Mexico
(Source : Embassy of India, Mexico City)

The India Mexico bilateral relations achieved a new milestone crossing the number of 10 billion USD in bilateral trade according to the data of the Central bank (Banco de Mexico). With imports from India amounting to 5.23 billion USD and exports to India 4.92 billion USD, the total trade stood at 10.155 billion USD. The major share in the total trade was occupied by crude oil imports by India standing at 3.8 billion USD. In last 2 years the bilateral trade has increased by remarkable 58%.

To take the growing relations forward, the Indian Embassy made efforts since January this year to revive the India Mexico Business Chamber. IMBC was founded in 2006 under the leadership of Mr. Jose Luis Uriegas, Chairman IDESA but the activities ceased after 2013. The new board members were elected in the Embassy on 28 February with Mr. Inder Pal Singh as President. The

Chamber would be a great institutional support for taking forward the growing relationship forward. It can be the single voice of Indian business community before both the Governments.

India and Mexico renew their long and cherished friendship

Ambassador Muktesh Pardeshi met Hon. Marcelo Ebrard, Foreign Minister of Mexico to review the new momentum in India-Mexico Privileged Partnership. Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi visited Mexico in June 2016; bilateral trade in 2018 touched USD 10 bn making India the 9th biggest trade partner; India participated as the Guest of Honour at Cervantino Festival 2018; and India would be the Guest of Honour once again at International Book Fair Guadalajara 2019.

Thailand
(Source : Embassy of India, Bangkok)

India to deepen ties with Asean
The Nation 04.03.2019

India is expected to strengthen economic ties with Thailand and the Asean region in 2019 through joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and its participation in the on-going trilateral highway project. If negotiations succeeded, RCEP would be the largest multilateral trade pact in history – encompassing China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and the 10 Asean nations.In 2018, Thailand posted a Bt85.571 billion trade surplus with India, with Bt243.477 billion in exports compared with a mere Bt158 billion of imports, according to the Thai Commerce Ministry.

Bajaj in Cambodia
Manager Daily 360 16.02.2019

Motorcycle hire-purchase financier Group Lease Public Co Ltd (GL) is expanding in Cambodia via its subsidiary Group Lease Finance Plc (GLF), which is partnering with Bajaj dealers in the Kingdom. GLF is already the exclusive third-party financer for Honda motorcycles in Cambodia. Bajaj has 22 dealers in Cambodia, selling about 2,000 tuk-tuks monthly for an average price of 110,000 to 120,000 baht.

India negotiation for RCEP freedom
Matichon 16.02.2019

Minister of Commerce revealed that the ministry will join ‘India-Asean Expo and Summit 4th’ on 22-23rd February 2019 at New Delhi, India as an ASEAN host. The ministry has planned to negotiate with India Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Trade Ministry of Indonesia and ASEAN secretary to ask India for RCEP supporting between 10 ASEAN countries and other 6 countries which are China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. They expected this negotiation to be finished within 2019.

India to invest in pollution control
Post Today 17.02.2019

India has proposed incentives worth 885 billion rupees ($12.4 billion) to encourage power plants to install equipment to curb emissions and to develop infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs).The bulk of the money, 835 billion rupees, would be aimed at curbing sulphur emissions from power plants, with the rest devoted to development of EV infrastructure in 70 cities over five years ending 2025.

Step over obstacles in India
Post Today 17.02.2018

Director of TDRI Economic Intelligence Service said in the seminar under topic “India Economy : Best Opportunities for Thailand”. The seminar talks about growing India economy which its GDP grew up to up to 7.3 percent in 2018. They expected India economy to grow even more in the next 5 years.

RCEP tops Commerce Ministry`s agenda
The Nation 15.03.3019

Concluding The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations and fully implementing the Asean Single Window (ASW) for all 10 Asean members by the end of this year are Thailand’s two top economic priorities as Asean chair, according to a senior official from the Commerce Ministry’s Department of Trade Negotiations (DTN).“To counter the rise of protectionism around the world and mitigate the negative impacts of the US-China trade war, completing the RCEP negotiations by the end of this year as Asean chair is one of the Commerce Ministry’s top economic priorities,” said Auramon Supthaweethum, director-general of the DTN. When negotiations are concluded, RCEP will be the largest multilateral trade pact in history – encompassing China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and the 10 Asean nations. The combined gross domestic product of prospective RCEP members accounts for up to 28 per cent of global GDP and as much as 30 per cent of the value of world trade, she said during a press briefing on cross border Asean trade through the Asean Single Window at the Sadao Customs House in Songkhla.

Tunisia
(Source : Embassy of India, Tunis)

India-Tunisia Trade Analysis- India has maintained cordial and friendly relations with Tunisia since establishment of diplomatic relations in 1958.  Our ties with post revolution elected governments of Tunisia have become closer particularly in economic field. Tunisia has been a reliable source for phosphate and mainstay of economic cooperation between India and Tunisia. On the other hand India export automobiles and traditional items like coffee, tea spices etc, chemicals machinery and electrical appliance etc. However bilateral trade remain below potential. Various reasons may be cited in this regard: France which is top exporter to Tunisia faces zero trade duty on most of  the products it export to Tunisia (except cereal) due to preferential trade partner status while  no such agreement exist between India  and Tunisia. The Tunisian government has not liberalized the business visa regime which means difficulty in getting Tunisian business visa by Indian businessman; this has a negative impact on the development of trade between two countries. Although India’s trade dependence on Tunisia is limited to just one product,(phosphoric acid) that also is insignificant as out of India’s total import of Phosphoric acid and polyphosphoric acids, Tunisia contributed 5.06% share in 2016-17 and 5.5% in 2015-16.  However potential exists for increase in trade in specific items which are imported by Tunisia from elsewhere e.g. electrical apparatus for switching electric circuit, Light Oil and preparation of petroleum, denim, medicaments, articles of plastic etc.

In addition Tunisia’s long term goals as specified in its 2020 roadmap which stresses heavily on building and renewing transportation-rail and road, bridges and stations, metro rail network. Thus opportunities exist for Indian companies to supply raw material and provide advisory services.

India-Tunisia Trade Data –Annual (US$ million)

34. Tunisia has been a reliable source for phosphates. India accounts for around 50% of Tunisia global phosphoric acid exports. India on the other hand exports a wide range of products. Significant among them are knocked down kits, automobiles, Electric items, cotton mechanical engines, organic chemical products rice coffee spice etc. 

Trade Data - Annual (US$ million)

                                                                                                                         (Source: National Institute of Statistics, Tunis)