Australia
(Source : Consulate General of India, Sydney)

In the first three months of the Calendar Year (Jan-Mar), Australia exported merchandise goods to India worth USD 2.883 billion, while importing goods worth USD 1.168 billion from India. Indian merchandise Exports to Australia for Jan-Mar 2018 witnessed an increase of 54 % over Jan-Mar 2017. Whereas, during the same period Australian export to India increased marginally by 1.9 %.

Refined Petroleum, Medicaments, Railway vehicles, Pearls & precious stones, made up articles of textile materials, passenger motor vehicles, organo-inorganic compounds, jewellery, floor coverings, manufactures of base metal, apparels of articles and textile fabrics, travelling cases and bags, women / girls clothing, equipment for distributing electricity and fixed vegetable fats and oils in that order, were dominant commodities of export from India to Australia.

In January-March 2018, export of Refined Petroleum Oils from India to Australia increased by 241 % over Jan-Mar 2017.

Export of ‘Coal’ from Australia to India was the main contributor for the volume of bilateral trade between the countries for the period Jan-Mar 2018, with a value of USD 1.863 billion, amounting to 46 % of total bilateral trade in value terms.

The total trade increased from USD 3.6 b to USD 4.1 b between Jan-Mar 2017 and Jan-Mar 2018.

France
(Source : Embassy of India, Paris)

Significant Trends in trade and investment

Trade – In Jan-Mar 2018, India France bilateral trade stood at € 2.59 billion (-2.53%) as compared to the corresponding period the previous year. India’s exports to France increased by 1.34% during this period with a rise in exports of following top 10 category products: mineral fuels & oils (17.07%); nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances (12.09%); footwear (9.55%) & knitted or crocheted articles of apparel & clothing accessories (2.89%). However there was a drop in exports of organic chemicals (-8.17%); automobiles and parts (-28.66%); & electrical machinery (-24.29%); articles of leather (-14.23%); non knitted or crocheted articles of apparel & clothing accessories (-0.62%) & natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, precious metals, metals clad with precious metal and articles thereof; imitation jewellery; coin (-1.17%).

Meanwhile, French exports to India decreased by 7.4% during the same period: Exports of following top 10 ranked products increased: nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery & mechanical appliances (10.32%); optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus & parts thereof (50.52%); & plastics and articles thereof (14.26%); miscellaneous chemical products (4.17%) & pharmaceutical products (2.21%). However, exports of following products decreased: electrical machinery & equipment (-32.38%); aircraft & spacecraft (-19.97%); organic chemicals (-7.07%) & iron & steel (-7.98%) & essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations (-2.62%).

Investment – According to the ‘Business France Annual Report 2017’, a public operator supporting French investors in India and Indian investors in France, there are over 150 Indian companies operating in France (including sub-subsidiaries), employing around 7,000 people. Nineteen investments from India were recorded in 2017 (+73%), creating or maintaining 284 jobs (+66%). Indian projects often involved decision-making centres (42% of projects), including a global/European headquarters, and production/manufacturing operations (32%). Investments were mainly made in the software and IT services sector (26% of projects and 52% of jobs generated) and chemicals/plastics industry (21% of projects, 23% of jobs), while location-wise, Indian companies invested primarily in the Paris Region (Ile-de-France) (26% of projects), Nouvelle-Aquitaine (16%), Bourgogne-Franche-Comté (16%) and Hauts-de-France (16%).

Tunisia
(Source : Embassy of India, Tunis)

Bilateral Trade Data - Annual (US$ million)

India Tunisia Joint Venture worth US$450 million was launched in 2006 in Tunisia for manufacturing Phosphoric Acid. Its production started in 2013. Two Indian companies Coromandel Fertilizers Ltd and the Gujarat State Fertilizers Ltd have 30% shares in the project. To improve production, Tunisian Government is taking several measures to remove hurdles in the smooth running of the plant and supply of rock phosphate to the plant. The plant management is also is being restructured. 

Other Projects: Indian companies M/s KEC International Ltd and Jyoti Structures Ltd have a presence in Tunisia for erection of electric transmission lines. An assembly plant of Mahindra pickup trucks is established in Tunisia with a target to produce up to 2500 trucks per year. Indian Auto Company, Mahindra and Mahindra, provides the vehicles as knocked-down kits, to be assembled by the Tunisian company, with full technical support from the Indian company.  Mahindra has further diversified its product portfolio by introducing SUV class vehicles.  M/s TATA Motors commenced assembly of pick-up trucks with Tunisian companies ‘Le Moteur’ and ‘Icar’ in June 2015. TATA’s flagship Tunisian model Tata Xenon has been very popular as 2000 vehicles have been sold in short span of 2 years.  TATA is also exploring possibility to introduce small commercial and heavy vehicle.  

Analysis of Investment opportunities in Tunisia

The flow of foreign investments (January-December 2017) stood USD 939.370. It included $890.735 m as FDI and & 48.6345 m as portfolio. 

As per Agency for the Promotion of Foreign Investment (FIPA), the flow of foreign investments reached 224.17 million USD at the end of March 2018, up 25.2%, compared to the same period in 2017.

Venezuela
(Source : Embassy of India, Caracas)

Bilateral Trade

Source : Export Import Data Bank, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India and Export Import Data Bank, National Institute of Statistics (INE), Government of Venezuela. Venezuela has not published any official data in respect of trade after 2014.

Potential products of exports for India

Pharmaceutical Products - Venezuelan pharmaceutical industry is severely affected by the lack of private investment and relies heavily on the imports for drugs and pharmaceuticals. India is one of the leading manufacturers and exporters of pharmaceuticals in the world and enjoys acceptance in the Venezuelan market due to its quality and competitive prices.

Auto Parts - India is one of the top manufacturers of auto-parts in the world. Venezuela is in dire need of auto-parts for all kind of Vehicles.

Venezuela
(Source : Embassy of India, Caracas)

Venezuela pushes launch of new banknotes: On 02 June, the Government of Venezuela shifted the date for the introduction of new banknotes to 04 August 2018. The Venezuelan government was supposed to introduce the new banknotes on 04 June, but the Venezuelan Banking Association (ABV) had requested more time to prepare for the switch. The new date was announced after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro met with ABV officials. The new banknotes eliminate three zeroes from the existing currency. "The executive branch, after evaluating the proposal, has agreed to reschedule the start of the currency redenomination for Aug. 4, 2018," according to a statement from the Sectoral Vice Presidency of Economy.