Cost of credit must be reduced to support regional trade through new credit mechanisms and improved customs infrastructure.
Cost of credit for industry and exporters must be lowered and new credit mechanisms developed to support commercially viable regional projects; the Government will consider measures for exporters and investors. Complementary trade facilitation requires improved customs infrastructure, integrated check posts and faster border processing. India has reduced its sensitive list for SAARC LDCs and extended near-universal zero-duty access for LDC-relevant tariff lines, while calls were made to reduce non tariff barriers, build regional production chains and strengthen institutional linkages to foster regional cooperation.

Comprehensive debt relief for small coffee growers strengthens government support to stabilise production and develop domestic coffee markets.
The Government announced a Comprehensive Debt Relief Package for small coffee growers, coupled with financial restructuring, technology support for cultivation, development assistance to improve production and quality, capacity building, packaging and marketing linkage development, and encouragement of increased domestic roasting capacity and private investment to reduce exposure to global price volatility.

Sovereign investment interest spurs Joint Working Group to pursue de risked infrastructure and sector diversification opportunities.
ADIA signalled interest in Indian infrastructure and related sectors and the parties agreed to form a Joint Working Group to identify and finalise projects; de risked infrastructure and PPP projects, including the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, were highlighted as likely targets, and discussions also covered diversification into pharma, services, engineering and agro processing and coordination on a proposed Free Trade Agreement with Gulf partners.

Export growth highlights widening trade deficit as imports increase faster than exports, based on preliminary trade estimates.
India's exports for April-December 2011 rose 25.8% to US$ 217.6 billion while imports grew 30.4% to US$ 350.9 billion, producing a negative balance of trade of US$ 133.3 billion; December 2011 monthly figures showed a similar deficit pattern and the Commerce Secretary noted the figures are preliminary estimates.

Preferential trade agreement momentum to be pursued, with intensified efforts on the PTA and investment protection agreement.
The Commerce Minister and his counterpart reviewed bilateral commercial relations, noted continued growth in trade and investment, and agreed to maintain momentum through commercial delegations and facilitative measures while intensifying efforts to conclude a Preferential Trade Agreement with SACU and finalise a Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement to deepen market access and secure investment flows.

Sensitive item imports rose, shifting commodity and supplier composition and increasing their share of total imports.
Import of designated sensitive items increased during April-October 2011 versus the prior year, raising their share of total imports. Milk and milk products and food grains fell while edible oil, automobiles, fruits and vegetables, pulses, rubber, textiles, small-scale industry products, spices, stone products, alcoholic beverages and tea and coffee rose. Edible oil increases were driven by crude palm oil and its fractions, with both crude and refined edible oil imports up. Supplier composition shifted with rises from several countries and declines from others.

Strategic energy cooperation urged to deepen bilateral trade through investment and joint ventures in petroleum and gas sectors.
Focus on investment and joint ventures to enhance bilateral trade and services and to elevate the buyer-seller relationship into strategic energy cooperation, with emphasis on participation in petroleum and gas sectors both upstream and downstream, and mutual investment in petroleum, gas-based industrial estates, fertilizers, petrochemical plants and refineries; principal trade items include petroleum, chemicals, machinery, rice, and metal ores.