Centre has taken initiatives to improve ties with Pak: Singh

Union Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh today said the Centre has taken several initiatives to improve relations with Pakistan and that it will take time to yield results.
"You can change your friends but cannot change neighbour. India initiated dialogue with Pakistan to improve relations with the neighbouring country but (such) things take time," he told reporters.
Describing coconut as an integral part of Indian
culture and tradition, religious and social rituals, Singh said so far 9720 coconut committees, 700 producer federations and 61 coconut producer companies have been formed across the country.
"I hope that through these farmer groups, Coconut Development Board's plan will be operationalised and farmers would hold their share in processing, marketing and export of coconut products," the union minister said.

On steps taken by the central government, he said minimum support price of milling copra was hiked from Rs 5550 to Rs 5950 and for edible copra from Rs 5830 to Rs 6240.
Moreover, the government's new foreign trade policy for 2015-20 is to promote export of coconut products, exports value (FOB) of up to 5 per cent as incentives are given. The export of coconut products is likely to rise in the future, because price is being extremely competitive.
Awards were presented on the occasion to various groups, individuals and organisations.