News articles and essays on the Indian diplomacy at work around the world.
According to the joint statement issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the discussions were held in line with the Terms of Reference signed by the trade ministers of both countries on March 2, 2026. Both sides described the engagement as constructive and productive, while reaffirming their commitment to an ambitious, balanced and mutually beneficial trade agreement.
The Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad, while the Australian side was headed by Bernard Philip, First Assistant Secretary, International Policy. The talks focused on strengthening military-to-military engagement, maritime cooperation, defence industry collaboration, training exchanges and interoperability across domains.
As part of India’s Chairship responsibilities, the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises has been mandated to convene three SME Working Group Meetings and the inaugural BRICS MSME Forum. The move places MSME development at the centre of India’s BRICS economic agenda, especially at a time when small businesses across emerging economies continue to face challenges in accessing timely and affordable credit.
The French side described India as a trusted partner in space and research cooperation. Prof. Baptiste expressed interest in strengthening collaboration across Earth observation, launch systems and space exploration. He also proposed deeper cooperation in human spaceflight, including astronaut training, microgravity experiments and long-term collaborative opportunities linked to India’s space ambitions.
The European Union is already one of India’s most important trade partners. Official EU data says India–EU trade in goods stood at €120 billion in 2024, while services trade reached €59.7 billion in 2023, more than doubling from €30.4 billion in 2020. The European Commission has also said the FTA could potentially double EU goods exports to India by 2032 and save around €4 billion every year in duties on European products.
New Delhi, April 2026: The Government of India has introduced sweeping changes to the Overseas
The submission marks India’s third Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement. NDCs are the national climate action plans that countries submit under the global climate framework, outlining how they intend to reduce emissions, adapt to climate impacts and contribute to the long-term goal of limiting global warming. India’s earlier NDCs were submitted in 2015 and updated in 2022 for the 2030 target cycle.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed between India’s Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs and the Kenya Revenue Authority for the exchange of pre-arrival information on goods moving between the two countries. The agreement was signed by CBIC Member Yogendra Garg and KRA Commissioner General Dr Lilian Nyawanda in the presence of senior officials from both sides.
Baerbock is scheduled to be in India on April 28, 2026, where she will hold bilateral talks with External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar. The discussions are expected to focus on cooperation within the United Nations system, global peace and security, sustainable development, climate action, technology governance and the need for stronger international coordination in a rapidly changing geopolitical environment.
The agreement eliminates customs duties on 100% of Indian exports to New Zealand, providing a major boost to Indian industries, particularly labour-intensive sectors such as textiles and leather. It is expected to enhance India’s competitiveness in global markets while expanding opportunities for exporters.
