India’s new FTAs offer investment opportunities, but utilisation remains weak: Commerce Secretary.
Industries need to utilise and leverage the free trade agreements (FTAs) that India is finalising, as these pacts offer trade and investment opportunities, said Rajesh Agrawal, commerce secretary, on Monday. The secretary said that the country's track record in FTA utilisation is 'not great'.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
PM Modi to hold talks with UAE, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian and Italian leadership in major tour from May 15–20.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a multi-nation official visit from May 15 to 20, 2026, covering the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy, with a strong focus on strengthening trade, energy cooperation and strategic partnerships with Europe and West Asia. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the visit will begin in the United Arab Emirates, where Narendra Modi will meet UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on May 15, 2026. Both leaders are expected to review bilateral ties with a particular emphasis on energy cooperation, alongside regional and global developments of mutual interest.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
US team expected to visit India for next round of trade talks, says official.
India expects the US team to visit the country for the next round of trade talks, though no dates have been finalised yet, an official said on Monday. The Indian side visited Washington, DC, in April for an in-person round of meetings with their US counterparts to finalise the details of the interim agreement and take forward the negotiations under the broader bilateral trade agreement (BTA).
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
India, Peru likely to hold talks on free trade pact in June, diplomat says.
India and Peru will probably hold the next round of talks on a proposed free trade pact next month, a senior Peruvian diplomat told Reuters, adding that a deal could be signed by the end of the year. 'In principle, in June we are going to resume the negotiations,' Javier Paulinich, Peru's ambassador to India, said.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
India aims to integrate farming with health, launches SEHAT mission.
Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Health Minister JP Nadda on Monday jointly launched a national mission, Science Excellence for Health Through Agricultural Transformation, acronymed as SEHAT (or health), that aimed at building an integrated farming system to improve human health with a focus on traditional knowledge. The mission will not have any separate funding as both the implementing agencies — Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) — will jointly bear the expenses. But Chouhan said that funding would not be a constraint to achieving the goal.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
APOA welcomes Sri Lanka’s move to lift ban on oil palm cultivation.
The Asian Palm Oil Alliance (APOA) has welcomed the recent developments in Sri Lanka indicating that the Sri Lankan government is moving towards lifting the ban on oil palm cultivation, subject to final approvals and sustainability safeguards. A media statement said APOA considers this a positive and pragmatic step towards strengthening edible oil security, supporting rural livelihoods, reducing import dependence, and promoting science-based sustainable agriculture in Asia.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
Chhattisgarh goes all out to woo investors in food processing sector.
With abundant production of crops, forest produce and livestock products, Chhattisgarh is going all out to woo investors in the food processing sector. A statement from the central Indian State said that there is a huge gap between what is produced and processed in agriculture. Chhattisgarh is well-placed to fill the gap as it sees an opportunity in this.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
Warehousing shifting from support function to strategic capability.
Food & beverage (F&B) companies operate in a high-volume, low-margin environment with strict quality and regulatory requirements. Even minor inefficiencies in warehousing and logistics can significantly impact profitability, making tight supply chain control essential.
Source: fnbnews.com
Traceable, packaged, certified: The next chapter of meat in India.
The way a nation sources and consumes its daily protein is undergoing a rapid structural revolution. Gone are the days when purchasing daily dietary protein was exclusively synonymous with crowded, unhygienic wet markets and roadside butcher shops relying on rudimentary processing practices. Today, this massive unorganised trade is swiftly surrendering ground to a highly organised, tech-driven, and quality-controlled ecosystem. The global meat market size was valued at an estimated US$1.5 trillion in 2025. This market is projected to reach US$1.8 trillion by 2034. This reflects a steady (CAGR) of 1.95% during the 2026–2034 forecast period. While the global poultry market size was valued at US$491.02 billion in 2025. This industry is expected to grow from US$521.95 billion in 2026 to a massive US$910.24 billion by 2034. This translates to a robust CAGR of 7.20% over the forecast period. The combined meat and poultry market in the Asia-Pacific region stands as a formidable economic powerhouse, with its market size valued at an estimated US$683.11 billion in 2025. The regional market size is anticipated to reach a substantial US$845.29 billion by 2031, advancing at a steady Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 3.61% over the 2026–2031 period.
Source: fnbnews.com
Korea, India Weigh Deeper Economic Ties.
Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jung-gwan held an expert meeting on May 11 to discuss measures to expand economic cooperation between Korea and India. Experts from major economic and research institutions, including the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP), the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade (KIET), the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), the Korea International Trade Association, and the Korea Industrial Complex Corporation, attended the meeting on this day. They discussed measures to create an exclusive industrial complex for Korean companies in India, examples of other countries’ economic cooperation policies toward India, structural analysis and response directions regarding the deepening trade deficit with Korea raised by the Indian side, and Korea-India cooperation measures by promising industry.
Source: businesskorea.co.kr