Kazakhstan, India pledge stronger ties in trade, tech, and culture.
During the meeting on Thursday, the Kazakh diplomat noted that on 22 February 2026, the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of India marked the 34th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. It was emphasized that bilateral ties extend far beyond formal diplomacy and are rooted in deep historical and cultural connections. As close partners in the broader Eurasian and Asian region, Kazakhstan and India attach strategic importance to their cooperation.
Source: qazinform.com
Exporters flag concerns over shipping costs, scheme gaps.
Indian exporters on Thursday flagged their concern over the charges being levied by shipping lines as well as gaps in the ECGC scheme announced by commerce department, while seeking measures to address concerns related to packaging material, which is in short supply. At a meeting on the West Asia crisis with commerce secretary Rajesh Agrawal and shipping secretary Vijay Kumar, exporters also complained about the shortage of bunker oil at ports, such as Paradip and Haldia and demanded adequate supplies. Besides, they complained about shipping lines not passing on the benefits of lower charges or waivers in a transparent manner. A leading exporter said that shipping companies were seeking upfront payment and promising to adjust it later. 'The benefit should be given upfront,' said Fieo director general Ajai Sahay. While DG Shipping sought to address this concern, exporters said govt has little control over foreign lines.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
India Inc ramps up exports as Iran ceasefire reopens Middle East trade.
India Inc is moving rapidly to capitalise on the Iran war ceasefire by resuming exports and restoring factory utilisation in the region to full capacity. Companies are also bracing for a potential surge in orders amid expectations of reconstruction activity in the war-affected countries.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Yogi bats for ‘land is lab’ model to achieve self-reliance in agriculture.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday underscored the urgency to strengthen agricultural self-reliance, citing global disruptions that have exposed vulnerabilities in food and energy supply chains. Addressing the inaugural session of the 6th Uttar Pradesh Agricultural Science Congress, the chief minister said uncertainties in international supply chains, fluctuating fertiliser prices and the volatile availability of petroleum products have made dependence on external sources increasingly risky.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
'With the right ecosystem, pomegranate aril exports become a more predictable proposition'.
India's pomegranate‑aril exports are moving from being niche to strategic, and the focus is gradually shifting from the farm to the packhouse, as postharvest browning, moisture loss, microbial growth, and short shelf life continue to pose challenges during long‑haul transport, says Qadir Rangwala of Vista Packaging, based in Mumbai. 'We're seeing processors struggle with how quickly arils degrade once they're separated from the fruit, especially on journeys to demanding markets. Without proper shelf‑life‑engineered packaging, significant volumes remain at risk of quality loss or rejection well before they reach the retailer.'
Source: freshplaza.com
NITI Aayog lays out roadmap for horticulture transformation in J&K.
NITI Aayog has proposed a mission project ‘Operation Golden Greens’ for horticultural transformation in the union territory of J&K, aimed at enhancing India’s exports in apple, walnut, almond and saffron, which are major horticulture products in Jammu & Kashmir. 'J&K’s major horticultural products possess significant global trade potential. However, India’s presence in global markets for these commodities remains limited, with increasing import dependence and stagnant or declining exports,' it said, in its report released on Wednesday.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
India eyes higher farm output this year, confident of supporting global food supply amid uncertainty: DARE Secy Jat.
India is well-prepared for the current global scenario and expects higher farm output this year, strengthening domestic food security and enabling support to other countries amid current global uncertainties, said M L Jat, Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Piyush Goyal urges exporters to tap India-US portal to boost trade.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday urged exporters and businesses in India and the US to make greater use of the India-US trade facilitation portal to boost bilateral trade. He also said that the bilateral trade is growing towards $500 billion, an ambitious target set by both sides.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri launches India-US trade Facilitation Portal.
Washington, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Wednesday launched the India-US Trade Facilitation Portal here as the two countries eye the $500 billion bilateral trade target. Misri, who is on a three-day visit to the US, launched the portal at a virtual event that was attended by India's Ambassador to the US Vinay Mohan Kwatra, and officials and trade representatives from the two countries.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
US envoy to India meets Trump, discusses 'strong future of India-US ties'.
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor met US President Donald Trump in Washington and discussed the future trajectory of India-US relations. The dinner comes as Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri arrived in Washington to review the full breadth of India-US ties and advance cooperation across key sectors, including trade, defence, technology.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com