The commerce ministry will soon come out with detailed FAQs (frequently asked questions) on the recently implemented free trade agreement between India and the UAE to help the domestic industry understand benefits of the pact in a simple manner, an official said. The India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which was signed on February 18, has come into force from May 1.

 

The official said the FAQs would provide answers to questions including on benefits of the pact for the domestic industry; the tariff concessions offered by India and the UAE to each other in goods; important categories of products in the exclusion list; export opportunities for India; and definition of 'originating products' under the agreement.

 

Answers to these questions would help the industry easily understand the benefits for their concerned sectors.

 

 

Under the agreement, India will benefit from the preferential market access provided by the UAE on over 97 per cent of its tariff lines (or products) which account for 99 per cent of Indian exports to the UAE in value terms.

 

Labour-intensive sectors which will get major boost include gems and jewellery, textiles, leather, footwear, sports goods, plastics, furniture, agricultural and wood products, engineering products, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and automobiles.

 

Further, Indian service providers will have enhanced access to around 111 sub-sectors from the 11 broad service sectors.

 

The pact is expected to increase the total value of bilateral trade in goods to over USD 100 billion and trade in services to over USD 15 billion within five years.

India has achieved monthly value of merchandise export in April 2022 amounting USD 38.19 billion, an increase of 24.22% over USD 30.75 billion in April 2021. Value of non-petroleum exports in April 2022 was 30.46 USD billion, registering a positive growth of 12.32% over non-petroleum exports of USD 27.12 billion in April 2021.

 

Value of non-petroleum and non-gems and jewellery exports in April 2022 was USD 27.16 billion, registering a positive growth of 14.38% over non-petroleum and non-gems and jewellery exports of USD 23.74 billion in April 2021.

 

Petroleum products (113.21%), Electronic goods (64.04%) and Chemicals (26.71%) led the way in high increase in exports during April, 2022.

 

India’s merchandise import in April 2022 was USD 58.26 billion, an increase of 26.55% over USD 46.04 billion in April 2021. Value of non-petroleum imports was USD 38.75 billion in April 2022 with a positive growth of 9.87% over non-petroleum imports of USD 35.27 billion in April 2021.

 

Value of non-oil, non-GJ (gold, silver & Precious metals) imports was USD 34.43 billion in April 2022 with a positive growth of 29.68% over non-oil and non-GJ imports of USD 26.55 billion in April 2021.

 

The trade deficit in April 2022 was USD 20.07 billion.

Commemorating the 75th year of India’s independence under 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav', Agri & Allied department under the aegis of the ministry of DoNER & NEC organised a seminar on monetising Agri-Horti organic potentials of North East through value chain development at Agri Expo 'Angh House', 4th mile Dimapur, on Monday.

 

According to a DIPR report, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Guwahati, Archana in the PowerPoint presentation on 'Entrepreneurship development through market-linked extension' informed that APEDA was an autonomous body under the ministry of Commerce & Industries with New Delhi as head office and Guwahati as regional office of NEP.

 

She added that export items of high importance from NE region included pineapple, Assam lemon, kiwi, jackfruit, banana, passion fruit, bamboo shoots, ginger, turmeric, etc.

 

Archana further informed that one could register and interact with each other at https://farmerconnect.apeda.gov.in.

 

In her PowerPoint presentation on 'Opportunities & challenges for niche organic products', ICAR, Jharapani, Christy B. Sangma said organic farming was important as effect of high risk agro-chemical in general and synthetic pesticides in particular impacted food security and livelihood supporting system.

 

She highlighted that organic farming would benefit a pollution-free environment, reduce toxic residues, improve health, high production, reuse the cost of agricultural production, improve soil health and sustainability, save energy and reduce risk of crop failure.

 

Christy informed that challenges were due to supply chain issues, global competitiveness and lack of proper handling & packaging and on consumer-level, there was lack of awareness among consumers, high cost of organic food products and limited availability of organic food products.

 

During the technical session, resource persons— SASRD NU, Prof. L. Tongpang Lkr gave PowerPoint presentation on 'Quantifying value-added benefits for monetizing organic crops and market intelligence' and joint director, Agriculture by Dr. I. Amenla on 'Post-harvest Management & interventions'.

 

Later, input sharing was delivered by North Eastern Council (NEC) and DoNER.

Initiatives have been taken between India and Germany on agro-ecology and sustainable management of natural resources. In this regard, the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar and Germany's Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development Ms. Svenja Schulze signed the declaration in a virtual meeting today.

 

Through this, joint research, knowledge sharing and innovation will be promoted between academic institutions of both countries and practitioners including farmers. The transfer of technology and scientific knowledge will be promoted by encouraging exchanges, partnerships and research collaboration with the private sector. Germany's Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development intends to provide up to 300 million euros by the year 2025 for financial and technical cooperation for projects under this initiative.  

