The G20 Trade and Investment Ministerial Meeting TIMM will be held in Jaipur on 24th and 25th August, 2023. The meeting will be preceded by the 4th and last Trade and Investment Working Group TIWG meeting under India’s G20 Presidency which will take place on August 21 and 22, 2023 in Jaipur. The first three TIWG meetings were held in Mumbai, Bangalore and Kevadia respectively. Both the meetings will be attended by more than 300 delegates, including trade ministers/secretaries and heads of delegations from G20 member countries, invitee countries, regional groupings and international organisations. The deliberations will focus on building consensus on global trade and investment-related issues, along with accomplishing action-oriented proposals put forward by the Indian Presidency.

 

During the 1st and 2nd TIWG meetings, five Priority Issues PIs, namely Trade for Growth and Prosperity, Resilient Trade and Global Value Chains GVCs, Integrating Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises  MSMEs in World Trade, Logistics for Trade and World Trade Organisation WTO Reforms were extensively discussed among the G20 member/invitee countries.

 

In addition, Knowledge Partners made presentations during these meetings, outlining each of the subjects and outcomes emerging from them. Based on the opinions/suggestions expressed by the G20 member/invite countries in these discussions, Indian Presidency has formulated action-oriented concrete proposals on each of the priority issues reflected in the Ministerial Statement and its annexures.

 

Amidst the global headwinds that international trade growth is facing, it is opportune for the G20 to reaffirm that the rules-based multilateral trading system, with the WTO at its core, is indispensable for advancing our shared objectives of inclusive growth, innovation, job creation and sustainable development.

 

Technology has profoundly impacted the way cross-border trade is undertaken. Paperless trading system will further reduce transaction costs, make smaller shipments more cost effective, and will enable internationalization of operations at a lower cost, ensuring trade competitiveness in a rapidly digitalizing world and in G20 this issue has been taken up prominently.

 

It is also critical for the G20 to remove bottlenecks that impede integration of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in international trade.  Since MSMEs are vital for job creation and boosting GDP, it is apt for G20 to address three critical dimensions of inadequate access to business and trade-related information, finance and markets that hinder participation of MSMEs in global trade.

 

Further, as 70% of the world trade manifest through Global Value Chains (GVCs), it is imperative for the G20 TIWG to deliberate on developing mapping framework that could make GVCs resilient towards future shocks.

 

The G20 TIWG has also embraced the priority on WTO Reform to build consensus among countries for standing together to support the ongoing reform process and work constructively to achieve meaningful outcomes at the upcoming Thirteenth Ministerial Conference (MC13).

 

The interventions and suggestions made by the member countries on each of the Priority Issues immensely assisted the Presidency in preparing draft text for the Ministerial Statement and its annexes. The deliberations during the TIWG meetings have led to a good level of refinement in the drafts, and clearly reflect the commitment of G20 TIWG to make global trade inclusive.

 

It is expected that TIMM will pave way for trusted collaboration amongst G20 members to accelerate global trade and investment. It aims to co-develop tools that could leverage existing opportunities to make growth inclusive and transparent for all, resonating with Indian Presidency’s G20 theme of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.

 

Knowing the importance of the interlinkage of the five proposed Priority Issues, Indian Presidency had also organized Side Event Seminars on Trade Finance, Trade and Technology, and Trade Infrastructure in Mumbai, Bengaluru and Ekta Nagar respectively. The aim of these seminars was to bring together the stakeholders across all layers of governance and brainstorm on collective actions that are needed to build a robust global trade ecosystem.

 

During TIMM, an experience zone to showcase the wide variety of Indian tea, coffee, spices and millets will be set up for the delegates, and an exhibition on Jaipur Experience will be on display to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Pink City.

India plans to hold bilateral talks on free trade agreements with the United Kingdom, the European Union and Canada on the sidelines of a G20 meeting next week, a top trade official said on Friday.

 

The trade ministers are likely to discuss trade and World Trade Organisation reforms during their meeting next week, trade secretary Sunil Barthwal told reporters.

The FSSAI has set a final deadline for food businesses to utilise the pre-printed packaging materials and asked them to use any such material by December 31, 2023.  

