes.The proposed facility, which is due to come up shortly, will be the latest addition to a growing array of terminals at the port, an Oman Daily Observer report said. With the addition of an agro-bulk terminal, Sohar Port will emerge as one of just a handful of gateways with truly multi-commodity handling capabilities in the region, it said.