Malawi
(Source : High Commission of India, Lilongwe)

The main imports of Malawi from India are pharmaceuticals. Malawi as of 2018 imported 60.9% of its pharmaceuticals from India compared to the previous year’s 61%. The scope for more market share of the pharmaceuticals is still there in Malawi. The other products include printed books, articles of iron and steel, plastic and articles thereof and electrical machinery.

India to boost Malawi agriculture

The government of India has unveiled plans to establish the India-Africa Institute of Agriculture and Rural Development (IAIARD) in Malawi to enhance capacity in the areas of agro-financing and entrepreneurship development.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has, meanwhile, signed an Memorandum of Understanding with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Consultancy Service (Nabcons) to set up the institute.

The ministry said in a statement the institute would be the first of its kind developed in an African country by India. It says the institute will further strengthen the bilateral relations with Malawi and India’s relations with African Union.

“IAIARD will be a pan-African Institute wherein trainees not only from Malawi but also from other African countries, will receive training to develop their human resources and build their capacity. IAIARD will develop training programmes in the areas of micro-financing and agro-financing, among others,” the statement reads.

The institute will come at a time Malawi’s agriculture remains subdued due to, among other things, overreliance on rains coupled with poor development of irrigation infrastructure.

Mexico
(Source : Embassy of India, Mexico City)

The Government of Mexico under the leadership of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is dealing with new economic issues – raising inflation and lowering economic growth forecasts. Recently the President also cancelled the Special Economic Zones in the southern states of Mexico. The Mexican market despite certain steps, remains an attractive market. ArcelorMittal recently made more commitment of investment in the state of Michoacan despite the expectation of tariffs that may be imposed.

India Mexico relationship also continued to grow. The first delegation of FY 2019-20 was received. 14 plastics companies had setup India pavilion in the biggest plastics expo of Mexico – Plastimagen. Plexconcil has been participating in this expo for more than 4 years now, which shows the attractiveness and the potential of the market. The trade figures are not being updated by the Mexican Government and the same

has been an issue for trade data analysis, however, we continue to strive for the numbers from other sources.

A new milestone in Privileged Partnership

India is now the 9th largest trade partner of Mexico and Mexico is India`s 2nd largest trade partner in the Americas, after the United States, according to the data of the Ministry of Economy of Mexico. India has achieved this stage without any free trade agreement with Mexico. The news bring more highlight on the Indian business enterprises in Mexico.

Engaging with the State of Sinaloa

The Minister of Agriculture of the State of Sinaloa, Ing. Manuel Esteban Tarriba Urtuzuástegui and his team met with Ambassador Muktesh Pardeshi and the commercial team on 2nd April. They discussed trade opportunities between India and Mexico, especially in products like maize and chickpeas. The state Government in presently in talks with the Ministry of Agriculture of Mexico to seek the opening of Indian market for these products. The state got interested after it received the news of shortage of cron in India recently.

Ambassador met Vice Minister of Foreign Trade

Ambassador of India, Muktesh Pardeshi, met with the Mexican Vice Minister for Foreign Trade, Dra. Luz Maria de la Mora Sanchez, to review all issues pertaining to India-Mexico bilateral trade and investment relations. The Bilateral High Level Group meeting which is being planned to take place in India over the coming months was also discussed along with several other issues.

Taiwan
(Source : India Taipei Association, Taipei)

Significant trends :

Overall Trade

For the month of April 2019, total Taiwanese exports decreased 3.3% year on year to USD 25.83 billion. Total Taiwanese imports increased 2.6% from a year earlier to USD 23.15 billion. The trade balance of this month was favorable to the Taiwanese side, amounting to USD 2.69 billion.

India-Taiwan bilateral trade and investment

In the month of April, total Indian export to Taiwan is USD 178.63 million, which is an decrease of 16.84% as compared to the same period of last year; total Indian imports from Taiwan is USD 264.2 million, which is an decrease of 19.08%. The total volume of trade between India and Taiwan in April 2019 was USD 442.83 million.

In the month of April, the total amount of Taiwanese investment flown into India is USD 100,000; the total amount of Indian investment coming to Taiwan is USD 36,000.

Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) led a business delegation to Kolkata, consisted by 13 Taiwanese companies, and held B2B meetings with local companies including TATA Steel, Electronica, HMP Group and Kalpana Industries on 11 April, 2019. TAITRA suggested that foreign investments and trade activities are encouraged and promoted under the Indian government’s Act East policy; Taiwanese companies should cease the opportunity while India’s eastern market is growing quickly.

TAITRA led a machine tools business delegation to Bangalore and Ahmedabad during 22-30 April, 2019 and pointed out that Taiwan is India’s 5th largest importer of machine tools in India. TAITRA suggested to Taiwanese companies in machine tools that they should organize a national team to strengthen the cooperation in automobile industry between India and Taiwan and the complementarity which both sides shared.    

Taiwan Listed Companies Association held the Oriental Leadership Forum on 18 April, 2019 and attracted almost 100 local entrepreneurs’ participation. Mr. Eric Chu, the former New Taipei City Mayor, was invited for the VIP remarks and stated that Taiwanese companies are unlike Japan and Korea, which have already built significant business presence in India, Hence, Taiwanese companies need to work together as a team and combine the governmental resources while they are investing in India. Mr. Chu also shared his experiences of visiting India, in which he was deeply impressed by the fast progressing of India. Mr. Chu stressed that both sides should have more exchange and cooperation in various sectors.

The Department of Investment Services (DOIS), Ministry of Economic Affairs led the Investment Mission to India by the Deputy Director General Mr. Alex Chen during 7-13 April, 2019, consisted of 18 Taiwanese companies from electronic, electrical machinery, energy and infrastructural industries. Mr. Chen said some of the Taiwanese companies are looking for the relocation opportunities due to the US-China trade dispute and Taiwanese government’s New Southbound Policy. Mr. Chen also mentioned that India is one of the best locations for Taiwanese companies looking for global deployment or manufacturing plants.