 

'It has been decided to grant a final one-time permission up to 31.12.2023 to the FBOs seeking permission to use such non-complying pre-printed packaging materials (PPMs),' reads the order issued by the FSSAI after Food Business Operators (FBOs) sought time to use pre-printed packaging materials which are non-complying with the FSS (Labelling & Display) Regulations, 2020, and its amendments.

 

The FSSAI has also revised the fee for any food business applying for permission to use the pre-printed packaging materials, which is Rs 30,000 plus GST for the Central licensees and Rs 12,000 plus GST for state licensees, to be paid through the e-payment portal of the FSSAI.  

 

Meanwhile according to the FSSAI, the application(s) seeking permission to use pre-printed packaging material(s) due to (i) change in address, (ii) change in company name or (iii) change in licence number shall be processed under the extant instructions issued vide orders issued on November 23, 2016, and the fee shall be applicable as per order issued on November 14, 2017.  

 

Under these notifications, the food businesses were allowed to use the pre-printed packaging materials for a period of six months after submitting a fee of Rs 6,000.

The Kashmiri saffron is famous across the world and Jammu and Kashmir is the second largest producer. Now, the state government aims to further boost saffron production with its new export policy.

 

The government has shortlisted 60 countries where the demand for Kashmiri saffron is huge.

 

Saffron, also known as red gold, is one of the most expensive spices in the world. Currently, saffron is cultivated on only 4,000 hectares of land. Experts say that Kashmiri saffron is one of the best in quality and with the implementation of the new export policy, it has the potential to beat the Iranian saffron.

 

The Department of Agriculture says that within the next two months, the new export policy would be implemented and will provide a big boost for the saffron growers of the valley. 

 

'The saffron from Kashmir Valley is famous. One of the reasons why is it considered the best in quality is because of the favourable climatic conditions it is grown in. While we have been working on increasing the production of saffron, we are also focussing on the export policy, wherein we shortlisted countries where we can sell our produce. Dubai, America and Israel are one of the largest buyers of Kashmir saffron,' said Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal, Director, the Department of Agriculture, Kashmir. 

 

Saffron is used in cosmetics, food, and medicines, and is also used for rituals. After the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, symbolising its exclusivity in the international market, the prices for Kashmiri saffron have grown tremendously. Earlier, it used to sell for 60,000 rupees, whereas now it fetches around Rs 2,50,000.

 

Since the last decade, the area under the saffron cultivation has shrunk from 5,000 hectares to 4000. And around 90 per cent of the cultivation comes from the Pampore area of Pulwama district. Under the new export policy, the government has identified other districts where the land is suitable for saffron farming.

 

'The data does show that the saffron cultivation area has shrunk, but what we are doing is slowly expanding in the other areas. We want to secure the heritage crop and make sure to increase the space and identify those areas which have the best climatic conditions for the cultivation of saffron,' Iqbal said. 

 

The government hopes that with the new export policy, more people take up saffron cultivation. 

Myanmar expects rice exports to surge in coming months as curbs on Indian sales and a spike in Thai and Vietnamese prices force buyers to hunt for other origins.

 

The tightening in global supply should help revive the Southeast Asian nation’s rice shipments, which slumped 56% in the first four months of the fiscal year, and bring it closer to its annual goal of earning $1 billion from exports of the grain, Ye Min Aung, president of the Myanmar Rice Federation, said in an interview last week.

The food authority has issued an order with respect to labs working in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode that if samples were tested in any of the primary notified lab, irrespective of their geographical location, the appeal samples cannot be sent to the National Food Laboratory operating under the PPP mode with such private labs.  

 

The FSSAI has issued an order in this regard mentioning three private labs including M/s Arbro Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd. (M/s APPL), M/s Vimta Labs Limited and M/s National Commodity Management Services Limited (Formerly National Collateral Management Services Limited), which are working in a PPP mode with National Food Laboratory Ghaziabad, National Food Laboratory, JNPT, Mumbai, and National Food Laboratory, CPT, Chennai, respectively.  

The order reads that ‘It is to inform that, if a sample has been tested in any of the primary notified laboratories mentioned above, irrespective of their geographical location, the appeal/referral sample shall not be sent to the National Food Laboratory operating under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode with the same primary notified laboratory where the primary sample was tested.’

 

Earlier, FSSAI has ordered that the Appellate/Referral Samples may be sent to any Referral Laboratory as per their valid scope of testing irrespective of their areas of jurisdiction. However, since some labs are working in PPP mode with private labs, the food authority felt the need for a clarification, remarked an industry expert.

