Gandhinagar, May 16 (IANS) The intra-BRICS merchandise trade has risen thirteen-fold, from $ 84 billion in 2003 to $ 1.17 trillion in 2024, outpacing the growth in global trade and contributing to greater resilience and diversification for member countries, Rajesh Agrawal, Commerce Secretary said on Saturday.Speaking at 2nd meeting of the BRICS Contact Group on Trade and Economic Issues (CGETI) here, the top government official underscored that BRICS has continued to grow stronger and has emerge…
Latest Rajesh Agrawal News & Updates
New Delhi, May 15 (IANS) India is banking on the proposed export promotion mission and a new wave of free trade agreements (FTAs) to push the country’s exports towards the ambitious $1 trillion milestone in FY27, a top government official said on Friday.Speaking to NDTV Profit, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said the government expects export growth in the current financial year to surpass last year’s pace, with efforts aimed at achieving expansion well beyond the 10-15 per cent range req…
New Delhi, May 15 (IANS) India’s overall exports registered a strong growth of 13.6 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to reach $80.8 billion in April 2026, despite geopolitical tensions in West Asia disrupting key trade routes and global markets, according to government data released on Friday.The goods exports rose to a record $43.56 billion in April, compared to $38.28 billion in the same month last year.Meanwhile, services exports also witnessed healthy growth, increasing to $37.2 billion from $3…
Mumbai, May 11 (IANS) India’s approach towards Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) is focused on building stable and future-ready partnerships that enable domestic industries to integrate more effectively with global value chains, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said on Monday.Speaking at a session on “FTAs as Catalysts for Growth in Global Trade” during the CII Annual Business Summit 2026 here, Agrawal said that in an increasingly fragmented global landscape, trade resilience, long-term predic…
New Delhi, May 2 (IANS) Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday lauded the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) as a premier institution contributing to India’s global trade and policy landscape, as the institute marked its 63rd Foundation Day. In a message shared on a social media platform, the minister highlighted IIFT’s role in shaping the country’s international trade and management ecosystem through its contributions to policy, research, and capacity bu…
Nairobi, April 27 (IANS) The 10th meeting of the Joint Trade Committee of India and Kenya was held in Nairobi on Monday.The meeting was co-chaired by Commerce Secretary of India, Rajesh Agrawal and Principal Secretary for Trade of Kenya Regina Akoth Ombam, the High Commission of India in Kenya stated.Both sides held comprehensive discussions on enhancing bilateral trade, improving market access, addressing tariff and non-tariff barriers, and strengthening cooperation in key sectors, including ph…
Mumbai, April 21 (IANS) Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday called for a paradigm shift in governance, asking the state administration to function like a “startup” to achieve the goal of Zero Bureaucracy. Speaking at the Civil Service Day 2026 awards ceremony, the Chief Minister emphasised that a transparent, dynamic, and citizen-centric administration is the bedrock of a developed Maharashtra.The event, held under the ‘Rajiv Gandhi Administrative Dynamism (Pragati) Campaign and…
New Delhi, April 15 (IANS) India’s merchandise trade deficit narrowed to $20.67 billion in March this year as the country’s exports rose 6.3 per cent to $38.92 billion from $36.61 billion in February, according to official figures released by the Commerce Ministry on Wednesday.Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said that India’s total exports for 2025-26 have crossed $860.09 billion to record a 4.22 per cent growth over the corresponding figure of $825.26 billion for 2024-25. India’s impo…
New Delhi, April 5 (IANS) India’s pharmaceutical exports reached over $28 billion up to February in the current financial year, registering a growth of more than 5 per cent compared to the same period last year, a senior government official has said.Speaking at the inaugural session of the ‘Chintan Shivir: Scaling Up Pharma Exports’, the official highlighted that the growth was led by formulations, biologicals, vaccines, and Ayush products.“Despite global challenges, pharmaceutical expor…
New Delhi, April 4 (IANS) The government is working to ensure minimal disruption to supply chains amid global uncertainties, while remaining prepared for a potential dip in exports and imports, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said on Saturday.Addressing the press conference on the sidelines of a ‘Chintan Shivir’ session in Hyderabad, Agrawal told the media that the initiative aims to bring together government and industry stakeholders to identify challenges and chart a clear roadmap.The offi…