All stories by Rajesh Rai
India blocks China-led investment pact at WTO
Rediff.com28 Feb 2024India on Wednesday blocked an attempt by a group of WTO countries led by China to push an investment facilitation pact in the agenda of the ministerial conference here, a move which may ensure that the proposal is unlikely to be part of the final outcome document, an official said. The 13th Ministerial Conference (MC-13) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) is underway. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, along with his team, is here for the meeting, which started on February 26.
India's exports up 6% to $447 billion in 2022-23
Rediff.com13 Apr 2023The country's exports rose by about 6 per cent to a "record" $447 billion during 2022-23 on account of healthy growth in the outbound shipments of sectors such as petroleum, pharma and chemicals and marine, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday. The country's imports also grew by 16.5 per cent to $714 billion in 2022-23 as against $613 billion in 2021-22. He said that the exports of goods and services together scaled "new heights" and has increased by 14 per cent to $770 billion in 2022-23 as against 676 billion in 2021-22.
Global economic uncertainties may cast shadow on India's exports in 2023
Rediff.com23 Dec 2022India's exports may have touched an all-time high of $422 billion in 2021-22 but recession in key western markets and geo-political crisis due to the Russia-Ukraine war are expected to impact the growth of the country's outbound shipments in 2023. All the global trade promoting factors like political stability, movement of goods, adequate availability of containers and shipping lines, demand, stable currency and smooth banking systems are in disarray. Adding to the woes, COVID cases have again started rising in countries like China, Japan, South Korea and the US.
FDI inflows seen to grow further in the New Year
Rediff.com21 Dec 2021A series of steps taken by the government to promote ease of doing business and liberalisation of foreign direct investment norms have helped India receive record FDI inflows so far this year, and implementation of measures like PM Gati Shakti, single window clearance and GIS-mapped land bank are expected to further push investments in 2022. Notwithstanding the global slowdown and the COVID-19 pandemic, total foreign direct investments into India rose to a record $81.72 billion in 2020-21. During April-July this fiscal, FDI (foreign direct investment) into the country increased by 62 per cent to $27.37 billion.
Why India's exports are likely to fly high in New Year
Rediff.com19 Dec 2021After staging a strong recovery from COVID-induced slowdown in 2021, India's exports are likely to extend the growth story to the New Year also on increased demand in the global markets, boost in domestic manufacturing due to production-linked incentive schemes and implementation of some interim trade pacts. Expectations of positive growth in the country's exports are also backed up by the outlook of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) which predicts a 4.7 per cent expansion in the global merchandise trade volume in 2022. Exporters believe that the outbound shipments would cross $400 billion mark in this fiscal going by the current momentum and may reach $475 billion in 2022-23.
Why there's little logic behind US decision to withdraw import duty benefits
Rediff.com7 Mar 2019The declining trade deficit figures clearly reflect that the US exports to India are increasing.
Meet this German gaurakshak, who houses hundreds of sick, abandoned cows
Rediff.com18 Sep 2017As many as 1,200 cows -- mostly abandoned, sick and injured -- have found a saviour in 59-year-old German national Friederike Irina Bruning.
FDI: Why the govt expects 45% jump in 2016
Rediff.com29 Dec 2015The government has hiked foreign investment caps.
India to pitch for permanent solution to food security issue at WTO
Rediff.com14 Dec 2015India has reiterated that members have spent over a decade on the Doha Round and it should not be kept hanging.
Cisco chief confident Modi is good for India's growth
Rediff.com10 Jun 2015John Chambers said India may become top BRICS nation under Modi
Eyeing big-billions in 2015, govt rolls out FDI red carpet
Rediff.com28 Dec 2014Global sentiment has turned very positive for India
After US deal, India to push for Doha agenda at WTO in 2015
Rediff.com18 Dec 2014The differences between the rich and developing nations have always been at the core of the World Trade Organisation, set up in 1995 to facilitate greater trade flows across the world, and it came as a major breakthrough when the US and India reached a deal over food security issues in 2014.
After sluggish 2014, India awaits 'promising' 2015 for exports
Rediff.com15 Dec 2014India's exports are estimated to have remained at around $312 billion in 2013, while the final figures for 2014 could be around this figure only.
Pakistan for liberal visa regime to boost trade with India
Rediff.com14 Feb 2014Pakistan on Friday pitched for liberalising visa regime with India and expressed willingness to accord non-discriminatory market access (NDMA) to New Delhi soon to boost bilateral trade.
India to witness better foreign investments in 2014
Rediff.com25 Dec 2013UK's largest retailer Tesco, Singapore Airlines and Etihad queued up to invest in India as a persistent UPA threw open more sectors to foreign investments with indications of more big ticket deals to be announced in the new year.
South Africa supports India's stand on food security at WTO
Rediff.com6 Dec 2013India and other developing nations, on the other hand, want the peace clause until a permanent solution is found on the matter for smooth implementation of the food security programme.
WTO: Long day ahead for negotiators to prevent talks collapse
Rediff.com6 Dec 2013When asked about the possibility of talks getting extended for another day, World Trade Organization spokesperson Keith Rockwell said: "The concept of time is flexible in WTO."
No agreement better than a bad one: Sharma on WTO
Rediff.com5 Dec 2013The minister, at a packed press conference, made it clear that New Delhi was not prepared for any compromise on the food security issue, adding the deal at Bali has to be fair and balanced as 'it is better to have no agreement than a bad Agreement'.
Food security should not distort global agri market: EU
Rediff.com4 Dec 2013Trade ministers and diplomats from around 130 countries are participating in the four-day meeting that started on Tuesday.
India acts tough, not to negotiate on food security
Rediff.com4 Dec 2013India's Food Security Act entitles 82 crore people to 5 kg of foodgrains per person a month at Rs 1-3 per kg.