Assam exported agricultural products worth around Rs 4,000 crore-tea worth Rs 2,200 crore and other agricultural products worth Rs 1,800 crore-in the financial year 2022-23. Informing the media of this today, Agriculture Minister Atul Bora said, 'Barring tea, the export trend of agri-horti products from Assam, ranging from lemon to rice, is on the rise. The State Agriculture Department has been extending all necessary support to the farmers of the state to encourage them to boost exports.'

 

The Assam International Agri-Horti Show that the department has been holding for several years has also played a major role in the upsurge in the exports of agriculture products.

 

Bora said, 'The State Agriculture Department will hold the three-day Assam International Agri-Horti Show from December 16, 2023, with the theme of marching towards self-sufficiency and maximising farmers' income.' Representatives from 11 countries have already confirmed their participation in the Assam International Agri-Horti Show. The countries include Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, New Zealand, South Korea, Bangladesh, Iran, Bhutan, etc.

 

Bora said, 'The objective of the show is to bring experts, processors, buyers and sellers, policymakers, bureaucrats, farmers, producer organizations, NGOs, farm machinery suppliers, and other facilitators of the agri-horti sector together on one platform. Twenty-nine resource persons from eminent institutions in the country will share their knowledge with the participants in eight technical sessions.'

 

The minister said, 'Around 10,000 farmers will participate in the show. The farmers of the state were encouraged to cultivate millet, floriculture, oil palm, fodder, etc. after visiting such agri-horti shows.' Bora informed the media that the State Government is going to set up an international-level orchid farm at Kaziranga costing Rs 17 crore.'

The Meghalaya Directorate of Horticulture and Agricultural Marketing Board Tuesday flagged off a ceremony to send 20 metric tonnes of Khasi Mandarin oranges to Dubai.

 

The move to boost trade and commerce prospects by connecting foreign markets marked a significant increase from the 1 tonne Khasi Mandarin exported to Doha and Bahrain last year.

 

Khasi Mandarin is a variety of oranges unique to Meghalaya. These citrus fruits often grow larger than a tennis ball, weighing between 130-150 gm, are bright orange in colour and are characterised by a very mild 0.6-0.7 per cent citric acid, making them full of sweet and aromatic citrus juices.

 

Meghalaya Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh, who joined the flagging-off ceremony as chief guest at the Integrated Agriculture Training Centre (IATC) in Upper Shillong, said the government is looking to boost Khasi Mandarin exports and focus on organic farming of the fruit, reclaim confidence of farming communities and financially assist the growers.

 

'At one point, we would only, on trial, internationally export 1.5 MT to 2 MT of Khasi Mandarin; today, we are talking of 20 MT. This step will instil a sense of security in our farmers, telling them that we will grow together and benefit together. They (farmers) are going to be dictating our economy.'

 

'The next biggest challenge is to handhold all our farmer groups to return to natural farming practices. The Organic Mission needs to be attended to. We have to reclaim our confidence in the farming communities. We will do what it takes to sensitise, educate, expose, and financially assist our farmers,' she added.

 

Agriculture Secretary Isawanda Laloo said Meghalaya’s unique agro-climatic conditions facilitate the growth of many fruits and crops. He also said there is a huge opportunity to promote organic farming of Khasi Mandarin since farmers still cultivate in the traditional way in the state.

 

MLA RV Lyngdoh, Horticulture Director D C Sohtun, Lulu Group international senior general manager Ravi Kumar, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) deputy general manager in-charge of NE region Sunita Rai and Agriculture Director J C Lyngdoh were among the attendees.

 

Sunita Rai said while growing foreign exports are crucial for the business potential, these are 'stepping stones to success'. She said Khasi Mandarin is expected to be soon exported through commercial shipments. She said there are also a few other local fruits that APEDA has plans to popularise.

 

Last month, the Meghalaya Agriculture Marketing Board signed an MoU with the Lulu Group to set up a strategic partnership for mutual growth and promote Meghalaya’s agricultural products to Gulf nations. Lulu Group senior general manager Ravi Kumar expressed confidence in achieving higher export volume next year.

