Indian economy will likely expand 6.8% in the current fiscal as public investment remains the primary growth driver, the International Monetary Fund said Tuesday in its Regional Economic Outlook for Asia and Pacific.

Two Central Asian states Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan along with Afghanistan have agreed to enhance transit and transport infrastructure in Afghanistan at a trilateral meeting last week between Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin, Director General of the Transport and Communications Agency under Turkmenistan’s Cabinet of Ministers Mammetkhan Chakyev, and Afghan Minister of Commerce and Industry Nooruddin Azizi in Kabul.

The government has bought over 196 lakh tonne of wheat so far in the ongoing 2024-25 marketing year, surpassing its annual requirement of 186 lakh tonne for all welfare schemes including the National Food Security Act.

The escalating geopolitical tension may have implications for the country's exports in the first quarter of 2024-25 as it is likely to impact global demand, apex exporters body FIEO said. The global uncertainties caused by continuing war between Russia and Ukraine has impacted India's outbound shipments in 2023-24, which recorded a decline of 3.11 per cent to USD 437 billion. Imports too dipped by over 8 per cent to USD 677.24 billion.

India has recorded a total grape export volume of 181,396 tons up to April 15th, with 131,421 tons directed towards the U.S. and the European Union, and the remaining 50,195 tons to various other countries. Typically, exports to the U.S. and the European Union range from 90,000 to 100,000 tons. 

Westfalia Fruit, the world’s leading integrated avocado farming and trading company, is pinning greater hopes on the rising consumption of avocado in the Indian market.

The Jammu and Kashmir Trade Promotion Organisation (JKTPO), in furtherance to its efforts to promote ODOP (One District One Product) and enhance the export potential of  same, today organized a workshop for the stakeholders here in the conference hall of  Deputy Commissioner’s office.

Sources that food regulator FSSAI will soon announce new guidelines for packaged foods. The move is expected days after it was reported that cerelac contained added sugars - though Nestle later clarified that sugar content was under permissible limits.