The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), on Thursday, revised its order allowing the use of regional common names on labels of curd packets amidst a row in Tamil Nadu over the Hindi term 'Dahi'.

 

In a statement on Thursday, FSSAI said that food business operators food can use the term 'curd' along with the prevalent regional common name in brackets on the label.

 

This statement comes after Tamil Nadu government raised objections to the food safety authority’s direction to use of term ' dahi' on curd packets. Aavin said it will not use the Hindi term 'dahi' for labelling. Karnataka Milk Federation and Kerala Milk Federation reportedly had also raised similar objections.

 

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, in a tweet on Wednesday, said, 'The unabashed insistence of Hindi Imposition has come to the extent of directing us to label even a curd packet in Hindi, relegating Tamil & Kannada in our own states. Such brazen disregard to our mother tongues will make sure those responsible are banished from the South forever (sic).'

 

The food safety authority, on Thursday, said, 'As many representations were received recently on the omission of the term 'curd, from the Standards of Fermented Milk Products, it has been decided that FBOs may use the term 'Curd' along with any other designation (prevalent regional common name) in brackets on the label.'

 

'Accordingly, Curd can also be labelled as per the following examples- 'Curd (Dahi)' ,Curd (Mosaru)', Curd (Zaamut daud)', 'Curd (Thayir)' or 'Curd (Perugu)',' it added.

 

The food safety regulator had notified provisions for the omission of the term 'curd' from the Standards of Fermented Milk products in January and only the term 'dahi' was mentioned.

 

'General Standard for Milk and Milk Products’ under the ‘Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 clearly lay down guidelines for use of dairy term(s)in the nomenclature of dairy products (milk, milk product or a composite milk product) and related prohibitions for such use in non-dairy products. Accordingly, when term 'curd' was written along with 'Dahi' in the said regulation, it was restricting its used for non dairy products,' the FSSAI added in its statement.

The Union Ministry of Agriculture has told Parliament that under the National Food Security Mission- Oilseeds (NFSM-OS), Government of India has been implementing some special programme on Rapeseed & Mustard for distribution of latest high yielding varieties seeds, distribution of Seed Mini kits of hybrid Mustard seeds, Rapid Soybean Seed Multiplication Plan (3S1Y) and a Special Project to increase area and production of Sunflower cultivation in the country through hybrid seed production and demonstration for three years from 2022-23 to 2024-25.

 

'In addition, Government has also approved an Annual Action Plan for area expansion of Sunflower in Paddy Fallows during 2022-23,' reads the statement put before the Parliament by the Agriculture Ministry.

 

The Ministry added that the scheme was aimed at reducing the import burden by increasing the production and productivity of oilseeds including Groundnut, Soybean, Rapeseed & Mustard, Sunflower, Safflower, Sesame, Niger, Linseed, Castor along with area expansion of Oil Palm & Tree Borne Oilseeds including Olive, Mahua, Kokum, Wild Apricot, Neem, Jojoba, Karanja, Simaroba, Tung, Cheura and Jatropha in the country.

 

The National Food Security Mission (NFSM)-Oilseeds is being implemented from the year 2017-18 in 28 States/UTs, and the scheme comprises of three sub-missions namely, NFSM-Oilseeds, NFSM-Oil Palm and NFSM-Tree Borne Oilseeds.

 

However, the government did not present any data on the production of the oilseeds and its impact on reducing the burden of import of oilseeds into India.

 

Meanwhile, when contacted, Shankar Thakkar, president of the All India Edible Oil Traders’ Confederation, has said that the Government’s scheme isn’t working on ground and a detailed plan focusing on accurate implementation was needed, if the government really wants to reduce the import burden of oilseeds.

 

'There are challenges for implementation of this plan. The agri land that is being used for the scheme has been traditionally used for a different crop. E.g., in Tamil Nadu or Telangana, farm lands where rice is produced traditionally, are being used for production of palm plants and it will impact rice production. Similarly, for other oilseeds, the government hasn’t given any data about how much production has happened over last few years,' he said.

 

Thakkar suggested that the government should make a balance in planning the scheme so that there will be no impact on production of other crop.

An amendment made by the UK to the code of practice (CoP) for basmati rice, which assures its quality for consumers there, has triggered a controversy. 

 

The All India Rice Exporters Association (AIREA) says the change could benefit India, but experts have questioned it charging the UK with diluting the area of cultivation and questioning the credibility of the Seed Act, 1966.

