India, Afghanistan to appoint commercial attaches to boost bilateral trade
India and Afghanistan have decided to appoint dedicated commercial attaches in each other's capitals to revitalise bilateral trade currently valued at over USD 1 billion.The decision has been taken during a bilateral meeting between Afghanistan's Minister of Industry and Commerce Hajji Nooruddin Azizi and Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasad here on Thursday."In yesterday's meeting with the External Affairs Minister and the Minister of State for Commerce, both sides agreed to depute trade attaches in each other's embassy to oversee and support bilater
Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/
India's exports to China climb for 7 straight months in FY26, help New Delhi soften US tariff blow
India’s exports to China grew 24.7% year-on-year to $10.03 billion in April–October, rising every month and touching a 42% jump in October. Petroleum products, telecom instruments and marine goods drove the rise, helping offset the impact of steep US tariffs on Indian shipments.
Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/
Empowering farmers via FPOs: Building inclusive value chains that ensure quality, fair pricing
Spice is predominantly cultivated by small and marginal farmers. Such farmers lack access to modern methods and technologies of production and are also not fully aware of the quality norms and requirements of the market. They are also unable to avail of easy credit facilities available from banks and are dependent on others for finance at heavy cost to themselves.
Source: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/
Commerce Secretary Engages with Industry Stakeholders to Address Key SEZ Policy and Operational Challenges
Representatives from Special Economic Zone (SEZ) units and developers highlighted issues related to Special Economic Zone(SEZ)– Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) transactions, duty foregone, ICEGATE connectivity constraints, import monitoring systems, and reverse job work challenges faced by MSMEs. IT/ITES stakeholders raised concerns over rules on vacant built-up area classification, timelines for renewal of Letters of Approval (LoA), and procurement attestation requirements that differ from GST norms.Participants also drew attention to the lack of parity for SEZ units under concessional import duty and duty drawback schemes available to DTA units, operational inefficiencies introduced by the new Procurement Certificate process, countervailing duties imposed by the US, and the need to review QCO applicability for SEZ-to-DTA sales, particularly in cases such as KASEZ.
Source: https://www.pib.gov.in/
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal Advances Strategic Cooperation with Israel Across Agriculture, Technology and Trade
During the course of his meetings on 21 November 2025, Shri Piyush Goyal met the Israeli Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Avi Dichter, for a detailed discussion on advancing agricultural collaboration. Minister Dichter briefed Shri Goyal on Israel’s 25-year food-security roadmap, its advanced seed-improvement strategies and the country’s global leadership in water-reuse technologies for agriculture.As part of his engagements, Shri Goyal visited the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, where he was apprised of Israel’s pioneering technological ecosystem. He was shown several landmark innovations, including drip irrigation systems, stent technologies and the Iron Dome system, along with demonstrations of emerging future technologies and immersive virtual-reality solutions. He described the Peres Center as an inspiring institution that reflects Israel’s journey of creativity, innovation and social impact.
Source: https://www.pib.gov.in/
G20 Summit: Donald Trump’s attacks push India, Brazil, South Africa closer together
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, left, and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva during IBSA Leaders' meeting, on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, in Johannesburg, South Africa.US President Donald Trump’s targeted attacks against three of the world’s major emerging economies are prompting leaders of those countries to forge closer ties and push back against his aggressive trade policies.
Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/g20-summit-donald-trumps-attacks-push-india-brazil-south-africa-closer-together-3807898
Indian exports to continue strong show in H2 FY26: Commerce Ministry
India is poised for a strong export performance in the remainder of FY26 with the momentum of the first half of the fiscal and continued policy support for exporters, the commerce and industry ministry said Thursday.India's first half performance "stands out amid global headwinds" with the highest-ever quarterly exports in both the first and second quarter of FY26. "India recorded its highest-ever quarterly exports in both the first and second quarter of FY26, culminating in the highest-ever export performance for the first half of any financial year," the ministry said.
Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/
Govt to import 6.5 lakh tonnes rice, wheat
Finance adviser Salehuddin Ahmed who presided over the meeting at secretariat also chaired a meeting of the government purchase at the same place to approve import of 50,000 tonnes of non-Basmati rice. The rice will be supplied by Aditya Birla Global Trading Pte Ltd of Singapore that quoted $354.19 for per tonne in the international tender of the Ministry of Food. The overall cost of the rice has been estimated at Tk 216.90 crore. Earlier, the advisory council committee on economic affairs also approved another proposal from the ministry of food to import 3 lakh tonnes of wheat under the government to government negotiation. The wheat is likely to be imported from the United States under the memorandum of understanding signed in July between director general of the Food Department and the US Wheat Association on import of 7 lakh tonnes of wheat annually for the next five years. The director general of the Food Department has already ordered for around 4.4 lakh tonnes wheat from the US, of which 178,636 tonnes have already reached country in three consignments. The finance adviser noted that the present government was determined to strengthen the government food buffer. He also noted that the government food stock had been always suitable for the market monitoring. One of the major responsibilities of food ministry is procurement, storage and movement of food-grains, such as paddy, rice, wheat and maize to maintain an adequate public food grain stock for national food security as well as for distribution through Public Food Distribution System as price incentive for domestic production and price support for consumers.
Source: https://www.newagebd.net/
Taliban Minister Visits Food Expo in India to Boost Afghan Trade Ties
According to official sources, Azizi reviewed the activities and achievements of Afghan firms and was briefed on their challenges. Afghan traders, while voicing satisfaction with trade relations with India, raised concerns over issues in banking, customs, and regulatory sectors. Azizi promised to raise these concerns with Indian officials and said he would follow up to address the problems facing Afghan traders. He also held a separate meeting with officials from the India Trade Promotion Organisation, which organized the exhibition. During the meeting, both sides discussed holding joint exhibitions in New Delhi and Kabul, streamlining the visa process for Afghan traders, creating special zones for Afghan companies at trade fairs, and exploring ways to deepen commercial cooperation.
Source: https://atlaspress.news/
Fruit Production In Jammu Region: Blossoming Opportunities Amidst Challenges
The Jammu division forms the sub-tropical counterpart to Kashmir’s famed apple belt. The districts like Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, Reasi, and Rajouri are predominantly suited for mango, citrus (kinnow and mandarin), guava, litchi, ber, and aonla. In the mid-altitude zones often referred to as the “intermediate belt” farmers cultivate kiwi, olive, anardana, peaches, plums, apricots and pears, while higher elevations in Doda, Poonch, and Reasi support limited but promising temperate fruit plantations such as apple and walnut. According to the Jammu and Kashmir Department of Horticulture, the Union Territory’s total horticultural area has risen from about 3.35 lakh hectares in 2020-21 to around 3.45 lakh hectares in 2023-24, with fruit production increasing from 22.3 lakh metric tonnes to over 26 lakh metric tonnes. The sub-tropical fruit economy of the Jammu region is largely driven by the cultivation of fruits such as mango, citrus (sweet orange, mandarin/kinnow, lime, lemon), guava, litchi, ber, aonla, grapes, and strawberry. As apples continue to dominate the UT’s overall statistics, the sub-tropical fruit economy of Jammu has been steadily gaining ground.
Source: https://statetimes.in/