Page 26 - Piyush Goyal

Govt to take all measures to contain prices of essential food items: Goyal

The Centre will pull all stops to ensure prices of essential food items from onion to tomatoes to pulses do not spike particularly during the elections, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said as he cited the Modi government's track record of controlling rates within days of any temporary hike. In an interview with PTI, Goyal, who is heading the food and consumer affairs ministry, asserted that the Modi government would continue to take measures to ensure that there is no stress on the household budget of "our Nari-Shakti". Replying to a query regarding the government's strategy to ensure that there are no spikes in prices of food items when the general election kicks in, the minister said, "We are going to be on top of it. And I can assure the people of India that this government cares for the women of India." He highlighted that the government has spent in the last few years about Rs 28,000 crore to the price stabilisation fund to support the effort to fight against food inflation. "We

Farmer leaders will see reason, call off protest, says Piyush Goyal

Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said that the Modi government is committed to the welfare of farmers and exuded confidence that the farmer leaders will see reason and call off their protest. Food Minister Goyal, along with Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda, and Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai have held four rounds of talks with the farmers' group who are seeking a legal guarantee on MSP (minimum support price). He said that the government always support farmers and it stands by them. "Please don't get misled by the propaganda of some people. This government is committed to the interest of farmers and we are totally committed to a bright future for every farmer." The minister said that he along with the agriculture minister and the Minister of State for Home Affairs had suggested to the farmer leaders on how the government can work with them for a better future for the farming community and to help the country become self-reliant. "I am confident that th

Modi govt always keeps in mind long-term benefits of FTAs for India: Goyal

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said that the Modi government always keeps in mind commensurate and long-term benefits for the domestic industry while negotiating free trade agreements. He stressed that "gone" are the days when India used to accept the terms of the world. "We crystal gaze into the future to make sure that its (FTAs) impact in the future will also be positive and we also look at balanced, fair and equitable FTAs," he told PTI in an interview. "So we can see the big Indian opportunity that we are offering and we want to make sure that we get commensurate benefits (from these pacts) for the country," he said. He indicated "some good news" on this front in the days to come. The remarks assume significance as India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) bloc concluded the talks for an FTA. EFTA members are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. The minister said that the free trade pacts of the Modi government involve a huge am

It would be privilege to contest upcoming Lok Sabha elections: Piyush Goyal

Union Minister Piyush Goyal, whose is among the high run ministers in the Modi government that are being speculated for contesting upcoming general elections, on Friday said he is ready to take the plunge but it is for the party to decide on the issue. Goyal, son of former BJP treasurer Ved Prakash Goyal, has been a three time Rajya Sabha member and if nominated, this will be his first Lok Sabha contest. In an interview to PTI, he said it would be a privilege to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, but a decision in this regard has to be taken by the BJP party leadership. On whether he would like to contest the elections from Maharashtra, he said it would depend upon the party. Goyal holds three portfolios - commerce and industry, textiles, and food and consumer affairs. At present, the minister is a Rajya Sabha member from Maharashtra. "Of course, I am very excited, I am looking forward to a decision being made by the party leaders and I do hope that I (will) get an opport

Cabinet approves AI Mission at an outlay of Rs 10,372 crore for 5 years

The Cabinet approves India AI mission with an outlay of Rs 10,372 crore for five years, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday. The approved corpus will be used to to create a large computing infrastructure. The minister, briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting, said supercomputing capacity, comprising over 10,000 GPU, will be made available to various stakeholders for creating an AI ecosystem. Startups, academia, researchers and industry will be given access to the AI supercomputing infrastructure established under the India AI Mission, Goyal said. A National Data Management Officer will be set up under the mission that will coordinate with various government departments and ministries to improve the quality of data and make them available for AI development and deployment.

Govt launches gateway to facilitate post-harvest financing for farmers

Through the digital gateway of WDRA and e-NAM, farmers can now sell their commodities above the minimum support price (MSP)

Goyal launches platform to enable loans against produce to farmers

Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday launched a digital platform to facilitate farmers in getting loans against their produce stored in registered godowns and said it would help boost the farming community's income and make agriculture an attractive proposition. The minister also announced that the Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) would soon lower the security deposit paid by the warehouse owner to 1 per cent of the value of the stock from the current 3 per cent. At an event here, Goyal launched the digital gateway named 'e-Kisan Upaj Nidhi', which aims to facilitate farmers in obtaining post-harvest loans from banks against their stocks stored in the WDRA registered warehouses. The loans are provided against electronic Negotiable Warehouse Receipts (e-NWRs). At present, there are more than 5,500 registered warehouses under WDRA, while the total number of agri-warehouses is estimated at around 1 lakh. The minister emphasised the need to .