 

Khasi Mandarin is locally Called Soh Niamtra or Soh Myntra in Meghalaya’s Khasi language and is widely cultivated in Meghalaya, Assam and a few other Northeastern states. It is also called Soh Sohra in Shillong to signify its place of origin – Sohra, which used to be the hub of the Khasi mandarin trade in the past.

 

Meghalaya is a significant grower of oranges in the region, and the fruit is considered an important commercial crop here. The state obtained a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for the Khasi Mandarin in 2014 and promoted the fruit in different parts of the country and abroad.

 

Before Khasi Mandarin, Meghalaya successfully marketed Kew Pineapples, Lakadong turmeric, and ginger to European countries.

 

Khasi Mandarin is sourced from a host of local farmers and producers companies and cooperatives in Ri Bhoi district, East Garo Hills, West Garo Hills, South West Khasi Hills, East Jaintia Hills, East Khasi Hills and West Garo Hills.

 

Meghalaya has 331 integrated value chain societies, 179 primary agricultural credit societies, 81 organic cooperatives, 28 organic farmer producer organisations, and 499 livestock-related cooperatives actively working in the agriculture, horticulture and animal husbandry sectors.

India and Oman are looking to further develop economic and diplomatic ties as bilateral trade between the two countries hit $3.7bn in the first nine months of this year.

 

The bilateral relations between Oman and India have seen a remarkable progress and an advanced cooperation that contributed in establishing strategic partnership based on mutual trust and respect and enhanced by historic deep-rooted ties.

 

The talks to be held by Sultan Haitham bin Tarik with the Indian leadership in New Delhi will scale up the existing strategic partnership between the two countries towards high ranks through promoting trade, investment and cooperation to achieve integration between the two sides in diverse fields.

 

India and Oman trade

The size of commercial exchange between Oman and India stood at OR1.447bn ($3.7bn) as at the end of third quarter of 2023.

 

Meanwhile, the volume of Omani exports to India stood at OR699.218m ($1.8bn) represented in oil, minerals, LNG, polyethylene, propylate, aluminum and urea.

 

On the other hand, the volume of Omani imports from India amounted to OR747.883m ($1.9bn) represented in rice, motor fuel, natural gasoline, wheat, ignition control of vehicles and iron ore.

 

The volume of investments from the India in Oman by the end of June 2023 amounted to OR378.4m. The number of Indian companies investing in Oman by the end of 2022 reached 1,744 with an investment volume of OR281m.

 

These investments distributed in sectors of industry, construction, trade, transportation, communications, oil and gas, mining, quarrying, education, agriculture, fisheries, tourism and health.

 

The invitation extended by India to Oman as a guest of honour in the G20 Summit which it hosted, represents an affirmation of the advanced and sincere relations between the two friendly countries.

 

These relations were confirmed by Muscat and New Delhi during the eighth Omani-Indian strategic dialogue session last January 2023, which highlighted the top priority that the two leaderships attach to strengthening bilateral strategic relations based on mutual trust and respect.

 

Issa bin Saleh Al Shaibani, Ambassador of Oman to India, said that what unites the two countries is their historic deep-rooted relations.

 

Al Shaibani said that since the establishment of official diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1955, they have taken great strides in the field of strategic cooperation, the positive outcomes we are witnessing clearly in the increase in the volume of bilateral trade between the two countries to about $10bn during the period from 2021 to 2022.

 

Amit Narang, Ambassador of the Republic of India to the Sultanate of Oman, said that economic relations between the two countries are witnessing a strong recovery, as bilateral trade has doubled from $5.4bn in 2020-2021 to $12.3bn in the fiscal year 2022-2023.

 

He also noted that the Asian nation is also among the largest investors in Oman, as it has a strong presence in ports and free zones in Sohar, Salalah, and increasingly in Duqm.

 

The ambassador also highlighted the tremendous opportunities to expand the scope of economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two countries in the coming years due to the fact that the economy is on the verge of becoming the third largest economy in the world, in addition to the purposeful steps taken by Oman for economic diversification.

Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Tribal Affairs Shri Arjun Munda inaugurated ASEAN-India Millet Festival today at New Delhi. Ministers of States for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shri Kailash Choudhary and Sushri Shobha Karandlaje and Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Manoj Ahuja were also present in the occasion. In line with the International Year of Millets, the festival aims to increase awareness and establish a larger market for millet and millet based products.

 

Addressing the delegates from India, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam attending the festival, Union Minister Shri Arjun Munda highlighted the government policies and market innovations to promote the production and consumption of grains. Shri Munda said that millet provides innumerable benefits to farmers, consumers and the environment and makes an important contribution to global food-nutrition security.  Highlighting the socio-economic, nutritional and climate benefits associated with its increased consumption, Shri Munda stated that this program reflects the vibrancy of millets and its immense potential in transforming agriculture and nutrition. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Government of India has played an important role in organizing the mega event of International Millets Year 2023. This concerted effort transcended boundaries and transformed the event into a global milestone of unparalleled significance. Prime Minister Shri Modi's deep understanding of sustainable agriculture and nutrition security has been the driving force behind India's proactive progress in placing food at the forefront of the global agenda. Celebration of the International Year of Millets has been important in creating awareness about millet to ensure food security and better nutrition. This has led to investment in extension services along with research and development, which motivates stakeholders to increase the productivity, quality and associated production methods of grain. In the face of global challenges of climate change, the importance of grains increases even more. Millet is an ancient grain, the specialty of millet is that it is small, but nutritious and provides strength to the body. Millet has the power to revolutionize our approach to agriculture, climate and food security.

 

Union Minister Shri Munda said that millet is not only the bearer of a rich cultural heritage but also offers a sustainable solution that matches our current concerns. The ability of grains to address key Sustainable Development Goals, including zero hunger, good health and well-being, sustainable consumption and production, and climate action, positions it as indispensable resources for developing countries. He said that millet has the ability to thrive in diverse environments, requiring minimum resources while providing maximum nutritional benefits. Adopting millet in the diet is not just about nourishing yourself; rather, it is about nourishing the earth, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and ensuring a healthier, more secure future for future generations. Shri Munda said that we should recognize the impact it has on our farmers, because grains are not just crops; they are a beacon of hope for our farming communities, which provides stability in uncertain climate and empowers our farmers with favorable yields and sustainable income. Known for its minimal water requirements, low carbon footprint and ability to thrive in drought conditions, buck wheat truly meets the criteria of climate friendly crops. In view of the increasing demand for vegetarian, gluten free food, millet offers alternative food systems. Millet is nature's gift to humanity, as well as a promising source of food for a sustainable future.

 

Shri Munda said that the Government of India has launched massive campaigns and positioned millet as a better solution to tackle malnutrition, mitigate the adverse effects of climate change and promote the adoption of sustainable farming practices.  Ministry of Agriculture is actively implementing Millets Sub-Mission under National Food Security Mission in all the States and Union Territories to promote millets and meet the increasing demand. The Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with various ministries and states, has played an important role in the promotion of millets in the country. The launch of several State Millet Missions and Projects is a testimony to our commitment. The International Year of Millets has brought widespread awareness of millet and increased consumption of millet in India and on the global platform through a series of impactful initiatives and strategic commitments. Shri Arjun Munda said that our commitment is not just in words, but goes beyond this. By nominating millets as “One Country-One Priority Product' in the Food and Agriculture Organization and expanding it to “One District-One Product' in 21 districts, we have harnessed the potential of millets, their nutritional value and Economic feasibility. He said that the announcement made by Prime Minister Shri Modi during the Global Millets Conference in March 2023 regarding converting the Indian Millets Research Institute into a Global Center of Excellence for Millets is a step towards promoting millet cultivation and global research cooperation and innovation. It is a symbol of our dedication. IIMR has played an important role in setting up 25 seed hubs, 18 centers in various institutions and has developed more than 200 improved varieties of grains in collaboration with other agricultural institutions. This has ensured surplus availability of high quality cereal seeds, with the aim of increasing the annual seed replacement ratio to 10%.

