Bilateral Updates

India and the US are moving towards closing all the open ends of the interim trade agreement, and both sides are likely to execute the "very, very vibrant" first phase of the pact by the middle of next month, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Friday. He said that the US team was in New Delhi from June 2-4 for finalisation of the deal. They held discussions with the Indian team.

Nepal has decided to procure 80,000 tonnes of fertiliser from India under a government-to-government arrangement, as global supply disruptions and soaring prices following the West Asia war threaten farm output. The one-time purchase includes 60,000 tonnes of urea and 20,000 tonnes of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), Kathmandu-based sources said.

India is in talks with Nepal for ethanol exports and is also exploring opportunities to supply ethanol to SAARC nations, CK Jain, President of the Grains Ethanol Manufacturers Association of India (GEMA), told ANI. But the Indian government does not allow export of 1G ethanol as of now. Once these countries come forward, the government may also think of allowing it, he said, adding that "We are working on it to export to SAARC countries so that farmers will get benefited. As much as ethanol is made, rural economy will grow."