Egypt and Qatar have signed a new agreement to work more closely on liquefied natural gas (LNG) sales and imports, Egypt’s petroleum ministry said. The deal aims to help Egypt secure additional gas supplies to meet its rising energy demand, particularly during the summer months. Under the memorandum of understanding, Qatar will supply LNG shipments to Egypt through the Ain Sokhna and Damietta ports. QatarEnergy said the agreement allows for the delivery of up to 24 LNG cargoes to Egypt this coming summer. These supplies are expected to help Egypt meet higher electricity needs during the
India’s exports of Ayush and herbal products grew by 6.11 per cent in 2024–25 to $688.89 million, up from $649.2 million in the previous financial year, the government said on Sunday. The rise highlights increasing global demand for India’s traditional medicine and wellness products. The Commerce Ministry said the growth has accelerated after the creation of the Ayush Export Promotion Council, known as AYUSHEXCIL, which has strengthened global outreach and export support. The council recently marked its fourth establishment anniversary in New Delhi. Since its formation, AYUSHEXCIL
India’s exports to the Maldives are vital for the island nation’s economy. India sends petroleum products, medicines, rice, fruits, and vegetables. These are important everyday goods for the Maldives. India also exports machinery, electrical equipment, and vehicles that help meet local demand. On the other hand, India imports mainly fish and marine products from the Maldives. Though smaller in value, these imports are important for economic and strategic reasons. Tourism remains a key part of the relationship. Indian tourists are a major part of the Maldives’ visit numbers. When a
India has overtaken Japan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy, according to the government’s end-of-year economic review. Officials now expect India to move past Germany and become the third-largest economy within the next three years. The review said India’s gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated at USD 4.18 trillion, placing it ahead of Japan. However, final confirmation will depend on the official GDP data to be released in 2026. The International Monetary Fund has also projected that India will cross Japan in the coming year. The government note said India remains one
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated a major exhibition of sacred Piprahwa relics linked to Bhagwan Buddha at the Rai Pithora Cultural Complex in the national capital. Titled, The Light & the Lotus: Relics of the Awakened One, the exhibition brings back relics that were taken out of India over a century ago and were recently repatriated. Addressing the gathering, Shri Modi said the relics are not just historical objects but a living part of India’s civilisation and spiritual tradition. He said their return after 125 years allows people to see them and receive the
Nepal is preparing a major tourism push in 2026 by focusing on visitors from Southeast Asia, aiming to attract more international tourists and strengthen its tourism industry. The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has declared 2026 as the Nepal ASEAN Tourism Year, targeting countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and others in the ASEAN bloc. The move follows strong tourism growth in 2025, when Nepal welcomed around 1.16 million foreign visitors. According to the NTB, ASEAN is a high-potential market due to its growing middle class and rising demand for overseas travel. Many travelers
Vietnam has set ambitious economic targets for 2026, aiming for GDP growth of more than 10 per cent, supported by strong export performance despite higher US tariffs. Recent trade data shows that while tariffs slowed growth at times, they did not stop Vietnam’s export momentum. In 2024, Vietnam’s textile, clothing, and footwear exports crossed $71 billion, growing by 10–11 per cent year on year. Textiles and garments alone earned over $44 billion, with the United States accounting for about 40 per cent of the total. For 2025, Vietnam set export targets of $48 billion for textiles and
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal stated that India's trade partnership with Australia continues to anchor economic engagement in the Indo-Pacific as broader CECA discussions progress. From January 1, 2026, Indian exports would be duty-free across all Australian tariff lines, opening up new opportunities for exporters and labour-intensive sectors. On the third anniversary of the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, Goyal stated that the agreement had progressed beyond its intent to provide specific economic outcomes. India's exports to Australia increased
Vietnam Electricity Group has signed a €76 million credit agreement with the French Development Agency to build the Bac Ai pumped-storage hydropower facility in Khanh Hoa province, a significant step towards increasing its energy storage capacity. The facility is the country's first pumped-storage project and is intended to support a power system that is increasingly reliant on renewable energy. The Bac Ai plant will have an installed capacity of 1,200 MW, generated through four 300 MW turbines, for a total investment of around VND 21.1 trillion. The Prime Minister has given in-principle
India concluded 2025 with record export performance, landmark free trade agreements, and an accelerated digital trade push, according to Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. Goyal highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership for driving sustained progress across global trade, startups, and business reforms. India's overall exports reached an all-time high of USD 825.25 billion in 2024-25, representing a 6.05% rise over the previous year. Services exports were USD 387.54 billion, with substantial growth in rice, pharmaceuticals, marine products, engineering goods, and