Indonesia has assigned its state food procurement firms Bulog and IDFood to procure 120,000 metric tons of meat from Brazil and India this year, the National Food Agency (NFA) said on Thursday.

 

Bulog was alloted an import quota of 100,000 tons of water buffalo meat from India while IDFood was assigned to import 20,000 tons of beef from Brazil, NFA chief Arief Prasetyo Adi told reporters.

 

Bulog’s chief executive Bayu Krisnamurthi said they will open a tender soon, aiming to have the meat arrive before the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan that will occur in the middle of March.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh who is on a visit to the UK held a meeting with British Foreign Secretary David Cameron on boosting ties between the two nations.

 

The two leaders appreciated the new momentum and direction of the India-UK partnership, symbolised by intense engagements at various levels.

 

Singh outlined his goal of integrating defence industries of India and UK, including through supply chain integration to build resilience. He stressed the importance of bilateral start-up level interaction, and identification and discussion of joint projects that India and the UK could implement together.

 

Taking to X, Rajnath Singh stated, 'Insightful deliberations with the UK Foreign Secretary, Mr. David Cameron on boosting India-UK ties and deepening cooperation between both the countries.'

 

Cameron reiterated the UK government's desire to collaborate with India in defence areas. The leaders held the meeting at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

 

In a press release, the Ministry of Defence said, 'Foreign Secretary Cameron reiterated the UK government's desire to collaborate with India in the defence areas, particularly in the field of defence industrial collaboration, as one of the means by which the UK hopes to strengthen the support for a rule-based international order.'

 

Singh, who is currently on a visit to UK, interacted with the Indian community at India House in London. More than 160 prominent persons of Indian origin attended the interaction. A number of Indian military ex-servicemen, including a few family members of second world war veterans were also present.

 

Earlier, Singh and his UK counterpart Grant Shapps attended the India-UK Defence Industry CEOs Roundtable at Trinity House in London.

 

Taking to X, Defence Minister's Office stated, 'Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh and his British counterpart Mr. @grantshapps attended the India-UK Defence Industry CEOs Roundtable at Trinity House in London.'

 

The UK announced its plans to send its Littoral Response Group to the Indian Ocean Region later this year, with a proposal for the Carrier Strike Group to visit the Indian waters in 2025.Both will operate and train with Indian forces.

 

The announcement was made by UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps. The UK and India also vowed to continue strengthening ties during the Defence Minister's visit to the country.

 

In a post shared on X, Rajnath Singh stated, 'Had a wonderful interaction with the industry leaders and CEOs at the UK-India Defence CEO Roundtable in London. India envisions an enriching partnership with the UK to cooperate, co-create and co-innovate. By synergizing the strengths of both the countries, we can do great things together.'

 

In a move that signals the growing importance of the strategic relationship between the UK and India, Defence Secretary Shapps welcomed Singh to the UK and the two leaders agreed on unprecedented levels of UK-India defence cooperation, according to an official release.

 

The two nations also discussed future cooperation in defence from joint exercises to knowledge sharing and instructor exchanges. These steps build on the comprehensive strategic partnership envisaged in the 2030 India-UK roadmap, announced in 2021, it added.

 

In the coming years, the UK and India will also embark on more complex exercises between their respective militaries, building up to a landmark joint exercise to be conducted before the end of 2030, supporting shared goals of protecting critical trade routes and upholding the international rules-based system, as per the release.

 

Shapps said, 'There is absolutely no question that the world is becoming increasingly contested, so it's vital that we continue to build on our strategic relationships with key partners like India. Together we share the same security challenges and are steadfast on our commitment to maintaining a free and prosperous Indo-Pacific.'

 

He said it is clear that 'this relationship is going from strength-to-strength, but we must continue to work hand-in-hand to uphold global security in light of threats and challenges that seek to destabilise and damage us'.

State Logistics Agency (Bulog) president director Bayu Krisnamurthi said that the government agreed to assign them with importing 2 million tons of rice this year. Bayu said that the decision was made based on the food balance to maintain the balance of the government's rice reserve (CBP) stock.

 

'As of now, the food balance for rice is 2 million tonnes. We have discussed it, but it may be more than 2 million tonnes,' Bayu said at Bulog's office in Jakarta on Thursday, January 11.

 

He said the 2 million ton import assignment had not been realized because of transportation problems. He explained that the silting in the Suez Canal and the conflict in the Middle East had hampered the delivery of imported food supplies. 'It's not easy for us to get ships and containers.'

 

In addition, there is still the process of importing rice from the remaining assignments from last year amounting to some 500,000 tons, he said.

 

However, Bayu ensured that the government's rice reserve stock (CBP) in the Bulog warehouse was safe. He said Bulog would ensure a CBP supply of 1.3 million tons for market operations and rice aid distribution starting in January.

