The commerce department has reaffirmed its plans to launch the ‘Trade Connect’ e-platform to help exporters connect with stakeholders of international trade, as a part of the new government’s 100-day action plan, a senior government official said.

Union minister Piyush Goyal, who officially took charge of the ministry of commerce and industry for a second consecutive term on Tuesday, asked senior government officers to build on the success of schemes such as the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme as well as the recently signed trade deals.

The commerce department is chalking out a 100-day action plan that is likely to focus on allowing special economic zones (SEZs) to sell in the domestic market, setting up an all-encompassing trade information platform, standard operating procedures to negotiate free trade agreements (FTAs), and ecommerce export zones.

Italy, which has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the G7 Summit Outreach Sessions, is India's fourth largest trading partner in the European Union, 18th largest foreign investor with bilateral relations upgraded to the level of 'Strategic Partnership' with focus on defence, Indo-Pacific, energy and science and technology.

India and Mexico have launched studies to explore the potential for a free-trade agreement (FTA), Mexico’s Ambassador to India, Federico Salas Lotfe, said in an interview. 

An exhibition featuring registered and potential Geographical Indication (GI) products of the state was inaugurated by Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena today. The event is being organised by the Patent Information Centre of the State Council for Science, Technology and would continue till June 16.