 

Why the CoP

The CoP was introduced in 2005 by the UK Rice Association (UKRA) along with British Rice Millers Association and British Retail Consortium to 'safeguard the reputation of basmati rice marketed in the UK'. 

 

The code was evolved as imported basmati was alleged to be 50 per cent impure several decades ago. The UKRA came up with the COP, which was followed across the European Union specifying that basmati 'could be no more than 7 per cent impure'. It also listed 15 permitted varieties — nine of them traditional and six that were modern cultivars.

 

The CoP was implemented through DNA fingerprinting developed by Bangor University, Wales. 'The system worked well until 2017, when the code was updated to add 25 new modern cultivars. This followed an explosion in new breeding in the 2000s and 2010s,' said Katherine Steele, senior lecturer in sustainable crop protection at Bangor University, in an internal newsletter.

 

Alternative DNA markers

Steele said the university had developed alternative DNA markers for fingerprinting that showed six of the new varieties — five from India and one from Pakistan — were not properly bred for fragrance. As a result, these six have now been de-notified or taken off the list of basmati varieties.

 

But experts such as S Chandrasekaran, author of 'Basmati Rice: The Natural History Geographical Indication', contend that the DNA marking is a new invention by the British and its efficiency is yet to be proved.

 

'What samples were drawn? How? What were the parameters? Who authenticated the findings?’ wondered Chandrasekaran.

 

Striking feature

A striking feature of the amended code is that the British Rice Millers Association is no more part of the code. 'The amended code says it will ‘strive to uphold the reputation’ from ‘concerned to safeguard the reputation. The change in the word from ‘concern’ to ‘strive’ indicates more action might follow,' he said. 

 

The code says the All-India Rice Exporters Association (AIREA) was consulted. 'The amended code has a list of 35 varieties of basmati. The six varieties deleted are no longer being used. The new code will strengthen our hold in the basmati market. We had been taking this up with them,' said AIREA executive director Vinod Kaul.

 

Chandrasekaran said there are a few issues that pertain to India’s credibility in the new code. 'How can the UK arbitrarily delist seed varieties that figure in the Seed Act, 1966? This means the credibility of the Indian authority is being questioned,' he said. 

 

Basmati boundary

Second, the code has diluted the boundary of basmati which was referred to as Indo-Gangetic plains. 'The code issued in 2017 mentions basmati-rice growing States in the region. It has now been amended as ‘on both sides of the Indian and Pakistani borders’,' he said.

 

In particular it has dropped 'which currently includes Punjab (on both sides of the Indian and Pakistani border), Jammu, Haryana, Uttaranchal and western Uttar Pradesh in India', the expert said. 

 

Kaul said there was no change in the Indo-Gangetic plain. 'The area remains the same,' he said. 

 

Chandrasekaran said there were two other issues with the amended code. 'One, APEDA is India’s nodal agency for geographical indication (GI) tag. Why was it not consulted on this issue? 

 

Bias towards Pakistan?

'Two, the amended code is in contravention and a dilution to the notification the Agriculture Ministry issued on September 18, 2017, on basmati rice-growing areas and refers to the GI certificate issued on February 15, 2016,' he said. 

 

No comment was received from official sources who businessline approached for comment until this report was published. 

 

An analyst said the UK and European Union seem to have 'a bias in favour of Pakistan'. Pakistan has not notified any standard or anything related to basmati. 

 

'Eurofin labs is conducting tests in Pakistan on the quality of basmati in the absence of Islamabad not specifying standards for the fragrant rice. Is the amended code serving the interests of Pakistan?' the analyst, who spoke on condition of anonymity, asked.

 

Factual errors

Chandrasekaran said the new code had factual errors. While specifying the removal of five Indian varieties, mentions Punjab basmati. 'India has notified five Punjab basmati varieties and there is no ‘Punjab basmati’ notified by India. The 2017 code twice mentions Punjab basmati 2. Maybe, it is a clerical error,' he said. 

 

The analyst objected to UK Department and Environment, Food and Rural Affairs funding the research team of Bangor University along with the Rice Association as it meant 'indirect support'. 

 

On other hand, Steele said she has been arguing for allowing not more than one per cent of impurity in basmati rice, the rule that applies for many products including non-genetically modified foods.  

 

'There’s no real reason for the basmati exception, and it is also arguably easier to enforce a 1 per cent rule because of the way that DNA testing works,' she said. 

Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday announced that the government agencies will buy 3 lakh tonnes of onion once the winter harvest starts coming in. Goyal, who handles the Consumer Affairs, Food and Public distribution portfolio, said that last year, the overall buying of the rabi harvest stood at 2.5 lakh tonnes.

 

'I have already ordered an increased onion purchase from Rabi harvest from 2.5 lakh tonnes last year to 3 lakh tonnes this year to ensure that farmers get a fair price,' Goyal told reporters here.

 

He added that the National Cooperative Consumers Federation and National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (Nafed) have also been instructed to pick up 'late kharif' harvest stocks, but are not finding the produce in the markets now.

 

Growers in Maharashtra have been protesting after a steep fall in onion prices over the last month. Marketplaces, including the largest one in Nashik district's Lasalgaon, have been shut down and onions have also been dumped by farmers.

 

Farmers claim they are getting very low rates for the harvest, which is a fraction of the input costs and have been demanding the state agencies to step in, given the wide-ranging stress.

 

They blame the monsoon season for lasting longer, higher prices commanded by 'late kharif' in the last two seasons, which led many to plant the particular variety with lower shelf life and impact on exports as major producers like Bangladesh have started growing their own onion.

 

Earlier this month, the Maharashtra government agreed to give a compensation of Rs 300 per quintal to onion farmers amid the crash of prices.

 

Rabi onion crops harvested during April-June accounts for 65 per cent of India's onion production and meet the consumers' demand till the kharif crop is harvested in October-November.

 

The overall onion production is estimated to have risen to 31.70 million tonnes in 2021-22 from 26.64 million tonnes in the previous year, and the Centre procured 2.50 lakh tonnes of it.

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In a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, Anupriya Patel, Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, said the export of chilli from India increased from 4.43 lakh tonnes (lt) in 2017-18 to 5.57 lt in 2021-22.

 

Meanwhile, the production of red chillies in India went up by 7.33 per cent during the period between 2017-18 and 2021-22. According to data provided in the answer, India produced 17.10 lt of red chillies in 2017-18 against 18.36 lt in 2021-22.

 

The Minister said Khammam district in Telangana is one of the major producers of Teja variety of red chilli. This variety is being exported from India to destinations like Bangladesh. The major port of shipment for chilli from India is Chennai port.

 

Natural rubber production costs

To a separate query on the cost of production of natural rubber, Anupriya Patel said the cost of production of natural rubber for 2021-22 was at Rs.91.30 a kg in Karnataka. This was followed by Kerala at Rs.90.64 a kg, Tripura at Rs.70.61 a kg, and Assam at Rs.66.01 a kg.

 

The cost of production included all paid-out costs of labour and material inputs, interest on working capital and depreciation. The tapping system, followed for this calculation, was once in three days.

 

On the quantum of natural rubber imported and import duty collected, she said India imported 37,69,06,691.6 kgs with an assessable value of Rs.5,383.21 crore till March 23 of the current financial year. The import duty collected was at Rs.729.17 crore.

 

Tobacco area down

To a separate query on the area under tobacco cultivation, the Minister said the area has come down to 3.57 lakh hectares (lh) during 2020-21 from 4.04 lh in 2019-20.

 

Asked if the Government proposes to discourage tobacco farming in the country and provide alternative livelihood to tobacco farmers, she said the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has extended the crop diversification programme (CDP), an ongoing sub scheme of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), to encourage tobacco farmers to shift to alternative crops/cropping system in tobacco growing states such as Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, with effect from 2015-16.

 

An amount of Rs.10 crore for CDP for replacing tobacco farming with alternate crops/cropping system has been earmarked for implementation of the programme during 2022-23.

 

Agri exports rise

Answering to another query on agri exports, Anupriya Patel said the Government has been monitoring export performance including that of agricultural and processed food products in the current financial year 2022-23 vis a vis 2021-22.

 

During the current financial year (Apr-January 2022-23), agricultural exports have amounted to $43.37 billion, registering an increase of 6.04 per cent over the exports of $40.90 billion during the corresponding period of the previous financial year.

 

She said the India’s agricultural export touched the highest ever level of $50.21 billion in 2021-22.

 

Gulfood

To a separate query on India’s participation Gulfood 2023, the Minister said the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) participated in Gulfood 2023 held from February 20-24 in Dubai, UAE.

 

Around 150 Indian exporters participated and showcased various agricultural and processed food products, including dairy, pulses and meat-based produce, with focus on millets and their value-added products.