 

Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Manoj Ahuja, emphasized the festival's significance in fostering India’s diplomatic ties with ASEAN nations for promotion and adoption of millets. During the ceremony, a short video presentation showcased the journey of International Year of Millets 2023 initiatives, emphasizing the Indian government's interventions for enhanced millet production, usage, and accessibility.

 

The inaugural day featured two enlightening panel discussions, The first panel, ‘Issues of Hunger and Malnutrition in Southeast Asia – Millets as a Solution,’ moderated by Additional Secretary, Ministry of Women & Child Development, Shri Sanjeev Kumar. It brought out interesting insights on the nutritional merits of millets, its potential to address world hunger and the many ways to turn them into nutrient-packed culinary delights to fight nutritional deficiency. The second panel, titled, ‘History and Culture of Millets in Southeast Asia,’ moderated by Joint Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Ms. Lily Pandeya delved into the historical and cultural ties between the regions, emphasizing millets' role in reviving traditional connections.

 

The festival will conclude on 15th December 2023. The event followed a preceding festival held in Jakarta, Indonesia from 22-26 November 2023. On day two of the festival, a Business-to-Business (B2B) meeting is organized by APEDA. This meeting is curated to serve as an interactive platform fostering engagement between businesses from India and the ASEAN member states, specifically those involved in trading millets and millet-based products. The objective is to facilitate participants in exploring synergies and commercial opportunities across geographic boundaries. This moment will be crucial for numerous startups and farmer-led organizations to assess the appeal and viability of their products for an international audience.

 

Additional Secretary Ms. Maninder Kaur and Joint Secretary Ms. Shubha Thakur welcomed the guests. In the festival, along with panel discussions on food security, business cooperation and other topics, an exhibition of millet based products has also been organized by FPOs and Startups. Policy makers, entrepreneurs, expert startups and officials from ASEAN countries including India are participating in this two-day festival organized by the Indian Mission in ASEAN in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.

 

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday raised its FY24 growth forecast for India to 6.7% from 6.3% announced three months ago, joining a host of agencies to revise up projections citing the country's stronger-than-anticipated growth of 7.6% in the September quarter.

 

In its latest report on outlook for developing Asia, the multilateral lender, however, retained its India growth forecast for FY25 at 6.7%.

 

Recognising accelerated growth momentum, the RBI this month raised its FY24 growth projection for India to 7% from 6.5%, while Nomura increased it to 6.7% from 5.9%, Citigroup to 6.7% from 6.2% and DBS to 6.8% from 6.4%. India recorded a 7.7% expansion in the first half of this fiscal.

 

It also revised its 2023 growth projection for China to 5.2% from 4.9% earlier. For India, ADB said elevated growth in fixed investment-driven by increased public capital expenditure-will more than make up for lower growth in private consumption expenditure and weaker-than-expected exports amid the external turmoil.

India stands to gain significantly from its proposed free trade pact with Oman, particularly in sectors such as petroleum, steel, electronics and textiles, as over 80 per cent of its exports to the country currently face a five per cent import duty which could be eliminated, according to an analysis by research body Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI).

 

The Commerce & Industry Ministry is taking inputs from various stakeholders to strengthen its negotiating stance for the India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) that could significantly boost exports to the country annually valued at $4.3 billion, a source tracking the matter told businessline.

 

'The Commerce Department has begun negotiations with Oman on a bilateral CEPA and is simultaneously continuing its consultations with line-Ministries and other stakeholders to ensure that it gets the most out of the pact,' the source said.

 

Reduction/elimination in import duties under the CEPA will benefit a vast majority of Indian exports to Oman, as over 83.5 per cent of India’s goods exports, totalling about $3.7 billion, currently face a five per cent import duty in Oman, the GTRI analysis noted. GTRI is founded by Ajay Srivastava, trade expert and former Indian Trade Service officer.