 

Despite the task to import rice, Bayu said he was pessimistic that rice prices this year would decline anytime soon. According to him, rice prices will still soar this year because domestic production has not yet recovered, production costs are still high, especially fertilizers, and the policies of rice-producing countries to protect supplies.

 

Previously, President Joko Widodo said that the rice import assignment policy was still difficult to stop because domestic production was not enough to meet needs.

 

During the 2024 Indonesian Economic Outlook held by the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Jokowi confirmed that Indonesia would import one million tons of rice from India and two million tons from Thailand to ensure the safety of Indonesia's national rice reserves in 2024.

Abolition of tariffs or import duties on industrial goods in Switzerland is seen to help exporters of Indian textiles, shoes and other industrial inputs going into the European nation.

The move comes at a time when India is in the final stages of concluding talks for a trade treaty with European Free Trade Association (EFTA), comprising Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

 

In the trade talks, government typically bargains for duty cuts on products of its interests, along with opening up of services and investment flows into the country.

Chemicals and precious and semi-precious stones are among the top export items from India. Swiss negotiators have been seeking easier intellectual property rights, especially patent, rules for pharma companies in return for a promise to invest more in India.

While duties have been abolished on industrial goods, ranging from bicycles, household appliances to clothing, tariffs will still apply to farm products, including processed food and fisheries, Swiss authorities said. "As of January 1, 2024, imports of industrial products to Switzerland are exempt from customs duties. This will result in direct tariff savings and less administrative work for Swiss importers and lower prices for consumers. The total welfare gain for Switzerland is estimated at over CHF 860 million (over $1 billion)," an official statement said.

 

In addition, Swiss authorities have estimated indirect gains, such as those related to productivity for companies, at around CHF 270 million.

The indigenous variety of dates from Kutch, known as Kachchhi Desi Kharek, has been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the GI Registry. This recognition is expected to enhance the branding of Kutchi dates and bring significant benefits to the numerous farmers cultivating dates in the arid and semi-arid region. Kutch currently contributes to 85% of India's total date production. The Unidates Farmer Producer Company Limited, a farmer producer organization in Bhuj, applied for the GI tag in June 2021 with support from the Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University (SDAU). The GI tag will provide a distinct identity to Kutch dates, facilitating premium pricing and boosting exports. Farmers interested in leveraging the GI tag must become members of the FPO, allowing them to use the official logo. Kutch dates are known for their unique taste, influenced by the local environment characterized by partial humidity, partial dry conditions, and the coastal belt. The cultivation of Kutch dates spans about 19,000 hectares, with an annual production of approximately 1.8 lakh tonnes from 20 lakh trees. The Kutch date season typically commences on June 15 each year, and the trees are known for their tolerance to salinity and adaptability to extreme drought and heat conditions.

 

In Kutch, dates are cultivated in about 19,000 hectares and the yearly production is around 1.8 lakh tonne from 20 lakh trees. The date season starts from June 15 every year.

RAJKOT: The indigenous variety of dates of Kutch (Kachchhi Desi Kharek) has received the GI tag (Geographical Indication) from the GI Registry. It will now boost the branding of Kutchi dates and benefit thousands of farmers who grow dates in this arid and semi-arid region. Kutch produces 85% of total dates of India.

 

Unidates Farmer Producer Company Limited, a farmer producer organisation (FPO) in Bhuj, had applied in June 2021 for the GI tag with the help of Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University (SDAU) that runs the Dates Palm Research Station at Mundra in Kutch.

 

SDAU director of research C M Muralidharan said, 'In all, 17 products receiving the GI tag on Monday and our dates are one of them. The 500-year-old variety finally received the GI tag. This tag will give a special identity to the dates of Kutch — the way Darjeeling is famous for its tea, Kutch will be famous for its date. It will allow the farmers to charge premium rates and will boost export.'

 

Farmers who want to take benefit of the GI tag have to become members of this FPO by by applying to it. A committee will examine the fruits grown by them on a particular farmland and allow the membership. A member- farmer can then legally use the logo of the GI tag.

Assistant research scientist Kapil Sharma at the Dates Palm Research Station said, 'A majority of farmers grow dates in Kutch using seeds and because of that, there is a diversity in the fruits. Dates are cultivated in other parts of Gujarat but the taste of

Kutch dates is unique because of the local the environment — partial humidity, partial dry condition and the coastal belt.'

In Kutch, dates are cultivated in about 19,000 hectares and the yearly production is around 1.8 lakh tonne from 20 lakh trees. The date season starts from June 15 every year.

About 80% production in Kutch is of Desi Kharek and the rest is of Barhi. Kutch dates are grown in two colours — yellow and red. The trees are highly tolerant to salinity and can adapt to extreme drought and heat conditions.