The first World Health Organization Global Summit on Traditional Medicine was inaugurated today at Gandhinagar, Gujarat alongside the G20 health ministerial meet. Director-General of WHO Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and the Union Minister of Ayush, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya were invited to light the ceremonial lamp to the accompaniment of auspicious hymns dedicated to Dhanvantari, the god of Ayurveda.

 

Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Bhupendra Rajnikant Patel, Union MoS for Ayush Dr Munjpara Mahendrabhai Kalubhai, and senior delegates of WHO were also present on this occassion 

 

On his inaugural address Dr Tedros Adhanom  said, 'Traditional Medicine is as old as humanity itself. However, it is not a thing of the past. It has a growing relevance in communities and cultures even today.' Commending the Indian Government's Ayushman Bharat Initiative, he praised the country's medical system. Dr Tedros also noted the seamless integration of traditional medicine into primary healthcare in rural areas.

 

Addressing the gathering, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said that the outcome of the historic WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit will help to propose recommendations for a dedicated forum within future G20 presidencies. He reminded the gathering that the integrative approach of the government of India is resulting in the establishment of dedicated Ayush Departments in all AIIMS. He said that it all has happened just because Hon’ble Prime Minster Shri Narendra Modi ji had a clear vision about the efficacy of Ayush and he strongly supported the efforts to give allround boost to the Ministry of Ayush for the benefit of masses of India and the world.

 

On this occasion, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, highlighted the significant contributions of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel in nation-building. He emphasized that with the WHO GCTM leading the way towards a more prominent role of traditional medicine in mainstream healthcare, India is well-positioned to become a knowledge hub and unlock the full potential of TM. The pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries are both showing significant interest in traditional medicine and more than 170 countries around the world are utilizing it. The summit provides an ideal platform for international collaboration and the exchange of ideas to promote best practices in the sector, he concluded.

 

Speaking next, the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Bhupendra Patel shared how the  Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi believed that traditional medicine could play an effective role in dealing with a crisis like the covid pandemic. Following this thought, he began connecting other countries of the world with the mission of Traditional Medicine. His initiative has now emerged as the world's first Traditional Medicine Global Summit.

 

Many visitors were drawn to the experiential Ayush Exhibition Zone which took place alongside an exhibition of traditional medicine systems from WHO’s six regions. The theme of the exhibition was ‘Ayush for Planetary Health and Well-being’ and is envisioned with showcasing the achievements of the Ministry of Ayush in areas of Education, Healthcare, Research and Public health. The Zone welcomed visitors with a display of medicinal plants including those used in Ayurveda.

 

The ministry's pursuit of sustainable Ayush manufacturing and zero-waste was highlighted through an impressive pavilion. The exhibition featured their recycling practices and interactive kiosks, which allowed visitors to access comprehensive information about Ayush, including the location of all Ayush hospitals and a digital library with research papers related to the field. A virtual reality experience of Ayush Healthcare services was available. The mythical wish-fulfilling tree, the Kalpavriksha was the highpoint of the Ayush Exhibition Zone. In addition, visitors could engage in an immersive experience, featuring an AI-based Ayurveda Pulse diagnosis, body constitution analysis, and even a live Yoga demonstration.

Through a marketing support initiative, Meghalaya government has ensured that horticulture farmers’ income has been doubled and there is now plan to scale it up on a larger area.

 

After Lakadong turmeric and GI-tagged Khasi mandarin, Meghalaya’s pineapples are gaining more and more popularity in export market, mainly in the Gulf countries, which has also attracted many Indian exporters to start sourcing the fruit from the north-eastern State.

 

'We have started sourcing pineapple from Meghalaya, though in small quantity,' said Anand Singh Wangkhem, a director in X5 AGRO Farm Producer Company. Wangkhem said the company specialises in exporting chemical-free products like cinnamon, ginger and turmeric from the North-East, mainly from Manipur and Nagaland. He said pineapple was added in the export basket 2-3 years back and the demand is growing.

 

In a matter of great pride for the State, the sweetest pineapples from Meghalaya are the centrepiece of the elaborate display celebrating Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav at the Al Wahda mall at Abu Dhabi, said State’s agriculture secretary Isawandra Laloo. These pineapples are being marketed through the Lulu Group in the Gulf markets, he added.

