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Delhi's trade associations on Wednesday expressed concern over the US decision to impose a 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods, but said the impact would largely be temporary as India would explore alternative markets and strengthen domestic competitiveness. The Federation of Sadar Bazar Traders' Association (FESTA) termed the step "unfair and unwise". "Tariffs will create a situation of trade war between the two countries," FESTA Chairman Paramjit Singh Pamma said. They appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to give maximum relief to traders in GST and ensure low-interest loans so that domestic products can remain competitive. The Gandhi Nagar Market Association described the disruption as temporary. "This is only a short-term problem as our exports will be routed to other countries," said the association's President Naresh Sikka, adding that traders are confident better alternatives will be found under the Prime Minister's policies. Additionally, Khan Market Traders' Associatio
Traders and business associations in the national capital have welcomed the decision to abolish the requirement of a Delhi Police license for several commercial categories. They termed the move a step towards reducing bureaucratic red tape and easing business operations in the city. Sanjeev Mehra, president of the Khan Market Traders' Association, said the decision would provide partial relief to business owners but stressed the need for further streamlining. "It would be more effective if the government implements a single-window clearance system involving nodal officers from departments like Fire, Police, and others," he said. Paramjeet Singh Pamma, chairperson of the Sadar Bazaar Traders' Association, said the step was essential and long overdue. He added that the move would not only ease the licensing process for traders but also make it simpler to conduct business in the city. Brijesh Goyal, chairman of the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI), said the decision would reduce .
Sundaram Home Finance which has been expanding its presence beyond Southern markets has reached a milestone of breaching Rs 1,000 crore mark in its disbursements made in non-south markets in FY 2024-25, a top official said. Sundaram Home Finance is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sundaram Finance Ltd. It provides home loans, plot loans, loans against property and business loans to traders and retailers. The city-headquartered company, a traditional player in south India, has expanded its presence in Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. It also entered into the Chhattisgarh market. For the financial year ending March 31, 2025, Sundaram Home Finance made disbursements of Rs 6,517 crore (including south and non-south markets) which was up by 29 per cent from Rs 5,039 crore disbursements made in the same period of previous financial year (FY2023-24). With the growing presence in the country, the contribution from non-south geographies has doubled in the last couple of years to about
The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) and Meta have launched an initiative to equip 25,000 women traders across India with digital skills using the WhatsApp Business App. The first phase of 'Vyaapar Sakhi' will run from June to November 2025, offering in-person training sessions in multiple Indian languages. The initiative aims to help women entrepreneurs build a credible online presence, showcase products, set up automated messages, and run ads on WhatsApp. The women's wing of CAIT will lead the training, according to a release. "India is home to millions of women-led businesses, and empowering them is not just the right thing to do; it is critical to unleashing our country's vast entrepreneurial potential. "We believe that giving women across India, especially in tier 2 and tier 3 towns, the right digital skills and knowledge to fully unlock the potential of WhatsApp will not only help them grow their businesses but it will also enable them to better support and benefit
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday said that traders and business owners across the city have expressed frustration over inadequate infrastructure, poor sanitation and lack of development, adding that they have been troubled by mismanagement and impractical policies of the previous government. Speaking on the sidelines of an event related to the upcoming Delhi Budget 2025-26, Gupta said her government has received valuable suggestions from traders and industrialists and assured them of concrete action. For years, traders and business owners have been suffering due to impractical policies, bureaucratic hurdles and negligence by the last government. There has been no real development -- roads and drainage systems remain in poor condition, and even basic civic amenities like washrooms are lacking in major markets, she told reporters. She highlighted issues faced by both small and large commercial hubs such as Chandni Chowk, Karol Bagh and Lajpat Nagar, which are reeling from
The ongoing crisis in Bangladesh and subsequent non-arrival of travellers from there has led to a blow to the traders of a particular area in central Kolkata, which is popular among tourists from the neighbouring country for shopping and staying. A section of those perplexed traders are staring at a void, while others are either looking at new avenues or decided to woo back the Indian customers they have lost in the past. An estimated 15,000 families are now affected by the situation. According to a trader, in the past, local customers and tourists from other states in India used to visit these areas for various purposes. They were more or less ignored by the traders and their population gradually dwindled over the years. "Now there is a big question mark. They don't know what to do they don't know in which direction their business will go since they are dependent only on the Bangladeshis," the National Committee Member of Travel Agents Federation of India (East India), Anil Punjab
The escalation of conflict in the West Asian region is expected to push already high logistics costs besides hurting trade in sectors such as oil, electronics and agriculture, according to exporters. They said that insurance costs for exports to the countries directly involved in the war could also go up, which will impact Indian exporters' working capital. Think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) stated that the conflict is already hurting India's trade with countries like Israel, Jordan, and Lebanon. The Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) said the Iran-Israel conflict has the potential to significantly impact world trade and the global economy in several ways. "Iran is a key player in the oil market. Any escalation in conflict could disrupt oil supplies, leading to higher prices, which would impact global economies, especially those reliant on oil imports. Oil prices have already moved up by USD 4 per barrel," FIEO DG Ajay Sahai said. Expressing concerns,
The Centre lifted the ban on the export of non-basmati white rice on Friday with immediate effect, according to a notification. In July 2023, the government imposed the ban to ensure the domestic supply of rice and keep prices under control. Exporters hailed the decision, dubbing it a "game-changer" for the sector. "India's bold decision to lift restrictions on non-basmati white rice exports is a game-changer for the agricultural sector," said Rice Villa CEO Suraj Agarwal. "This strategic move will not only boost the income of exporters but also empower farmers, who can expect higher returns with the impending arrival of the new kharif crop," he said. The government has also reduced the export duty on parboiled rice to 10 per cent from 20 per cent, the notification said. Another rice exporter, Keshab Kr Halder of Halder Group who was seeking immediate removal of the ban lauded the government's move.