India-SACU trade pact talks to begin by September, conclude within a year

India and the Southern African Customs Union will soon sign terms of reference for trade pact negotiations. These talks are expected to conclude within one year of their formal commencement. India and Namibia have identified critical minerals for bilateral economic cooperation. Various sectors, such as renewable energy and health, will see increased collaboration. Future joint…

Indian ambassador to China urges deeper economic ties, touts AIIB as model

India’s new ambassador to China, Vikram Doraiswami, called for deeper economic ties, greater market access for Indian goods, and increased Chinese investment in India. Speaking at Beijing’s World Peace Forum, he proposed new institutions like the AIIB to counter rising “security-first” economics, tariffs, export controls, and the weaponisation of finance globally. Source: China – India…

Rice use for ethanol may rise as maize, sugarcane acreage falls this Kharif season

India is set to ramp up rice utilization for ethanol production this year, amid reduced planting of maize and sugarcane, raising concerns about feedstock availability. Fortunately, the government maintains a healthy stock of rice, offering a safety net. With sugar prices soaring to unprecedented levels due to crop output fears, this strategy aligns with India’s…

India amends FDI rules to boost e-commerce for small businesses, artisans, farmers, and fishermen: Union Minister Piyush Goyal

India has amended foreign direct investment regulations to boost e-commerce trade. These changes will help small businesses, artisans, farmers, and fishermen access wider markets. BRICS ministers discussed enhancing trade, investment, and industrial cooperation among member nations. Discussions also focused on creating jobs through emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. India aims to leverage e-commerce for connecting…

India China discuss border issues, upstream river projects at key talks

At the 36th WMCC meeting in New Delhi, India urged China to share technical details on its upstream trans-border river projects and called for an early meeting of the Expert Level Mechanism. Talks also covered LAC stability, boundary delimitation, and border management, with both sides agreeing to continue diplomatic and military channels to resolve issues.…

Ahead of Xi visit to India for BRICS, China pushes for curbs on media houses linked to Falun Gong, Tibet

Ahead of Xi Jinping’s likely September visit for the BRICS summit in Delhi, China’s embassy is pressing India’s Ministry of External Affairs to restrict media accreditation for outlets linked to Falun Gong and Tibetan refugee groups, such as The Epoch Times, Radio Free Asia, and Voice of Tibet, all blocked in China. Source: THE PRINT…