1.   

India's latest attempt to boost wheat exports to falter on costs

India's newest attempt to boost wheat exports and cut its bulging stocks by offering private traders the chance to buy direct from warehouses is likely to be spurned by most traders as they baulk at the costs of transportation and financing. The world's No. 2 producer embarked on exports in September 2011 after a four-year ban as it sought space in stretched warehouses for bumper harvests, but has only managed to sell about 5 percent of what it produces in a year, partly because of its high prices.

2.   

RBI may treat loans to exporters as priority sector lending

A Reserve Bank of India panel, which was set up in February to look into difficulties faced by exporters with respect to loans and costs, has recommended loans given to exporters be treated as priority sector loans, reports CNBC-TV18's Gopika Gopakumar, quoting sources. RBI executive director G Padmanabhan recommended that all loans given to exporters be classified as priority-sector lending. Currently, only foreign banks with less than 20 branches are allowed to treat loans given to exporters as priority sector lending.

3.   

India, Russia to re-energize inter-governmental mechanism

India and Russia have agreed to reenergise the work of the Indo-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission (IRIGC) by holding intersession meetings between annual sessions on a regular basis. The decision was taken at a meeting here on Monday of the Indian and Russian co-chairmen of the IRIGC on trade, economic, scientific-technical and cultural cooperation, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and Deputy Prime minister Dmitry Rogozin.

4.   

India conducts trade talks with Vietnam

Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Dr. D Purandeswari participated in various programmes in Vietnam today and yesterday. In Ho Chi Minh city she interacted with Indian and Vietnamese businessmen and addressed them. Around 40 businessmen along with the Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Mr. Ranjit Rae participated in the meeting. In Dak Lak Province of Vietnam, the minister inaugurated an instant coffee plant established by CCL Products India Ltd.