1.   

Government raises interest subsidy to prop up weak exports: Trade Minister Anand Sharma

Government has increased an interest subsidy for some export goods to 3 per cent from 2 per cent and has extended that subsidy to include more items in a bid to prop up the country's flagging overseas sales, Trade Minister Anand Sharma said on Wednesday. Fighting a falling rupee and a widening current account deficit that hit a record high of 4.8 per cent last fiscal year, India is taking steps to curb imports and boost exports.

2.   

Record rice harvest likely this kharif season: Govt

India’s rice production is likely to hit an all-time high in the ongoing kharif season on the back of a good monsoon, which has given a boost to the sowing area, minister of state for agriculture Tariq Anwar said on Tuesday. “The monsoon has been good so far this year. As per the reports received from the states, the sowing area is higher and it seems that this time we will set new records in foodgrain production during kharif,” he said on the sidelines of Assocham’s Bio-Agri summit.

3.   

Connectivity between ASEAN, India can transform region

Physical connectivity between ASEAN and India through Assam can transform the economic landscape of the region, Singapore Foreign Minister said on Tuesday. Pitching for closer economic ties between ASEAN and India, K Shanmugam said the missing link in the economic landscape between the two sides was greater physical connectivity. "The missing link in our economic landscape is really the need for linkages for grater land and sea connectivity between ASEAN and India that will completely transform and facilitate the interaction and enhance business opportunities both ways," Shanmugam said.

4.   

US calls for economic reforms, wary of India, China and Germany

US President Barack Obama has stressed on the need for economic reforms in US saying that not doing so would mean waving the white flag to the rest of the world especially to countries like India, Germany and China. "If we don't make these investments and these reforms, then we might be waving the white flag to the rest of the world, because they're moving forward. They're not slowing down," Obama said yesterday.