 

'With the new FTA (with Oman), these products, including major exports like motor gasoline ($1.7 billion), Iron, Steel and products ($235 million), Electronics ($135 million), Machinery ($125 million), aluminium oxide ($126 million), textiles and garment ($110 million), alumina calcined ($105 million), plastics ($64 million), boneless meat ($50 million), essential oils ($47 million), ferro silico manganese ($43 million), paper, board ($30 million), motor cars ($28 million), will benefit from duty elimination,' per the report. 

 

India’s merchandise imports from Oman, at $7.9 billion in 2022-23, also stand to benefit from the free trade pact. Key imports from the country include petroleum products ($4.6 billion) and urea ($1.2 billion), which account for 73 per cent of imports, while other significant imports comprise propylene and ethylene polymers ($383 million), pet coke ($265 million), gypsum ($115 million), organic and inorganic chemicals ($417 million), iron and steel ($62 million) and unwrought aluminium ($95 million), it pointed out.

 

However, most of these imports are raw materials and input to industries, and India has opened most such imports from other FTA partner countries, the analysis further noted.

 

'The India-Oman CEPA, while offering direct economic benefits through import duty reductions, also serves a larger strategic role in India’s foreign policy. While acknowledging the limitations set by Oman’s smaller economic size and population, the agreement’s true value lies in its potential to open doors for India in the Middle East, fostering economic and strategic ties in a region of critical importance,' it stated.

Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India is implementing 'National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD)' scheme across the country since Feb-2014, with an objective of creating/strengthening of infrastructure for Production of quality milk, Procurement, Processing and Marketing of Milk & Milk Products. The scheme has been restructured/realigned in July 2021, for implementation from 2021-22 to 2025-26 with a total budgetary allocation of Rs1790 crore having two components:

 

Component 'A' focuses towards creating/strengthening of infrastructure for quality milk testing equipment as well as primary chilling facilities. Component 'B' (Dairying through Cooperatives) aims to increase sales of milk and milk products, upgrading dairy processing facilities and marketing infrastructure and enhancing the capacity of producer-owned institutions.

 

An amount of Rs 345.93 crore has been allocated (Budgetary Estimate) under both Component 'A' and Component 'B' (Dairying through Cooperatives) of the scheme during 2023-24.

 

Under Component A of the scheme, 195 projects in 30 States/UTs have been approved with the total outlay of Rs 3311.10 crore (including Central Share Rs 2479.06 crore). A total amount of Rs.1824.60 crore has been released to States for the implementation of these projects against which Rs. 1429.62 crore has been utilised. Under Component B of the scheme, 22 projects in 8 States have been approved with a total outlay of Rs 1130.63 crore.

 

A total amount of Rs 84.02 crore has been released to National Dairy Development Board for the implementation of the projects. About 16,794 dairy cooperative societies have been organized/revived, 30,066 Automatic Milk Collection Unit have been installed and about 82 dairy plants have been strengthened with creation of 24.00 lakh litres per day additional/new milk processing capacity under the scheme.

After India removed 'retaliatory import duty' on US apples in September, imports of American apples have surged 40 times in three months, while traders are hopeful of regaining market share. In 2017-18, the import of US apples was a record of over 7 million boxes, which dropped to 50,000 boxes in the 2022–23 (September–August) season.

 

In a promotional event event in New Delhi on Tuesday, Sumit Saran, country representative of Washington Apple Commission, said: 'We are hopeful to regain our market share. Apart from metros, we see a lot of sales in tier I and tier II cities. We do not promote when Indian production is in market. We wait till domestic production exhausts by January so our product can be from February.' The main sales period of US apples in India continues until July.

 

Saran said Washington apples had a kind of gone out of Indian market due to 'retaliatory tariff' of additional 20 per cent over and above basic import duty of 50 per cent imposed in 2019 in retaliation to section 232 of US government’s higher import tax on Indian steel and aluminium.

 

Creating a void

Though India announced to withdraw additional duty on US apples in June, the notification came only on September 6.