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The One District One Product (ODOP) programme under Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry has successfully enlisted over 50 aggregators pursuing the goal of uniting organisations dedicated to promoting ‘Brand India’. The 50th aggregator being Ayurvedic wellness company, Forest Essentials, presenting beauty and wellness ODOP identified value-added products to a global stage.

 

This diverse community of ODOP aggregators spans across 25+ States and Union Territories, encompassing over 160 districts in its representation. This initiative aims to enlighten consumers about the origin of the ingredients in the products they use, establishing a distinct identity and fostering awareness.

 

From honouring the women Pashmina weavers in Leh, Ladakh, and the skilled bamboo artisans in West Tripura, to embracing the Ajrakh clusters of Kutch, Gujarat, and the dedicated coffee planters in Wayanad, Kerala—this collective of ODOP aggregators is a celebration of true diversity. The focus is on enhancing efficacy and providing an immersive experience, ultimately inviting the world to authentically ‘Experience India’.

 

As a step of encouragement, Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi also appreciated the efforts of ODOP tagged aggregator - Looms of Ladakh, in the 107th episode of Mann ki Baat.

 

By employing inventive and eco-friendly packaging strategies, and integrating compelling storytelling elements, these aggregators highlight product promotions. By introducing story cards with each product, outlining the artisans’ journey and the product’s significance, they infuse a personalised touch into every purchase. Such creative approaches not only enrich the customer experience but also contribute to a comprehensive narrative of the product and the artisans’ remarkable journey. These aggregators have seized the opportunity to showcase artisanal products at prestigious events such as the World Investment Conference, Atma Nirbhar Bharat Utsav, World Economic Forum, and more, earning commendation from esteemed dignitaries at the highest levels.

 

Additionally, the team has forged collaborations with government entities like Garvi Gurjari of Gujarat, TRIFED, and others, all working towards a shared vision. The team’s vision is to bring more aggregators under this campaign to enhance product accessibility and visibility.

 

ODOP is aimed at manifesting the vision of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi to foster balanced regional development across all districts of the country. The idea is to select, brand, and promote one product from each district of the country. In pursuance of the Prime Minister’s clarion call on Atma Nirbhar Bharat, several initiatives are being undertaken by DPIIT, Government of India. Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, and Textiles Shri Piyush Goyal has requested every organisation to work in collaboration with the programme. This will help promote the indigenous products from each district of the nation.

India will raise a number of issues with the US such as inking social security pact, and greater market access for mangoes in America during the Trade Policy Forum (TPF) meet here on Friday, an official said.

The official said India will also raise issues pertaining to delay in visa; increasing exports of table grapes, pharma goods, and marine products like wild caught fish and shrimp; reinstating the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) status to India; and export control regulations for high-tech products and technologies.

 

The 14th TPF meet will be co-chaired by US Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal here.

Social security, or totalisation agreement, is a long-pending demand of the country, as it will provide social security to Indian professionals in America. This would eliminate dual social security deduction, both in the home country and in the nation where an employee works.

Under this, an expatriate in either country need not contribute to the social security scheme of the host country.

It will benefit a number of Indians, particularly from the IT sector, who are working in America and paying social security but are unable to get any benefit out of it.

The official added that for the proposed agreement, the US had sought data from India about different social security schemes being implemented here and India has provided all the data from different ministries, including labour.

India has given them data about different schemes on social security like Employees' Provident Fund (EPF), New Pension Scheme (NPS), and Employees' State Insurance Corporation.

India is also seeking fast-tracking American health regulator's USFDA inspections, or audit of domestic pharma firms.

United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) approval is required to sell medicines in the US market. Before giving the approval, the USFDA authorities visit premises of manufacturing units for checking quality standards.

The official said during the meeting, the Indian side will raise the issue of fast-tracking USFDA inspections/audit of Indian pharma manufacturing units through digital or physical means to reach pre-pandemic level.

 

America is India's top export market for pharma products with current exports (April-February 2023) of USD 6.79 billion, which is almost 30 per cent of the country's global exports.

Following the outbreak of the pandemic, USFDA had stopped conducting inspections and audits in India for a long period, and resumed later, resulting in huge backlog, impacting product and unit approvals/renewal.

According to a marine exporter, the US feels that catching shrimps in the ocean impacts other species in the ocean and Indian fishermen has developed those fine quality nets which do not harm other species like turtles.

India wants the US authorities to expedite the process of inspecting those nets and allow exports of those fish and shrimps, the official said, adding that due to this India's marine exports to America are getting impacted.

The last TPF meeting was held in Washington in January 2023.

TPF is a platform to resolve trade and investment issues between the two countries. It has five focus groups -- agriculture, investment, innovation, and creativity (intellectual property rights), services, and tariff and non-tariff barriers.

The US is the largest trading partner of India. America accounts for about 20 per cent of India's total exports in goods and is a key market for services sectors like IT.