 

The farmers were previously receiving about ?10 per pineapple irrespective of the weight of the fruit, the agriculture department said adding farmers now earn ?16 per kg due to collectivisation and market linkage with international buyers. This is equivalent to receiving ?21 per fruit, with the average fruit size exported to Lulu group being 1.3 kg, it said.

 

USPs of Megh pineapples

The State government said that Meghalayan pineapples have very low pesticide and almost nil heavy metal residue. Also, it is less sour and significantly sweeter, it said. The pineapples have a Brix value of 16-18, which indicates the sweetness of the fruit, it added.

 

Pineapple has been selected under the One District One Product scheme in Ri Bhoi and East Garo Hills districts. Jamge Integrated Village Cooperative Society (IVCS) of East Garo Hills worked with Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA) under the state government’s guidance to make it happen, officials said. The Jamge IVCS has over 250 farming households from four villages, who produce almost 100 tonnes of pineapples throughout the seasons.

 

Of late, recognizing the importance of processing of perishable horticulture produce like pineapple, the state has been further working towards increasing the processing capacity and infrastructure in the state. The government facilitated a collaboration between Karnataka’s IQF Food and Ri Bhoi’s Umdihar IVCS to set up a mobile processing unit for quick freezing of pineapples.

 

Besides, the state has also been helping farmers’ groups enter into sourcing arrangement with ompanies like Reliance Fresh, officials said citing the example of pineapples sold at Reliance Retail stores across Assam.

 

Meghalaya’s share in India’s pineapple production is about 8 per cent. In 2023, it is exporting for the first time in a big way as one trial shipment before 2020 was done of less than 10 quintal. So far, 2.3 tonnes have been exported since April this year, though export season starts from June-end or early July.

J&K government Wednesday constituted a core committee and three sub-committees for successful conduct of the 'Gl (Geographical Indication) Mahotsav' in the Union Territory.

 

GI is a form of Intellectual Property Right (IPR) that identifies goods originating from a specific geographical location and having distinct nature, quality and characteristics linked to that location.

 

In the past couple of years, many J&K products have acquired GI tags. On August 8, Rajouri Chikri Wood craft from Rajouri district and Mushqbudji rice of Anantnag district received the GI tag.

 

As per GAD order, the Core Committee will oversee all arrangements and preparations for organizing the Gl Mahotsav. It will comprise Administrative Secretary of Agriculture Production Department as chairman, while Administrative Secretaries of Industries and Commerce; Rural Development & Panchayati Raj; Information & Public Relations; Transport; Hospitality & Protocol and Tourism & Culture departments will be its members.

 

Besides, a representative each of Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Gol; Finance Department, not below the rank of Additional Secretary; Home Department, not below the rank of Additional Secretary and School Education/Higher Education Department, not below the rank of Additional Secretary will also be its members.

 

Director, Agriculture Kashmir and Jammu will be its member secretary for Srinagar and Jammu respectively. The Committee will be serviced by the Agriculture Production Department.

 

Its Sub-committees with Director Industries and Commerce, Kashmir and Jammu as chairman will operate at divisional level(s) and will identify and select 100 Gl registered products. They will identify and select and invite 100 artisans or exhibitors to showcase selected Gl products during the event.

 

They will ensure that all logistics (fabrication & infrastructure) like stalls, stage, decor etc. and other requisite facilities are made available at the venue besides any other arrangements as may be required.

 

Accommodation/Transport Committee with Director, Hospitality & Protocol Department, J&K as its chairman, will make arrangements for hotel accommodation up to 3-star ranking (twin sharing) for artisans or exhibitors; for their 'to & fro' transportation (from venue to accommodation) besides will make adequate arrangements of accommodation and transportation for VlPs and guests from Government of India and states for the event.

 

Publicity/Cultural Show Committee with Director Information, J&K as its chairman has been tasked to give wide publicity to the event at UT and national level, through newspapers, electronic media, social-media and online platforms.

 

It will facilitate design, print & installation of promotional materials- hoardings & banners, signage; ensure making of short films, videography and photography of the event besides making arrangements for one-hour cultural shows on each day- evening time and arrangements for quiz/cooking shows etc.

 

It will also facilitate Gl awareness, workshop interaction and knowledge sharing sessions for which it will invite experts, entrepreneurs, artisans, students, academicians, scholars etc.

