Germany's Merz heads to India to bolster trade, security ties.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz left for India on Sunday for a visit to bolster economic and security ties between the top EU economy and the Asian population giant. Both Berlin and New Delhi face a turbulent world order and a set of economic and geopolitical challenges from the world's two largest economies, the United States and China.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Spain, Germany, Belgium, Poland emerging as key export destinations for India within EU.
New Delhi, Spain, Germany, Belgium, and Poland are emerging as stable and key export destinations for Indian goods within the 27-nation European Union bloc, according to the commerce ministry data. The data showed that Spain stands out as a high-growth European market for Indian exports.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
India eyes new markets with US trade deal limbo.
India is aggressively seeking trade deals to open markets for exporters and soften the blow of steep US tariffs, as efforts to secure an agreement with Washington remain elusive. Relations between Washington and New Delhi plummeted in August after President Donald Trump raised tariffs to 50 percent, a blow that threatens job losses and hurts India's ambition of becoming a manufacturing and export powerhouse.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
India, EU FTA talks: ministers say good progress made, full steam in coming days.
India and the EU have made 'good progress' on the proposed bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) with the narrowing of open issues, the two sides said after commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal met EU Trade and Economic Security Commissioner, Maros Sefcovic in Brussels. 'Had a productive dialogue with EU Trade and Economic Security Commissioner, Mr. @MarosSefcovic, in Brussels.We made good progress and provided strategic guidance to our negotiating teams & reaffirmed our strong political resolve to deliver a fair, balanced, & ambitious agreement aligned with the economic priorities of both India and the EU,' Goyal said in a post on X Saturday.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Self-reliance versus global dependence: The food security balancing act.
India’s path from PL-480 wheat in the 1960s to cereal surpluses in the 1970s shows how policy and science can change outcomes. Recent years tell a more complex story. We ship rice and wheat to the world, yet we still buy large volumes of edible oil and some pulses. Analysts expect edible oil imports to stay high in 2025–26, a reminder that no country can supply everything it eats at all times.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
Seeds Bill finalised, likely to be introduced in Budget session.
The government is believed to have finalised the Seeds Bill, 2026 and is keen to get it introduced in the Lok Sabha during the upcoming Budget session, scheduled to commence from January 28 and to continue until April 2, including a 25-day recess. No major changes are likely to be made in the draft Bill, which was shared in November 2025 for public feedback, sources said.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
India’s Record Rice Crop Is Set to Deepen Slide in Global Prices.
Indian farmers are wrapping up another bumper rice harvest, adding a wave of grain to the global market that’s already well supplied and likely putting further pressure on benchmark prices. They could bear the brunt at a time when demand is weak and key buyers have tightened import rules. Growers in India, the world’s biggest producer of the staple, may be forced to slash rates to stay competitive against rivals such as Thailand and Vietnam.
Source: bloomberg.com
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal visits Brussels for high-level dialogue with European Union’s Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security.
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, concluded a significant two-day visit to Brussels (8-9 January 2026), marking a decisive step forward in the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations. In a series of high-level dialogues with Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Mr. Maroš Šefčovič, both leaders provided guidance to negotiating teams to resolve pending issues and expedite the agreement.
Source: pib.gov.in
Union Agriculture Minister holds bilateral meeting with Fijian counterpart to deepen India–Fiji cooperation in the agriculture sector.
Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, held a bilateral meeting with Tomasi Tunabuna, Minister for Agriculture and Waterways of Fiji, today at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi. Both the sides discussed ongoing cooperation and outlined future areas of collaboration.
Source: pib.gov.in
Year End Review 2025 - Achievements & Initiatives of Ministry of Food Processing Industries.
The food processing sector plays an important role in increasing farm income and creating off-farm jobs, reducing post-harvest losses in agriculture and allied sector production through on- and off-farm investments in preservation and processing infrastructure. Accordingly, Ministry of Food Processing Industries has undertaken several initiatives to give impetus to development of food processing sector in the country and has made significant achievements in its schemes during the year of 2025.
Source: pib.gov.in