 

An exclusive millet gallery was set up during Gulfood 2023, where participating Indian exporters exhibited their millet-based products, gaining wide publicity by showcasing their products before potential importers from all over the world, she said.

 

Union Commerce, Industry and Textiles Minister Piyush Goyal unveiled the Foreign Trade Policy 2023-28, in New Delhi, on March 31, 2023.

 

Speaking after the unveiling of Foreign Trade Policy 2023, Mr. Goyal said 'It is said that ordinary people can manage extraordinary results. We have no dearth of skills and ability. We always had the capacity to do more, but it needed the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to catalyse the performance that has led to a jump in exports. We have to meet our exports targets going forward. We will achieve $2 trillion in exports by 2030, but it shouldn’t be that merchandise exports are outperformed by services exports.'

 

Mr. Goyal said 'Goods exporters need to work a bit harder. The Commerce department is going to make a massive focused outreach to the world, either sectorally or country-wise, over the next four five months. The External Affairs Ministry and Indian missions abroad will work with us on this.'

 

The Commerce Minister said 'I have never ridden a motorcycle or scooter. But I know our youth prefer faster motorcycles likes Harley Davidsons and Norton. Earlier, from India only Bajaj scooters are exported all over the world, now each sector of ours has opportunities. If we all work together with this confidence, I believe we should together resolve that India is now ready to cross even Harley Davidson.'

 

Mr. Goyal reiterated 'This is India’s moment. let’s not lose it. It shouldn’t be that a year later we meet again and you wish you had started today and been more ahead by then.'

 

While speaking at the unveiling of the Foreign Trade Policy, Director General of Foreign Trade Santosh Kumar Sarangi said that 'India’s exports were $435 billion in 2015-16 which have grown over 70% to nearly $760 billion in 2022-23.'

 

Mr. Sarangi said 'The 2015-20 policy was extended due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in Europe last year. That policy which expires today had rationalised a lot of export promotion schemes.' He further added 'This year, exports are expected to cross $760 to $770 billion.'

 

Mr. Sarangi said 'Importer Exporter Codes, issued to individual traders, have been deduplicated after validation with other departments, bringing the total IECs in the country from 18 lakh to around 6 lakh.

 

Union Commerce, Industry and Textiles Minister Piyush Goyal unveiled the Foreign Trade Policy 2023-28, in New Delhi, on March 31, 2023.

 

Speaking after the unveiling of Foreign Trade Policy 2023, Mr. Goyal said 'It is said that ordinary people can manage extraordinary results. We have no dearth of skills and ability. We always had the capacity to do more, but it needed the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to catalyse the performance that has led to a jump in exports. We have to meet our exports targets going forward. We will achieve $2 trillion in exports by 2030, but it shouldn’t be that merchandise exports are outperformed by services exports.'

 

Union Minister Piyush Goyal during the unveiling of Foreign Trade Policy 2023. | Video Credit: ANI

Mr. Goyal said 'Goods exporters need to work a bit harder. The Commerce department is going to make a massive focused outreach to the world, either sectorally or country-wise, over the next four five months. The External Affairs Ministry and Indian missions abroad will work with us on this.'

 

The Commerce Minister said 'I have never ridden a motorcycle or scooter. But I know our youth prefer faster motorcycles likes Harley Davidsons and Norton. Earlier, from India only Bajaj scooters are exported all over the world, now each sector of ours has opportunities. If we all work together with this confidence, I believe we should together resolve that India is now ready to cross even Harley Davidson.'

 

Mr. Goyal reiterated 'This is India’s moment. let’s not lose it. It shouldn’t be that a year later we meet again and you wish you had started today and been more ahead by then.'

 

While speaking at the unveiling of the Foreign Trade Policy, Director General of Foreign Trade Santosh Kumar Sarangi said that 'India’s exports were $435 billion in 2015-16 which have grown over 70% to nearly $760 billion in 2022-23.'

 

Mr. Sarangi said 'The 2015-20 policy was extended due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in Europe last year. That policy which expires today had rationalised a lot of export promotion schemes.' He further added 'This year, exports are expected to cross $760 to $770 billion.'

 

Mr. Sarangi said 'Importer Exporter Codes, issued to individual traders, have been deduplicated after validation with other departments, bringing the total IECs in the country from 18 lakh to around 6 lakh.

