Johnson is arriving in Ahmedabad early Thursday, where he is expected to have a day-long programme, and then leave for New Delhi in the evening for his Friday summit with PM Modi.
In an exclusive interview, the German ambassador to India said port call of the German warship Bayern in Mumbai shows the significance of the Indo-Pacific region.
India and UK launched negotiations for an FTA last week when Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan came to New Delhi. Target is to finalise it by 2023 and double trade by 2030.
The world’s largest trade agreement, including China and 14 other Asia-Pacific nations, came into effect on 1 January. India had quit it in 2019, fearing a glut of cheap imports.
Disproportionate imports & exports as well as foreign investors’ China Plus One strategy may have pushed the Modi govt to adopt a new strategy towards FTAs, say analysts.
Foreign Secretary Harsh V Shringla holds meetings with his counterpart Lord Tariq Ahmad and other officials in London, discusses ties in key areas of trade, defence, climate change, among others.
Adopting Trade and Sustainable Development committments as part of India-EU FTA could help Indian exporters differentiate from competition such as China.
German agriculture minister Cem Ozdemir said imposing export restrictions or closing markets would worsen the crisis. Actually, the opposite might be true.
The cut in excise duty last week, coupled with an increase in fertiliser and food subsidies, is expected to cost the exchequer around Rs 3 lakh crore in the current financial year.
India is 35th member of the maritime counterterrorism partnership that also includes Pakistan, Australia, Bahrain, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany and Greece, among others.
That temples were destroyed and mosques built is undisputed history. The past can’t be changed, but we can’t deny the wrongs of the past either before we consider reconciliation.