The bilateral trade between the countries has increased to USD 129.4 billion in 2022-23 from USD 120 billion in 2021-22. India received USD 6 billion in foreign direct investment from the US in 2022-23.

During the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024, the India-UAE Business Summit took place on Wednesday, aiming to enhance and solidify the bilateral relations between the two nations.

 

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called on UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at 10, Downing Street in London on Wednesday. During the meeting, Sunak expressed hope that the ongoing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) could be brought to a successful conclusion soon.

 

Rajnath Singh and Rishi Sunak agreed on the need for the two nations to work together in trade, defence and technology sectors, Ministry of Defence said in a press release. He expressed the keenness of the UK government to strengthen defence and security pillars of the bilateral partnership.

 

Notably, India and the UK are negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Talks for FTA between India and the UK started in 2022. The thirteenth round of negotiations for the UK-India Free Trade Agreement concluded in December, with both sides resolving that they would continue to negotiate towards a comprehensive and ambitious trade pact.

 

'Prime Minister Sunak fully agreed with the Raksha Mantri on the need for UK and India to work in the domains of trade, defence and technology. In particular, he expressed hope that the ongoing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations could be brought to a successful conclusion soon,' Ministry of Defence said in a press release.

 

'He also underlined his keenness, and that of his Government, to strengthen the defence and security pillar of the bilateral relationship, including through Government backing for stronger business and technology partnerships with Indian counterpart entities,' it added.

 

The meeting between the two leaders was 'warm and cordial,' according to the press release. During the meeting, Rajnath Singh highlighted that both nations have made significant strides in moulding and recrafting the historic ties into a modern, multifaceted and mutually beneficial partnership, under the direction of the leaders of both nations.

 

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recalled the recent enhancement in bilateral defence engagement, spanning joint exercises, training, capability building, increased interoperability, military-to-military ties especially in the maritime sector.

 

He emphasised the ongoing efforts to enhance defence industrial cooperation, including in the technology domain. Rajnath briefed Rishi Sunak about his positive interactions with the UK defence industry and the new positive energy in the bilateral defence relationship.

 

'The Raksha Mantri stated that the UK and other like-minded countries should work with India for strengthening a peaceful and stable global rules-based order, including through partnering India in its inexorable rise, which can be strengthened, reinforced and speeded up with friendly collaboration,' Ministry of Defence said in a press release.

 

During the meeting, Rajnath Singh gifted a Ram Darbar statue to Rishi Sunak. The meeting was also attended by the UK National Security Adviser, Tim Barrow. During the meeting, he stated that PM Narendra Modi is leading the quest of 1.4 billion Indians towards the national objective of becoming a developed nation by mid-21st century.

 

In the meeting with Rishi Sunak, Singh noted that PM Modi's 'efforts have borne remarkable fruits, growth is sustainably on the upswing, poverty has been reduced drastically, and a business-friendly architecture has been put in place.' He expressed the readiness of the Indian government at the international level to partner with friends like the UK to strengthen the rules-based world order.

 

In a post shared on X, Rajnath Singh stated, 'Had a very warm meeting with the UK Prime Minister, Shri @rishisunak in London. I had the opportunity to discuss a wide range of issues with him. We discussed issues pertaining to defence, economic cooperation and how India and UK could work together for strengthening a peaceful and stable global rules-based order.'

 

Currently, Rajnath Singh is on an official visit to UK. It is the first visit by a sitting Indian Defence Minister to the UK in more than 20 years.

 

Earlier, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held 'insightful deliberations' with UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron on boosting ties between the two nations.

 

Taking to X, Rajnath Singh stated, 'Insightful deliberations with the UK Foreign Secretary, Mr. David Cameron on boosting India-UK ties and deepening cooperation between both the countries.'

 

Despite being geographically distant from Europe, India is making significant advancements in the development of efficient sea routes to export fresh fruits, especially bananas, to Europe. The country has set an ambitious goal of reaching one billion dollars in exports, demonstrating the importance of strategic planning and infrastructure development in optimizing agricultural exports.

 

India's proactive investment in the development of sea routes and logistics to enhance its fresh produce exports is a reflection of its commitment to harness its agricultural potential. The country has implemented strict quality control measures to ensure that its bananas meet international standards, addressing any concerns about the freshness and quality of the exported produce.

 

Collaborations between government agencies, agricultural bodies, and private enterprises are crucial in streamlining the export process. India's efforts in building robust infrastructure, including cold storage facilities and modernized ports, have significantly contributed to maintaining the freshness of perishable goods during transit. Investments in technology and logistics have enabled India to establish itself as a reliable supplier of high-quality fresh produce to European markets.

 

The goal of exporting one billion dollars' worth of bananas to Europe showcases India's commitment to enhancing its agricultural exports, contributing to the country's economic growth.