 

'We have ensured there is no end-date to this policy to be able to update it as an when required. The approach of the new policy is to move from an incentive based regime to a remission of taxes regime,' he said.

 

The Director General of Foreign Trade further stated that 'We are also looking at improving the ease of doing business to reduce transaction costs for exporters and there’s a renewed thrust for new growth areas.'

 

'Some of the schemes that have been successful like advance authorisation of imports and export promotion for capital goods, with process tweaks,' he said.

 

Mr. Sarangi said 'The Application fee is being reduced for Advance Authorization and EPCG Schemes for MSMEs, which will benefit 55% to 60% of these schemes’ beneficiaries.'

 

He said 'We are putting a first time ever provision for merchanting trade in the policy, under which exporters in India can source goods from another country and send them to a third country without touching Indian shores. This will also enable exports of restricted goods.'

 

He said 'Under FTP 2023, all the PM Mitra parks will be eligible to get benefits as Common services providers. To promote green energy, we have ensured that some items are able to have reduced export obligations. A Special advance authorisation scheme is being launched for the clothing and apparel sector so that they can react to market demands and fashion trends faster.'

 

Mr. Sarangi said 'FTP benefits are being extended to e-commerce exports which are expected to grow to $200-300 billion by 2030. A policy will be formulated to set up e-commerce export hubs which will include designated zones for warehousing facilities.'

 

Mr. Sarangi said 'The District Export Promotion Councils headed by the Collector to be energised with the help of regional DGFT offices to help exporters at the district level. We are also coming up with an attractive amnesty scheme for exporters that have not been able to fulfil their obligations under the EPCG and advance authorisation scheme. This is the first amnesty scheme since 2011-12, and can help exporters close their unfulfilled obligations and raise exports going forward. We have not given an end date to this policy so as to ensure that we will keep updating it as per feedback from industry. So sectors that feel that they haven’t got anything, need not be disappointed.

 

'There is a focus on simplifying policies to facilitate export of dual use high end goods/technology such as UAV/ Drones, Cryogenic Tanks, certain chemicals, etc.,' he said.

 

He concluded by saying 'A consultative mechanism is being created to resolve issues of trade and Industry. We are working towards making Indian Rupee a global currency and allowing International Trade settlement in INR. The policy also envisages wider engagement with States and Districts to promote exports from the grassroots.'

 

Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal said 'We have done away with the sunset clause for this policy and it will have no end date as it will be continuously amended. So the Sun will not set on India’s exports.

 

'We are talking of $2 trillion by 2030, if not earlier and there is a clear direction in this policy that we have to grow. our global share in merchandise exports and services exports is very low and we have to grow to 7% to 10%. Even if there are gloomy forecasts about world trade, we should not feel down. Our exports should be relying on competitiveness rather than subsidies and we are getting into that mode now,' Mr. Barthwal said.

Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, Shri Rohit Kumar Singh directed major pulses importers to ensure that all stocks available with them are declared in a transparent manner regularly.  They were advised not to hold back any stock which may disrupt availability of pulses in the domestic market.

 

Meanwhile, the Committee under the Chairmanship of Additional Secretary Smt. Nidhi Khare took a meeting with all the States/UTs today wherein they were requested to explore all the sources to increase the number of registered entities in Stock Declaration Portal including FSSAI licensees, APMC registered traders, GST Registered traders of pulses etc.  To cross validate the stocks declared, States were also requested to get information from warehouse service providers, both public and private.  The need to monitor stocks of imported pulses at custom bonded warehouses was also emphasized, to ensure their timely release from Ports. 

 

The Government has stepped up its efforts to monitor stock disclosures of pulses by millers, stockists, traders, importers, etc. to ensure that prices of Tur are normalised and the availability and affordability of Tur is ensured in the domestic market.

 

The Department is also planning to hold interaction with all stakeholders across value chain to ensure availability and affordability of pulses for consumers. 

 

The Pulses Associations and Importers have assured wholehearted cooperation in disclosing the stocks in a transparent manner. 

 

The Government has been monitoring export performance including that of agricultural and processed food products in the current financial year i.e. 2022-23 vis a vis 2021-22. No targets have been fixed yet for export for the year 2023-24. During the current financial year (Apr. 2022 – January 2023), the agricultural exports have amounted to USD 43.37 billion, registering an increase of 6.04% over the exports of USD 40.90 billion during the corresponding period of the previous financial year i.e. April 2021 to January 2022. During the financial year 2021-22, India’s agricultural export touched the highest ever level of USD 50.21 billion.

