The free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the 27-member European Union (EU) would not be signed during the upcoming India-EU summit on February 10. However, talks have reached the final stage and are expected to be concluded by the second half of 2012, says Jo&atilde;o Cravinho, the European Union's new ambassador to India and head of the EU delegation to India, in an interview with Nayanima Basu.

India-EU FTA talks have gone on longer than we thought: Joao Cravinho

Business Standard

If 2011 was a difficult period for Indian exports, 2012-13 would be worse. Exports had a healthy run in the first half of 2011-2012, while growth rates had been steadily falling since August. However, exporters are set to begin the new financial year with growth rates that are already grim, and down to single digits.

Indian exports to remain in troubled waters in 2012-13

India needs to create 220 million jobs in the next 15 years and this is only possible by implementing the National Manufacturing Policy, launched recently by the government, says Arindam Bhattacharya, managing director, The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) India Pvt Ltd. In a conversation with Nayanima Basu, he explains why it is time for some bold policy decisions to sustain the current rate of growth, and that the country has limited choice in terms of creating growth and jobs.

Q&A: Arindam Bhattacharya, The Boston Consulting Group

Benefits not encompassing, depend on sector; experts blame lack of awareness and complex procedural issues for lacklustre performance.

Exporters yet to realise potential of bilateral trade agreements

According to Jawaid Akhtar, chairman, Coffee Board of India, the country will witness record growth in exports this year, too, like the last financial year. In an interview with Nayanima Basu, he says the board is now focused in promoting Indian coffee to the newer markets of Japan and Korea.

Q&A: Jawaid Akhtar, Chairman, Coffee Board of India

The state-run National Textile Corporation (NTC) is planning to open 100 stores by 2014 with a turnover of Rs 100 crore. The textile giant also expects to break even by then. The company, which recently unveiled a new logo and plans a major image make-over, is aggressively looking for a pan-India presence, chairman and managing director K Ramachandran Pillai tells Nayanima Basu &amp; Raghavendra Kamath in an interview.

We want NTC to be the preferred clothier of the country: K Ramachandran Pillai

Together with high imports, it will widen trade deficit for this financial year to $155-160 bn.

Export to fall short of target

The country&rsquo;s merchandise exports are expected to revive from January after a growth dip but the year ahead won&rsquo;t be easy, Union commerce secretary Rahul Khullar tells Nayanima Basu &amp; Indivjal Dhasmana.

It's going to be a very difficult year for exports: Rahul Khullar

Amid near-consensus among analysts that the Indian economy will grow by sub-eight per cent this financial year, Commerce Secretary Rahul Khullar pegged economic expansion for 2012-13 at seven per cent.

Khullar: Economic expansion at 7%

Despite the crisis in Euro zone, the negotiations on India-EU free trade agreement (FTA) has reached &ldquo;closing stages&rdquo; as both sides enter yet another round of formal negotiations. While consensus has been achieved in some tricky areas such as wine and pharmaceuticals, negotiators are now busy reaching an agreement in agricultural products and automobiles.

India-EU FTA nearing 'closing stages'

Despite the euro zone crisis, negotiations on India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has almost reached the closing stages. While consensus has been achieved in some tricky areas such as wine and pharmaceuticals, negotiators are working out agreements in agricultural products and automobiles.

Trade pact with EU nears closing stages

A number of economists are pointing to India&rsquo;s trade data to argue that, contrary to traditional teaching that exports thrive when the rupee depreciates, it is now the other way round. Meaning, exports would thrive when the rupee appreciates.

Nayanima Basu