1.   

New chapter in Sino-Indian ties

The Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has rightly indicated that “linkages between our vast markets” could be a game changer for the world. The recent visit of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to India was not business as usual. There was a lot of nostalgia as he recalled the Chinese youth delegation that he had led to India 27 years ago and the “warmth and friendship of the Indian people”. There was appreciation of how India, “one of the fastest growing economies of the world”, was playing an increasingly notable role in the global arena and there was applause for India’s enormous achievements.

2.   

New Pak PM committed on improving trade ties with India: US

The new Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif, is committed to improving trade ties with India and grant it the status of 'Most Favored Nation', a top official of the Obama Administration has said. In the past few years, India and Pakistan have made quite substantial progress in their trade, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Robert Blake, said here yesterday.

3.   

India to provide $150 million to set up SEZ in Myanmar

India has offered $150 million of credit for project exports to set up a SEZ in Myanmar and has expressed hope that the neighbouring country would permit Indian banks to set up branches there. The issues came up for discussion during the three-day visit of Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma to Nay Pyi Taw and Yangon. For the SEZ project, Myanmar government will provide suitable land for the purpose. "India has offered $150 million of credit for project exports for establishing a SEZ at Sittwe in Myanmar," an official statement said.

4.   

PM constitutes IMG on Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has constituted a six-member inter-ministerial group (IMG) to do the preparatory work for setting up the Amritsar-Delhi-Kolkata Industrial Corridor that would promote industrial development in the densely populated states of North India. The group consists of the secretaries of department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP), department of economic affairs (DEA), urban development, road transport and highways, shipping/inland waterways and the railway board chairman.