Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently said the Government of India has ushered in “performance-based politics,” replacing vote-bank approaches, while highlighting major improvements in the rail sector over the past decade. Replying to a debate on the Ministry of Railways’ Demand for Grants in the Lok Sabha, Mr. Vaishnaw said the financial health of Indian Railways has strengthened significantly under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He noted that nearly 99% of railway tracks, about 47,000 km, have been electrified, resulting in savings of around ₹6,000 crore. He also annou
Indonesia is stepping up its regional economic engagement, seeking to expand trade and investment ties with neighbouring Malaysia, according to ANTARA. The push reflects Jakarta’s broader strategy to strengthen its role within Southeast Asia’s evolving economic architecture. Speaking on the sidelines of the 32nd ASEAN Economic Ministers Retreat, Indonesian Deputy Minister of Trade Dyah Roro Esti reaffirmed the country’s commitment to open and inclusive cooperation. Discussions centred on improving market access and reinforcing bilateral frameworks to sustain long-term growth. Trad
India’s gems and jewellery exports rose 3.86 per cent year-on-year to USD 2,680.79 million (Rs 24,340.05 crore) in February, reflecting the sector’s efforts to diversify into new global markets, according to data released by the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC). The overall exports stood at USD 2,581.08 million (Rs 22,460.13 crore) during the corresponding month last year. Between April 2025 and February 2026, total gems and jewellery exports remained largely flat at USD 25,933.72 million (Rs 2,28,230.06 crore), compared to USD 25,915.81 million (Rs 2,18,737.62 crore)
Bangladesh is set to import an additional 45,000 tonnes of diesel from India in the coming weeks as authorities prepare to meet rising fuel demand ahead of the Eid al-Fitr travel season. The move aims to ensure a stable fuel supply as millions of people are expected to travel across the country during the festival holidays. Officials from the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) said 5,000 tonnes of diesel have already arrived from India, while another 5,000-tonne shipment is expected around March 18 or 19. Authorities are also planning to import an additional 40,000 tonnes once the nece
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has facilitated the first export consignment of 25 metric tonnes of Assam’s Joha rice to the United Kingdom and Italy, marking a significant step in expanding the global reach of the aromatic rice variety. According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the consignment was dispatched on March 12, 2026, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Government of Assam. Joha rice, an indigenous aromatic variety from Assam, received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2
India’s exports of food and agricultural products, including farm produce and fisheries, have reached nearly ₹5 lakh crore (over USD 55 billion) annually, making the country the world’s seventh-largest exporter of agricultural produce, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday. Speaking at the inauguration of the 40th edition of AAHAR – The International Food & Hospitality Fair, Goyal highlighted the strong growth in India’s agri and food exports over the past decade. Between 2014 and 2025, exports of processed foods increased fourfold, fruit and pulse
Japan is in advanced discussions with India to jointly explore rare earth deposits in Rajasthan as part of efforts to diversify supply chains for critical minerals and reduce dependence on China. The proposed collaboration reflects the deepening strategic partnership between Japan and India in securing reliable sources of materials essential for advanced manufacturing. The talks build on a preliminary agreement on critical minerals signed last year, highlighting both nations’ commitment to strengthening resilient global supply networks. Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy recently confirmed t
Kuala Lumpur: PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP) has reached the Final Investment Decision (FID) for the Malaysia SK405B Project, marking the company’s first greenfield development project in the country. The move is aimed at strengthening its long-term growth and expanding its presence in Malaysia’s energy sector. According to PTTEP Chief Executive Officer Montri Rawanchaikul, PTTEP Sarawak Oil Limited, a subsidiary of the company and operator of the SK405B Production Sharing Contract, has approved the development of the Sirung and Chenda fields located offs
The Uttar Pradesh government has announced plans to acquire 1,000 acres of prime industrial land in Gautam Buddha Nagar district to develop dedicated investment enclaves for corporations from Singapore and Japan. The land, to be acquired by the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) near the upcoming Noida International Airport, will be used to create two exclusive zones, a 500-acre “Singapore City” and a 500-acre “Japan City” targeted at global manufacturing and logistics players. A senior state official said each enclave will cater to investors from its respe
On the first day of his visit to Singapore, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath secured three memoranda of understanding worth Rs 6,650 crore with Universal Success Group for investments in group housing, a logistics park and a hyperscale data centre in the state, officials said on Monday. According to the state government, the proposed projects are expected to generate more than 20,000 jobs and further strengthen Uttar Pradesh’s industrial and urban infrastructure. The chief minister briefed investors on policy stability, improving connectivity and the state’s rapidly expandi