1.   

Strengthen processing industry: President Pranab Mukherjee

President Pranab Mukherjee, who was at Punjab Agricultural University to attend an international conference on "sustainable agriculture for food and livelihood security" underscored the need for a comprehensive strategy for sustainable agriculture. He also said the processing industry needs to be strengthened. During his first visit to Ludhiana as president, he pointed out the inadequacy of value addition to fruits and vegetables, despite India being the second largest producer of the same.

2.   

Increasing our trade relationship with India

Ongoing efforts on the part of the Australian government to deepen ties with India are well known. The recent Asian Century White Paper frequently couples China and India in its analyses, which suggests it is perceived the two countries are comparable in their underlying trade potential with Australia. Similarly, Deloitte’s 2013 Global Manufacturing Competitiveness Index predicts that in five years from now China and India – in that order – will be at the top Deloitte’s Manufacturing Competitiveness Index.

3.   

China for free trade agreement with India

China is very keen to have free trade agreement with India to strengthen further the economic cooperation and trade. This was revealed by a key member of the Chinese delegation which is in Delhi to brief about the changes effected during the recent 18th Communist Party Congress in Beijing.Speaking at an interaction on "Implications of the Change in Leadership in PRC: Internal and External Dimensions" at Observer Research Foundation on Wednesday, Mr. Zhang Yansheng, Secretary General, Academic Committee, National Development and Reform Commission, said both the countries "should consider a Free Trade Agreement at the right time" to strengthen further the economic cooperation between the two most populous and fastest developing countries of the world.

4.   

India, Israel to triple trade

Despite the ongoing geopolitical tensions surrounding it, Israel is confident of more than tripling its trade with India in the next two years.India’s bilateral trade with Israel — that stands at over $5 billion presently — will more than triple with the two nations expected to sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by end of next year (2013-14), Eli Belotsercovsky, director in the ministry of foreign affairs said. “The negotiations between India and Israel have progressed well and while we wanted to sign the FTA in this year itself, the chances are that this will now happen by next year only,” Belotsercovsky said.