Trade Mission India 2026: 'Gateway to a rapidly expanding horticulture market'.
From 11–16 March 2026, East-West Trade & Consulting will lead a trade mission to India for companies active in horticulture, floriculture and greenhouse-related technologies. The mission is designed to provide first-hand market insight, structured business meetings and direct exposure to one of the world's fastest-growing horticultural markets.
Source: floraldaily.com
India-EU FTA to open new avenues for trade, investment: PM Modi, Greek counterpart.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Thursday agreed that the recently concluded India-EU FTA will open new avenues for trade and investment between the two countries. Both leaders had a meeting on the sidelines of India AI Impact Summit during which they reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral strategic partnership and noted that the partnership is growing at a steady pace in diverse fields.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Major FTAs done; focus now on their effective utilisation.
At the beginning of 2026, India took a major leap forward on FTAs. First the EU, termed as 'mother of all deals', followed by a sudden surprise announcement of closure of pending Bilateral Trade Agreement with the USA. The two geographies put together have a combined market strength of nearly US$50trillion. For India, these two big markets constitute nearly 38% of its merchandise exports’ share. If we add the UK in it, another major European economy, with whom the FTA would come into operation very soon, this figure will cross 40%.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Indian cardamom gains aroma on global supply crunch.
Indian cardamom exporters are pinning hopes on the 2026 export season, which is reportedly witnessing an unprecedented surge, with volumes projected to reach around 14,000 tonnes, nearly double the historical average. They have attributed the reason for the upward swing primarily to the 50 per cent production drop in Guatemala, which has left a massive supply vacuum in the international market.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
Call to transform agriculture into a profitable business.
Kerala Revenue Minister K.Rajan emphasised the need to transform agriculture into a profitable business by implementing modern technologies which would be beneficial to farmers. In his inaugural address at the Southern Regional Agriculture Fair 2026, organised by the Kerala Agricultural University, minister said that precision farming, artificial intelligence, and drones are creating a revolution in the agricultural sector today. The University’s significant role is to provide value-added technologies to farmers and deliver advanced technologies directly to their fields, he said.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
India–New Zealand Hold First Joint Working Group Meeting on Horticulture Cooperation.
India and New Zealand convened the first meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on horticultural cooperation today, marking a significant step forward under the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) signed between the two countries on 12 March 2025. TheJoint Working Group (JWG) meeting of India and New Zealand was co-chaired by Shri Priya Ranjan, Joint Secretary (Horticulture), DA&FWin person from Indian side and Mr. Steve Ainsworth, Divisional Manager, Bilateral Relations and Trade in virtual mode from New Zealand side wherein, the meeting brought together senior officials and technical experts from both sides to advance collaboration in the horticulture sector, with a strong focus on kiwifruit and pip fruit (apple and pear) development.
Source: pib.gov.in
APEDA Facilitated flag-off of first GI-Tagged Salem Sago consignment from Tamil Nadu to Canada.
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industries, facilitated the export of 0.5 MT of GI-tagged Salem Sago from Salem, Tamil Nadu to Canada. This marked the first export consignment shipped directly by the GI Authorised User, SAGOSERVE, since the product received its Geographical Indication (GI) tag in March 2023.
Source: pib.gov.in
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal Holds High-Level Meeting with President of the Swiss Confederation H.E. Mr. Guy Parmelin.
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, held a high-level meeting with H.E. Mr. Guy Parmelin, President of the Swiss Confederation, in New Delhi on 19 February 2026, during his official visit to India to attend the India AI Impact Summit 2026. The meeting reviewed the next steps for translating TEPA’s market-access gains into business partnerships and investment commitments.
Source: pib.gov.in
Apr–Jan farm & processed food exports rise 3.3% amid mixed commodity performance.
India’s agricultural and processed food product exports recorded a modest increase of 3.3% during the April–January period of the current fiscal year, with the shipments valued at $20.99 billion, according to the latest trade data. Despite the overall growth, the export performance across key commodity segments was mixed. Rice exports — traditionally India’s largest agri-export item — declined by 7.5% year-on-year to $9.33 billion in the April–January window. In January 2026 alone, rice shipments fell sharply, with revenues of $1.03 billion, down 25% compared with the same month last year, largely due to geopolitical tensions and competitive pressures from rival suppliers.
Source: fnbnews.com
India’s trade pacts with EU, US set to accelerate growth in food processing sector.
India’s food processing sector is poised for accelerated expansion following the recently concluded trade agreements with the European Union and the United States, according to Brickwork Ratings. Highlighting the macroeconomic backdrop, Manu Sehgal, CEO, Brickwork Ratings, said India remains one of the fastest-growing major economies, with real GDP projected at around 7.4 per cent in FY26 and expected to remain strong in FY27. Easing inflation, supported by falling food prices and supply-side measures, has enabled the Reserve Bank of India to maintain an accommodative monetary stance, including multiple repo rate cuts. This has created favourable financing conditions for businesses, including exporters in the food value chain.
Source: fnbnews.com