International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center shifts focus to gene editing for wheat resilience as GM varieties stall.
The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) is ramping up investments in gene editing technology to enhance wheat crop resilience, with Director General Bram Govaerts calling it a 'future' technology amid ongoing regulatory and technical challenges facing genetically modified wheat. In an exclusive interview to PTI, Govaerts acknowledged that GM or transgenic wheat varieties have failed to achieve commercial success, describing transgenics as 'a bit of an old technology'.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Chouhan chairs key meeting on GST reforms for agricultural machinery.
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare & Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan chaired an important meeting to discuss the latest GST (Goods and Services Tax) reforms for agricultural machinery, in New Delhi. Representatives from the Tractor and Mechanisation Association (TMA), Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Association (AMMA), All India Combine Manufacturers Association (AICMA and Power Tiller Association of India (PTAI), among others, participated both in person and virtually.
Source: fnbnews.com
India, New Zealand set for 4th round of FTA talks in October.
India and New Zealand completed several chapters of their proposed free trade agreement (FTA) in the third round of talks that concluded on Friday. The talks, which began on Monday, saw constructive discussions across all areas of the agreement, the commerce and industry ministry said, adding that the next round of in-person negotiations is slated for October 13-14 in New Delhi. 'Several chapters were concluded and significant progress was achieved in other key domains...Both sides agreed to maintain momentum through inter-sessional engagements,' the ministry said. Both countries began formal FTA negotiations on March 16.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
India, Oman to sign CEPA trade pact very soon: Oman's Ambassador to India.
India and Oman are set to sign the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) 'very soon' with both nations eyeing diversification of their trade basket to include more commodities and exchange of services, the country's Ambassador to India Issa Saleh Abdullah Saleh Alshibani said. In an interview to PTI, Oman's Ambassador to India said negotiations have concluded and currently the legislative and administrative processes are in motion.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
India in advanced talks with Oman for FTA, open to trade deals with other GCC nations: Piyush Goyal.
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Friday said that India is in the advanced stage of negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Oman, and is surely open to similar trade partnerships with other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Speaking to the media during his visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where the Minister attended the 13th meeting of the UAE-India High-Level Joint Task Force on Investments, he said, 'As of now, we are at an advanced stage of dialogue with Oman (on FTA), which should conclude soon. Some of the other countries have expressed an interest. Surely we are open to free trade agreements with other GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries.'
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Piyush Goyal says US trade talks are progressing & on right track.
Trade talks between India and the US are progressing and moving in the right direction, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said Thursday, adding that the India-US relationship is a 'very strong, comprehensive strategic partnership between two friendly countries'. 'The US discussions with the Assistant USTR happened two days back. They were productive and are working on the right track...Talks are moving positively.. India and the US are natural partners,' he said. A team of American trade officials led by Brendan Lynch, assistant US trade representative for South and Central Asia, met Indian trade negotiators in New Delhi Tuesday to discuss India-US trade ties including on the proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
'High Ecuadorian spot prices have increased demand for Indian bananas'.
Banana exports from India are showing signs of recovery as the export window nears, says Amir Karimi of fresh produce exporter Faina Universal Co. 'Although not yet at peak levels, exports remain steady with shipments continuing to the Middle East, including established deliveries to Jordan.' Karimi is optimistic about expanding into new neighboring markets, currently dominated by Ecuadorian and Philippine bananas, by focusing on consistent quality and supply.
Source: freshplaza.com
Central Asia Deepens Trade Links with India Amid Growing Economic Ties.
Trade between the countries of Central Asia and India is growing, edging closer to the $2 billion mark and signaling a new phase in cooperation across the Eurasian continent. According to data from the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), this surge reflects the expanding economic footprint of both regions.
Source: timesca.com
Indian Coffee Board’s post-blossom estimates peg 2025-26 output at record high of 4.03 lakh tonnes.
India’s coffee output for the crop year 2025-26, starting October, is pegged at a record high of 4.03 lakh tonnes (lt) according to the Coffee Board’s post-blossom estimates. These initial projections are higher by around 11 per cent over the 2024-25’s final crop estimates of 3.63 lt. The post-blossom estimates consist of arabicas of 1.18 lt, about 12 per cent higher than1.05 lt in the 2024-25 season. Robusta output is seen higher by 9.5 per cent at over 2.84 lt (2.57 lt as per final estimates of 2024-25).
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
India-UAE expanding trade beyond oil and precious metals, $100 bn target set by both nations.
In Abu Dhabi, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, co-chaired the 13th India–UAE High-Level Joint Task Force on Investments. He has announced a new target of achieving $100 billion in non-oil, non-precious metals trade. Goyal said both nations will deepen ties in textiles, food processing, leather, pharmaceuticals, and fisheries. A key decision was to jointly develop infrastructure projects in third countries has also been taken.The meeting, attended by one of the largest-ever Indian business delegations to the UAE, reaffirmed the growing strategic and economic partnership.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com