 

It will submit the outcome or output report of the event also.

Prices of all varieties of rice in the global market are ruling above $600 a tonne, barring Indian parboiled 5 per cent broken and Thailand 25 per cent broken white rice following India’s ban on white rice shipments from July 20.

 

The huge surge in prices, seen after almost a decade-and-a-half, has now led to fears among global traders that Thailand and Vietnam could resort to curbs on exports, while India could either ban or impose export on parboiled rice exports, traders have said. 

 

'(Rice) Export prices further increased 3-6 per cent due to the panic buying from foreign buyers (in view of India’s white rice export ban),' the US Department of Agriculture said in its weekly note on rice prices.  

 

Local reports in Bangkok, Thailand, said domestic prices in packets will rise by 3 baht (?7 approximately) a kg from September after paddy prices have increased to record highs.

 

20% jump in exports

Exporters and traders said demand for Indian parboiled rice has increased sharply after the ban on white rice export. This has resulted in fears, particularly among traders abroad — especially Singapore — that the Indian government might step in to curb the exports by either imposing a duty or ban it altogether. 

 

Data made available to businessline show that at least 6.5-7 lakh tonnes of parboiled rice have been exported between July 21 and August 17 — a jump of 20-25 per cent — with the Kakinada port accounting for over 30 per cent of the shipments. 

 

During the April-June period of the current fiscal, 2.02 million tonnes (mt) were exported, while in the 2022-23 fiscal, parboiled accounted for 7.85 mt of the 17.86 mt. 

 

'Indian parboiled rice is quoted far lower than parboiled from other origins. So, there is an arbitrage which global traders are trying to cash in on,' said S Chandrasekaran, a New Delhi-based analyst.

 

El Nino impact

According to the Thai Rice Exporters Association, Thailand parboiled 100 per cent sortexed is ruling at $615, while Indian 5 per cent parboiled is quoted at $478-82 a tonne. Pakistan has no stocks. Thailand’s 25 per cent broken white rice is ruling at $582.

 

Fears of curbs on rice exports from leading producing countries are high since South-East Asia is currently going through a dry period. 

 

'Thailand is witnessing a dry period as also Malaysia and Indonesia. Things are not looking bright for rice,' said a trade source. The prolonged dry period is seen due to the El Nino impact, which leads to drought and lower rainfall in Asia.

 

'Things will soon be under control. Parboiled prices have dropped to $450 a tonne in India today (August 17) and arrivals have begun in Nellore,' said BV Krishna Rao, President, The Rice Exporters Association (TREA). 

 

DGFT meet with exporters

However, prices of rice in the domestic market are increasing. 'Consumers will have to pay more over the next couple of months,' said Rao. 

 

The USDA said Thai rice export prices have increased by around $120/tonne since the Indian government imposed an export ban of non-basmati (white) rice on July 20, 2023. 'Also, domestic rice prices were under upward pressure as local mills reportedly secured rice supplies to build up their inventories and to fulfill contracted shipments,' it said. 

 

Thai rice prices have increased despite the weakening of the Thai baht to 34.75 baht from 34.07 baht to the dollar last week.

 

Meanwhile, the Directorate-General of Foreign Trade had a meeting with rice exporters, who urged the Centre to permit exports of consignments that had entered the ports on July 19.

 

'The ban came into effect on July 20 but Customs Department stopped permitting exports the same day even if consignments had entered earlier. The Commerce Ministry wants these shipments to be allowed,' said a Delhi-based exporter.

 

Ban to control prices

Traders, who attended the meeting, see remote chances of the ban on white rice exports being lifted before February 2024 since the Government wants to review the kharif rice arrivals, which could continue till January. 

 

The Government banned exports of (non-basmati) white rice as part of its efforts to control rising foodgrain prices in a crucial year ahead of the 2024 Parliament elections. The move was a measure to overcome any supply shortage in view of rains damaging paddy crops in Punjab and Haryana, besides deficient rains affecting sowing of paddy in Karnataka, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh.

 

However, the situation has improved since then with the area under kharif paddy increasing nearly 5 per cent as of August 11 to 328,22 lakh hectares. Rice stocks with the Food Corporation of India as of August 1 was 24.3 mt, a four-year low. However, it has an additional 19.61 mt of paddy (13.13 mt of rice), which is higher than 19.45 mt a year ago.