 

Germany will provide coordinated support for this lighthouse initiative, supporting the agro-ecological transformation process in India through the Technical Cooperation Project. For the changing agenda of agroecology, the two countries envisage the establishment of a joint research center supported by financial cooperation to develop and share cutting edge knowledge with practitioners from India, Germany and other countries, while facilitating value-added technology and scientific transfer.

 

To oversee the implementation, a working group will be set up with the concerned Ministries, namely, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and NITI Aayog.

India and Germany on Monday committed to reforming the WTO with a view to strengthen its principles and functions as well as preserve the autonomy of the two-tier appellate body of the global trade organisation.

 

Both sides also expressed their strong support for the upcoming negotiations between the European Union and India on a Free Trade Agreement, an Investment Protection Agreement and an Agreement on Geographical Indications.

 

Further, they emphasised the enormous potential of such pacts for expanding bilateral trade and investment, according to a joint statement issued after the 6th India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations.

 

 

The meeting was held under the co-chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

 

Appreciating the continued adherence to and underlining the importance of rules-based, open, inclusive, free and fair trade, the two nations highlighted the importance of the WTO (World Trade Organisation) as the centre of the multilateral trading system and central pillar of integrating developing countries into the global trading system.

 

'Both governments committed to reforming the WTO with the objective of strengthening its principles and functions, especially, preserving the two-tier appellate body, along with the autonomy of the appellate body,' the joint statement said.

 

The appellate body is a standing body of seven persons that hears appeals from reports issued by panels in disputes brought by WTO members. Currently, the appellate body is unable to review appeals due to positions remaining vacant.

 

The term of the last sitting appellate body member expired on November 30, 2020.

 

According to the statement, the two sides aim to make supply chains more resilient, diversified, responsible, and sustainable.

 

In a tweet after the meeting, Modi said India committed to quick progress in free trade agreement negotiations with European Union.

 

'Both governments highlight the need to work together to ensure that supply chains can continue to bring economic benefits while upholding international environmental, labour and social standards,' the statement said.

 

In the field of taxation, both sides welcomed the agreement on the two-pillar-solution reached at the OECD Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) in October 2021.

 

Both the governments also expressed their common understanding that the solution should be simple, the process will be inclusive and will contribute to the stabilisation of the international tax systems by establishing a fair level playing field for all businesses.

 

'Germany and India shared a willingness to support a swift and effective implementation of both pillars. India and Germany expressed their commitment to complete the protocol amending the double tax avoidance agreement quickly,' the statement said.

 

Futher, the two sides expressed their wish to further strengthen the start-up cooperation and in this context appreciate the ongoing cooperation between Start-up India and the German Accelerator (GA).

 

The two nations welcomed GA's intention to further increase its support by offering an India Market Access programme from 2023 onwards and Start-up India's proposal to develop a common engagement model in partnership with GA for enhanced support to both startup communities.

 

India and Germany have signed nine agreements. They pertain to green and sustainable development partnership, comprehensive migration and mobility partnership, and field of advanced training of corporate executives and junior executives from India, among others.

Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) Shri Anurag Jain chaired a round table of German Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Berlin today and shared his thoughts on sustainable growth, startups, digitalization and green technology. Shri Jain is a part of the official delegation accompanying Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi on his tour to Germany.

 

German SMEs shared their future plans for investment in India. The Secretary reaffirmed Government of India's firm commitment towards improving ease of doing business in India. Shri Jain also met Mr Markus Jerger, Chairman, BVMW(German Association for Small and Medium Enterprises) and discussed opportunities for greater  investment and cooperation in the MSME sector between India and Germany  in the fields of  Food processing, Textiles, Manufacturing, AI, Technology, Hydrogen and Green Energy, Sustainability, Digitalization among others.

Morocco’s National Interprofessional Office for Cereals and Legumes (ONICL) has launched a tender on for grain suppliers to secure Morocco’s stock of cereals.

 

With this bid, ONICL aims to secure three million quintals of soft wheat and one million quintals of wheat, according to an official statement. The new provision is likely to cover Morocco’s grain needs for two months. Suppliers wishing to win the bid must be able to supply the required amount of wheat by May 31, the official statement said.

 

The opening of the tender comes at a time when grain prices are soaring internationally because of the Ukraine war. In Morocco, wheat is a staple of the national diet, and prices are strictly managed by a special committee to protect national consumer purchasing power.

 

Grain imports

ONICL constantly monitors prices to keep bread wheat prices within a $260/MT and $280/MT price range. This year, Morocco’s wheat production is at a record low as drought ravaged the country’s Autumn and Winter wheat crops.

