Anand Sharma to Lead Indian Side for India-Africa Trade Ministers’ Meet

Shri Anand Sharma, Union Minister for Commerce & Industry will lead Indian side in a special Meeting of India-Africa Trade Ministers to be held on May 21, 2011 in Addis Ababa. The meeting precedes 2nd Africa- India Forum Summit and will be involving Trade & Industry Ministers from all the member States. 2nd Africa- India Forum Summit is being convened on 24th – 25th May, 2011 at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The outcome of the Trade Ministers’ Meet will feed into the Summit Declaration of the leaders. The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, will visit Ethiopia on May 23-26, 2011 to participate in the Summit.

Australia and India to deepen economic partnership Anand Sharma raises issue of safety of India Students in Australia

The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Anand Sharma has stressed India’s interest in building long-term relationships with Australia, especially in areas of mutual interest such as mineral resources, agriculture and clean energy. The Minister who is on a three day visit to Australia, met with and had substantive discussions with Mr. Kevin Rudd, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Joe Ludwig, Minister for Agriculture, Forest and Fisheries; Mr. Martin Ferguson, Minister for Resources, Energy and Tourism; Mr. Stephen Smith, Minister for Defence; and Mr. Simon Crean, Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government.

India-Pak trade talks today

On the eve of Indo-Pakistan trade talks, New Delhi on Tuesday said "possible doables" to upgrade bilateral economic engagement would be clear after the Commerce Secretaries complete their discussion in Islamabad. Describing the India-Pakistan commerce secretaries' talks, beginning tomorrow, as "a positive development," Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said that, “after these talks, there would be greater clarity about possible doables on ways to upgrade economic ties".

India Looks to Narrow Trade Deficit with China Governor of Sichuan Province Calls on Anand Sharma

While staying concerned over the huge trade deficit with China, The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Anand Sharma expressed optimism that recently unveiled 12th Five Year Plan for 2012-14 of China, with a strong slant for a domestic consumer driven economy will give enormous opportunity for Indian exporters to access China’s huge consumer market in the coming years. The trade deficit for India for 2010 stood at USD 20.02 billion, more than USD 15.87 billion trade deficit in year 2009 with China which is an export driven economy. He met the Mr Jiang Jufeng, Governor of Sichuan Province of China, a province with which India’s trade relations date back to 444 B.C.

Anand Sharma Calls on Sheikh Hasina, Abandoned Rail Lines to be Restored

The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Anand Sharma called on the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Smt Sheikh Hasina at Dhaka today. The Bangladesh Prime Minister expressed satisfaction over the outcome of the visit of the Indian Minister and called the Indian decisions ‘timely’. She said that measures announced during the visit show India’s firm commitment towards fulfilling the provisions of India-Bangladesh Joint Statement, January 2010.