 

Rise in agricultural exports improves realisations for farmers and has a positive impact on their income. In order to ensure that the farmers benefit from exports, the Government has launched a Farmer Connect Portal for providing a platform for Farmer Producer Organisations/Companies (FPOs/FPCs) and cooperatives to directly interact with exporters.

 

The Government has taken several steps at State and District level to promote agriculture exports. State specific Action Plans have been prepared and State Level Monitoring Committees (SLMCs), Nodal Agencies for agricultural exports and Cluster Level Committees have been formed in a number of States. The Government is utilising the District as Export Hub (DEH) initiative to achieve the objectives of Agriculture Export Policy (AEP). Under the DEH initiative, products including agricultural and processed food products with export potential have been identified in all 733 districts across the country. State Export Strategy has been prepared in 28 States/UTs.

 

The Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is constantly engaged in export promotion activities for agricultural & processed food products and has played an important role. APEDA implements the ‘Agriculture & Processed Food Products Export Promotion Scheme’. Various developmental activities are undertaken and assistance to exporters is provided under different components of the scheme viz. Infrastructure Development, Market Development and Quality Development. 

 

APEDA has also been collaborating with the Indian Missions abroad for participating in various international trade fairs and exhibitions, organising virtual trade fairs, buyer-seller meets and export promotion of GI products. APEDA has also facilitated trial shipments for new products with export potential and for new destinations. To address the issue of stakeholders’ participation in the decision-making process for export promotion activities, the Department of Commerce has established Export Promotion Forums (EPFs) for individual products under the aegis of the APEDA. The EPFs have representation from trade/industry, line ministries/departments, regulatory agencies, research institutes, state governments etc. In all 9 EPFs have been formed for rice, banana, grapes, mango, onion, dairy products, nutri-cereals, pomegranate and floriculture respectively. APEDA has also played an important role in opening up of new markets for agricultural products in the recent past such as Canada, China, South Korea, Taiwan, Portugal, Indonesia, Iran etc. APEDA has been organising capacity building/training programs in the Agri-export  clusters and States in association with the State Departments,      State Agriculture Universities, and Krishi Vikas Kendras for farmers, farmer-producer organizations (FPOs) and exporters in order to provide export-market linkage to the farmer groups and to facilitate entrepreneurs in becoming prospective exporters. APEDA has also made efforts to establish synergy with the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) to ensure optimum utilization of resources for development of agriculture exports.

 

This information has been given by the Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Smt. Anupriya Patel in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

The 1st G20 Trade and Investment Working Group (TIWG) meeting concluded today in Mumbai in the presence of  Commerce and Industry Minister, Shri Piyush Goyal. During this three-day working group meeting, over 100 delegates from G20 member countries, invitee countries, regional groupings and international organizations were present in Mumbai, the financial capital of India. The deliberations specifically revolved around accelerating global trade and investment, while simultaneously progressing towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals.

 

The priorities related to global trade and investment, which the Indian Presidency is pursuing, were discussed on March 29th and 30th across four technical closed-door sessions. On March 29th, the deliberations focused on making trade work for growth and prosperity, and way forward for building resilient Global Value Chains (GVCs). On March 30th, the TIWG priorities on integrating Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in global trade, and building efficient logistics for trade were discussed in the two working sessions. Theme-based experience zones on spices, millet, tea and coffee were set up at the venue, and an exhibition on textiles was also on display for the delegates to get a glimpse of India’s textile heritage. A cultural program was organized for the G20 delegates at Taj Palace, also the venue for Gala dinner hosted by India. 

 

In his press interaction Shri Goyal highlighted  the theme of India's G20 Presidency that aims to promote universal values and adoption of human-centric approach. While reminiscing Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision for India’s G20 agenda of inclusive, ambitious, decisive and action-oriented economic growth, he further stated that India chose to take up G20 Presidency during a tough geopolitical and globally critical economic environment ,since 2023 marks the 75th year of India’s independence, this is an opportune time for the country to share its ancient wisdom with the world to find a middle path. This ancient wisdom can be integrated with advanced technology for building 'One Earth, One Family and One Future'. Shri Goyal added that throughout India’s illustrious past, the country has been the torchbearer of democracy, diversity and inclusion.