Highlights of the day: 400 farmer unions to be at 'Mahapanchayat' in Delhi

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WTO MC13: Abu Dhabi meet ends with no consensus on agri, fisheries

Countries agree to renew the e-commerce moratorium until next ministerial

Protection for Indian farmers, fishermen ensured at WTO MC 13: Piyush Goyal

Emphasisng the importance of securing their well-being, Goyal stated, "I think that India has successfully delivered on the issues that were our role and has achieved the outcomes that we expected"

WTO fails on major reforms, extends digital tariff ban in Abu Dhabi meeting

On the 5th day of the ministerial meeting, most ministers had already gone home, although India's trade minister Piyush Goyal and European Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis remained until the end

It's 'sad' some countries still obstructing outcomes at WTO: Piyush Goyal

The WTO ministerial meeting in Abu Dhabi this week is seeking deals on ending fishing subsidies and extending a moratorium on digital trade tariffs - a move that India and South Africa oppose

Govt launches Bharat Startup Ecosystem Registry to create database

The government on Thursday said it has launched a platform, Bharat Startup Ecosystem Registry, to create a comprehensive database with details about all the startup ecosystem stakeholders under one roof across different categories. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal became the first person to register on the platform, signifying the government's commitment to nurturing India's burgeoning startup ecosystem. "The Registry will act as a one-stop database with details on all startup ecosystem stakeholders under one roof across different categories," it said. It is envisaged that the registry will facilitate easy access and discovery, fostering collaboration and growth within the ecosystem. "This one-stop platform will house detailed information on all ecosystem participants, facilitating easy access and discovery,' it said, adding that the registry will include various categories of entrepreneurs, including those in the early stages of ideation, social impact ventures, and ...

India consensus builder at WTO, certain nations breaking that: Piyush Goyal

India is a consensus builder in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) by playing a key role in the process but some countries are breaking that, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Wednesday. He is here for the 13th ministerial conference (MC) of the WTO. The meeting started on February 26 to discuss issues such as agriculture and fisheries subsidies, dispute settlement and moratorium on customs duty levy on e-commerce trade. The minister's remarks came amid allegations by certain developed nations that India is blocking deals at the WTO. "Our stand is consistent... we have to see who are blocking the issues and who is responsible for not letting things of the WTO smoothly... It is proved that India in fact is a consensus builder and we are playing a key role in making consensus ...and certain countries are breaking that consensus on certain issues," Goyal told reporters here. He also said that India stands on strong principles of fair play, justice at the WTO and want

India-UK FTA: Goyal, Badenoch meet to decide future course of action

The ministers are expected to hold bilateral talks on the sidelines of the World Trade Organization's four-day summit - the 13th Ministerial Conference -- in Abu Dhabi

Startups backbone of new India, it's our time under the sun: Piyush Goyal

Goyal said that the event will be a platform to showcase India's success stories built over the last decade. It would also showcase to the world that "India has today emerged as a global leader"

Piyush Goyal urges textiles industry to work on long road map for sector

Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday asked the textiles industry stakeholders to work on a long roadmap for growth of the sector, "which has huge potential". The textile minister said the industry needs to focus on the world market as it would help make the sector competitive. "We are looking at a team working from across sectors to prepare the roadmap for India," he said at textiles industry function here. He said the Indian economy is likely to reach USD 35 million by 2047, "so we have to see what will be the share" of textiles in that.

Centre directs 100% auction of dust tea grades from North India

Mohit Agarwal, Director, Asian Tea Company, said that the move would make the tea industry "robust and transparent"

WTO should not negotiate rules on non-trade issues, says Piyush Goyal

Says such matters should be addressed in intergovernmental organisations

WTO meet: India to seek permanent solution to food security issues

India will strongly oppose a China-led proposal for an investment facilitation pact besides pressing for finding a permanent solution to public stock holding of grains for food security and protection of the interests of fishermen at the WTO ministerial meeting beginning Tuesday. The Indian delegation is led by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. The four-day 13th ministerial conference (MC13) will start on February 26 in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Trade ministers of 164 member countries of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) are meeting against the backdrop of the uncertain global economic situation due to the Red Sea crisis, the Ukraine-Russia war and the Israel-Hamas conflict. The key issue of India's interests at the meeting relates to finding a permanent solution for its minimum support price (MSP) issue for food security, agricultural reforms, fisheries subsidies, e-commerce moratorium on import duties, dispute settlement, and WTO reforms. *Food securi