 

Claiming that the non-presence of Washington apples created a void both for traders and consumers, Saran said that 70 per cent duty was huge for the trade to compete with other origins that were paying 50 per cent duty.

 

Between September 1 and November 30, 440,000 boxes (of 20 kg each) have been imported, as against only about 10,000 boxes in the year-ago period, he said. In entire 2022-23 (September-August), India had imported 50,000 boxes of apple from the US whereas prior to the additional duty levied, the annual import by India was about 5 million boxes, he added.

 

The US was very concerned about the fall of its apple export to India as in 2017 India had becomes its second biggest export destination for apple, globally. Even in the domestic market it had 53 per cent share in the imported apple segment. Turkey, Iran, Italy, Chile, Poland are some of the main destinations from where Indian traders import.

 

Total imports of apples by India dropped to 3.74 lakh tonnes (lt) in 2022-23 from 4.59 lt in 2021-22, official data show. In 2027-18, import of apple was 2.58 lt.

 

Philip Green OAM highlighted a remarkable two-way trade that has grown by more than 50 per cent over the past five years.

 

Lauding the bilateral partnership between New Delhi and Canberra, the Ambassador of Australia to India, Philip Green OAM highlighted a remarkable two-way trade that has grown by more than 50 per cent over the past five years, adding that India is the most consequential relationship.

 

Emphasizing India's paramount significance in their bilateral relations, he expressed his commitment to proactive engage during his tenure and said that, as Australia's 22nd High Commissioner to India, he is 'here to get things done.'

 

In his keynote address at the Asia Society Policy Institute, here in the national capital, the Australian Ambassador to India said, 'For me, assuming this role as Australia's 22nd High Commissioner to India is the pinnacle of his career. India is the most consequential relationship, at the most critical moment, I have ever worked on. It is a privilege for me to be here today.'

 

Affirming his dedication to advancing the partnership between the countries and echoing the directive he received from the Prime Minister to propel the relationship to new heights, he said,'Our relationship is at the highest point in our history. But I'm not here to rest on laurels. I'm here to get more things done. I'm here to drive the relationship further and to drive it faster. That's what the Prime Minister told me to do when he sent me here.'

 

Asia Society Policy Institute, notably a division of Asia Society India Centre, is a think-and-do tank designed to bring about changes that incorporate the best ideas from top experts in Asia and to work with policymakers to integrate these ideas and put them into practice.

 

Speaking further, the Australian envoy also talked at length about India-Australia trade ties, the Indo-Pacific and QUAD (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue).

 

'On the economic front, our two-way trade has grown by more than 50 per cent in the last five years. And last year, we signed the landmark Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA). This deal has provided the momentum for negotiations towards an even more ambitious goal: a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement or CECA,' he said.

 

Highlighting the role of Quad, he said that there is a big comparison in how it used to be earlier and how things progress under the grouping now.

 

'Quad in 2019 meant loose, informal meetings of officials in the margins of multilateral gatherings. No fixed agenda. Sometimes, no substantive statement. Those discussions, to be frank, largely centred on whether and how the Quad should become the Quad--Contrast that to what we see now-- We have delivered three Quad Leaders' Summits. Leaders, as well as Ministers. In addition to a proliferation of Senior Officials' meetings,' the envoy said.

 

Despite the change in plans regarding President Biden's visit to India, the envoy affirmed Australia's ongoing collaboration with India and other QUAD partners to facilitate a Summit next year.

 

'And while today's news is that President Biden is unable to travel to India in January, Australia will continue to work closely with India and its other partners to support its efforts to host a Quad Leaders' Summit next year. In only a few years, we've developed a shared vision, a positive agenda, and we're getting stuff done, he added.

 

Green also emphasised that India and Australia see the Indo-Pacific region the 'same way' and 'share same goals.'

 

He said, '...And if India and Australia want to preserve an open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific, we need each other. We see the region the same way, we share the same goals, and we both know what needs to be done. This is what strategic alignment looks like: a mission to work together.'