 

Wheat and barley yields fell sharply in the 2022-2023 agriculture season, 70% less than last year, according to a report from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service.

 

Land relegated to harvesting barley and wheat has shrunk by 15% over the same period. The sub-optimal agriculture season is set to worsen the country’s dependency on wheat imports.

 

Morocco’s grain imports will likely reach 6 million metric tons (MMT) in 2022, up by 10% from last year. In March, Morocco had 3.6 MT of wheat in reserves, an estimated three months of reserves. In an attempt to increase the wheat supply in the country, the Moroccan government had rolled out a number of measures including suspending taxes on wheat imports, as well as launching a support program for farmers.

 

The program covers the distribution of 700,000 MT barely at a price of $200 per ton to farmers in addition to providing 400,000 MT of compound feed to farmers to mitigate the soaring cost of animal feed.

The FSSAI has initiated the process for State Food Safety lndex for year 2021-2022 and the food authority has written to the food safety commissioners of all the states and Union territories to furnish requisite details with respect to food safety by May 10, 2022.

 

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSSAI) in this regards has issued a notice saying, 'ln this regard the online portal (www.fssai.qov.in/sfsi) for uploading data for State Food Safety lndex 2021-2022 will be made Live from 27.04.2022. You are requested to provide the requisite data of financial year 2021-2022 for State Food Safety lndex on the SFSI portal positively by 10.05.2022. The login credential for uploading the data is the same as provided earlier at the time of SFSI-2020-2021.'

 

According to the FSSAI, the evaluation will be done by a Team of Evaluators composed of members from FSSAI as well as external experts for which deliberations may be held through video conferencing for necessary verification and obtaining further information as required.

 

FSSAI has been evaluating the performance of state/UTs based on compliance to food safety parameters through State Food Safety lndex to create a positive competitiveness among states /UTs to improve food safety ecosystem and ensure availability of safe and healthy wholesome food to the general public.

 

In the SFSI Index, states are classified into 3 categories (Large States, Small States and Union Territories) to ensure comparability among similar entities.

 

The State Food Safety Index ranks states on five parameters of food safety through a rigorous evaluation process every year. The categories included Human Resources and Institutional Arrangements, Compliance, Food Testing- Infrastructure and Surveillance, Training and Capacity Building and Consumer Empowerment.

Jammu and Kashmir Trade Promotion Organization (JKTPO) participated in AAHAR 2022- International Food and Hospitality fair, a flagship B2B event organized by India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) in conjunction with Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).

 

 

Pertinently, JKTPO sponsored and facilitated agro and food processing based registered entrepreneurs to showcase their product and services in the exhibition. Major exhibitors participated in the event included Kashmir Walnut Overseas Private Limited, Agrotech Enterprises, Kanwal Foods and Spices Private Limited, BST Organics, Rama Milk Food, Himalayan Bio organic Foods Private limited, Sarveshwar Foods Limited, SuCh Food Processor, Pampore Saffron Farmers Producer Company Limited, Valley Exotics Private Limited, Hari Niwas Hotels and Resorts Private Limited.

 

MD, JKTPO, Ankita Kar, said that the participation in AAHAR 2022 has ensured National and International market connect and exposure to the agro and food processing based entrepreneurs and exporters from J&K. This would help them to further grow their business and enhance global competitiveness, she added.

 

The 33rd edition of the event had been organized from April 26 to April 30, 2022 at the iconic venue of Pragati Maidan (New Delhi). AAHAR is one of Asia's best known brands in Food and Hospitality shows. Exporters from different segments of agricultural products including geographical indication products, processed food, organic and frozen food products have participated in the fair.

 

JKTPO regularly organizes and participates in various activities like Buyer-Seller Meets, Trade Fairs, Exhibitions, Conferences and Seminars at National and International level. For participation in these events, exporters, entrepreneurs and sellers from J&K can register themselves on JKTPO’s website - www.JKTPO.in.(KNS) 

Turkey’s state grain board TMO has started making provisional purchases of wheat in a tender which closed on Friday supplies already in warehouses in Turkey with about 50,000 tonnes initially bought, traders said.

 

Two wheat tenders from the TMO close on Friday. One tender seeks about 210,000 tonnes of supplies already in warehouses in Turkey and the other about 270,000 tonnes for shipment to Turkey.

 

The lowest price paid in the initial 50,000 tonne purchased was estimated at around $409 a tonne ex warehouse for delivery to Samsun.

 

More purchases are expected later on Friday. The tonnages purchased in TMO’s tenders are provisional and still subject to final confirmation in coming days. Purchases can be reduced or cancelled completely.