 

The Union  Minister restated that TIWG has an important role in formulating concrete outcomes for inclusive growth that drive trade and investment across Global South, and not among G20 member countries only. He strongly advocated for equitable distribution of the benefits of global trade by and among all countries, including developing and least developed countries (LDCs) in order to progress towards a new world that is driven by collaboration, sustainable growth and solutions-oriented mindset. 

 

Shri Goyal urged TIWG delegates to take inspiration from lotus, this year’s G20 symbol and  said that lotus is revered world over for its ability to bloom unblemished in the murkiest of waters, and together we can find solutions for inclusive economic growth during these volatile economic times.  

 

On the second and third day of the TIWG meeting, while discussing priority issues, G20 member countries realized the need for collective action to integrate transparency in the administration of non-tariff measures, and cooperation among standardization bodies world over. The G20 member countries also noted that there is a need for mapping GVCs for building predictability and for enhancing their resilience. 

 

In the sessions, several member countries affirmed the need for diversification of existing value chains and accelerating the participation of firms from developing countries and LDCs for a holistic economic growth. The need for making information and finances easily accessible for MSMEs was discussed in detail during the working sessions. In addition, several countries expressed that the digital entry barriers for MSMEs should be seriously reviewed for their efficient integration with the digital trade platforms.

 

The Secretary, Department of Commerce, Shri Sunil Barthwal remarked that the discussions in all the four sessions were enriching, and were mostly directed towards action and outcomes. Trade and investment being vital tools for enhancing local supply of goods and services, Shri Barthwal added that the aim under India’s G20 Presidency is to strengthen the shared understanding of challenges that are hindering the acceleration of global trade and investment, and collectively explore existing opportunities that can be harnessed to find common solutions — guided by this year’s motto — Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.

Amid a diplomatic row following protests by secessionist groups near the Indian mission in London, Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said talks on a Free Trade Agreement with the UK are continuing. Talks are 'going on very well' with the UK, Goyal said, adding, 'trade stands on its own legs'.

 

The Union minister, however, made it clear that India will take into consideration a respect for her sovereignty and territorial integrity, and will not tolerate any interference in her Indian affairs.

 

India's Ministry of External Affairs summoned the senior-most British diplomat in New Delhi on a Sunday evening recently, over reports of some Khalistani elements pulling down the Indian flag at the Indian high commission in London during a protest. India has also responded by proposing or undertaking several actions, like reducing security at the British mission and constructing a public toilet there.

 

When asked about the impact of the ongoing events on the trade agreement, Goyal seemed to suggest that negotiations continue.

 

'I can assure you that talks are going on very well with the UK, Canada, with the EU countries, we are also in dialogue with Israel,' he told reporters here.

 

Goyal said there was no deadline to have an FTA with the UK, but a former PM of the country has announced an aspiration to conclude before Diwali of 2022.

 

'...we are back at the negotiating table, both sides are discussing at the official level,' he said.

 

Goyal said there is a high interest for FTAs with India shown by many countries, and discussions are on at a 'frenzied pace' with many countries, and quipped that he is not left with bandwidth to discuss such agreements.

 

Meanwhile, Goyal also said that talks are also on with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), following a request from four ministers of the grouping to meet the Indian commerce and industries minister.

 

'They have assured me that they will be coming with very attractive proposals in terms of opening up services and a deeper understanding of India's own concerns around our patent laws and the need to protect our domestic industry,' Goyal said.

 

On a query on rupee trade with partners, and if the same is being pushed with G-20 countries during the ongoing meetings of the grouping's trade and investment group in the financial capital, Goyal said this subject is more of a bilateral subject which is anchored by the RBI and the Ministry of Finance.

 

He added that many countries have evinced interest in having such an arrangement with India.

 

Goyal attended a dinner meeting with the 100 delegates attending the G-20 meeting in the financial capital on Wednesday evening, and is also addressing the delegates at the closing event later on Thursday.

 

Meanwhile, when asked about Parliament passing important bills sans any discussions and the treasury benches taking to protests at a time when the government is responsible for running the Houses, Goyal shot back saying the Opposition is using the platform to cast baseless and wild allegations against those in the government under the influence of forces inimical to India's interests.

 

'Sometimes in life, propriety, self respect and the nation's interest overrides everything else. And this is one such occasion when we cannot allow the nation's independence, our sovereignty, our respect to be tarnished by any individual especially on foreign soil,' he said.

 

The commerce minister also said that the Ram temple in Ayodhya will be ready by the end of the year and work is on at a scorching pace.