 

He further noted that Australia is investing in its network of strategic partnerships and added that India is an indispensable partner.

 

'Australia is investing in our network of strategic partnerships. We know that when countries pool their resources and combine their strengths, that is a decisive competitive advantage. And India is an indispensable partner, critical for achieving the sort of strategic equilibrium that we need,' Green said.

 

Highlighting how India and Australia's defence ties are at their pinnacle currently, Green said, 'For the first time this year, we welcomed an Indian submarine to dock in Australia, and we welcomed visits by two Indian military aircraft to the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.'

 

He also said that sense of partnership was on full display last month at our second Foreign and Defence Ministers' 2 2 Meeting in Delhi.

 

'Our Ministers agreed to an ambitious set of outcomes, including expanding the scope and complexity of our joint military exercises and continuing the deployment of aircraft from each other's territories to enhance shared maritime domain awareness. We also decided that our diplomats should be working more cohesively in the Indo-Pacific region. It is a necessity that drives Australia and India to work together, in combination with other nations, to enhance our collective security and prosperity,' the envoy said.

 

Green also stated that he wants a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) that expands the range of goods available in India and also gives a boost to Indian supply chains.

 

'I want us to have a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement that expands the range of goods available in India, strengthens Indian supply chains, and advances its green transition. ECTA already gets us some of the way there. 96 per cent of Indian goods now enter Australia duty-free, and 85 per cent of Australian goods now enter India without tariffs,' the envoy said.

 

'Our companies have noticed and are benefiting. India's utilisation rate for goods under our agreement is 77 per cent--around triple what it is for some of India's other free trade agreements. We have seen Australian imports of India's agricultural goods increase by 16 per cent, and imports of Indian apparel increase by 9 per cent. Our CECA agreement will take this even further and faster to deliver for Australian and Indian businesses,' he added, underlining that there have been some good rounds of negotiation that have taken place.

 

'We have had some good rounds of negotiation. We have a lot of text settled. We know India is focused at present on getting to the finish line with the UK. We are ready to conclude our second phase in due course, but our focus will be on ambition--a good deal, not any deal,' the Australian envoy said.

 

The India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (IndAusECTA) came into effect on December 29, 2022. The ECTA was signed on April 2, 2022, and ratified on November 21.

 

Written notifications were exchanged on November 29 and after 30 days, the agreement came into force.

 

India and Australia implemented an economic cooperation and trade agreement (ECTA) and are now negotiating the expansion of its scope for the CECA.

The Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI) was approved by the Cabinet on March 31, 2021, with an outlay of Rs 10,900 crore, to be implemented from FY 2021-22 to FY 2026-27. The scheme consists of three components: incentivising manufacturing in four food product segments (Ready to Cook/ Ready to Eat foods; Processed Fruits & Vegetables; Marine Products; and Mozzarella Cheese), promoting Innovative/Organic products of SMEs, and incentivising branding and marketing abroad for promoting Indian brands in the global market.

 

Additionally, the PLI Scheme for promoting Millet-based Products was launched in the FY 2022-23 with an outlay of Rs 800 crore, utilising the scheme’s savings.

 

The PLI beneficiaries have reported investment of Rs 7,126 crore under the scheme, with sales of Rs 49,825 crore upto April-September 2023. According to scheme guidelines, the PLI beneficiaries are required to furnish incentive claims for a specific financial year by December 31, of the following financial year.

 

During the formulation of PLISFPI, proactive steps were taken to align it with global best practices and market demands. The process involved active engagement with various stakeholders, including industry experts, large-scale manufacturers and SMEs. An extensive consultative approach was adopted to gather inputs while formulating the scheme guidelines. This collaborative effort is continuing in form of regular engagements with the stakeholders for ensuring continued relevance and effectiveness of the scheme guidelines.

 

The scheme aims to generate employment for approximately 2.5 lakh persons. As of September 30, 2023, Quarterly Review Reports from PLI beneficiaries indicate the creation of employment for 2,37,335 persons.