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The 10th edition of the Raisina Dialogue, themed "Kalachakra: People, Peace, Planet," commenced in New Delhi on March 17, 2025, co-hosted by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Observer Research Foundation (ORF). Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the event, with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon delivering the keynote address. The conference, running until March 19, is India's premier forum on geopolitics and geoeconomics, attracting nearly 3,700 attendees, including over 800 speakers from around 130 countries. Participants range from heads of state and diplomats to business leaders and policy experts. Discussions will revolve around six thematic pillars, including "Politics Interrupted" and "Investing in Peace." Additionally, the Raisina Ideas Pod, in collaboration with _Firstpost_, will feature curated sessions addressing global issues, such as Europe's role in the Indo-Pacific and the African Union's influence within the G20. 
Published: Mar 17 2025, 8 ameznews.inKnam Group, based in Noida, is significantly expanding its rice milling operations in Ladwa, Haryana, with plans to increase processing capacity to 600 tonnes per day by June 2025. CEO Amit Goel revealed that the company, which operates Goyal Rice Mill, has invested in advanced machinery from Japan and is also cultivating in-house seedlings to support local farmers. With an annual turnover of ₹700 crore, Knam aims to package and distribute its pesticide-free rice brands globally. Additionally, the company is venturing into barley, quinoa, and couscous production, while also focusing on research and development, including a low glycemic index rice. In its paper trading division, Knam is prioritizing market expansion and innovation, producing specialized products for the Middle East and Europe, including paper for wrapping shawarma. The company exports to 37 countries and has strategic investments in three paper mills in Gujarat.
Published: Mar 17 2025, 6 pmeznews.inIndia's sugar production has plummeted by 16.13% to 23.71 million tonnes (MT) for the 2024-25 season, according to the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories (NFCSF). This decline poses significant challenges for the government's export policy, as only 0.15 MT of the 1 MT allocated for export by September 30 has been shipped, primarily due to high domestic prices. The NFCSF noted that the crushing season is set to conclude by the end of March, with mills in Uttar Pradesh operating until mid-April. Major sugar-producing states like Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh have reported substantial drops in output, exacerbated by pest infestations and adverse weather conditions. The NFCSF has revised its total sugar output forecast for the season to 25.9 MT, down from 31.9 MT last year, highlighting a critical supply-demand mismatch as the industry grapples with lower-than-expected production figures.
Published: Mar 17 2025, 6 pmeznews.inGold prices have surged past $3,000 an ounce, prompting major investment banks like Goldman Sachs, BNP Paribas, and UBS to revise their forecasts upward. Analysts attribute this rise to ongoing trade tensions, increased central bank purchases, and significant inflows into exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Gold has gained over 14% since the start of 2025, following a 30% increase last year, marking it as the best-performing commodity. John Reade from the World Gold Council highlighted that gold's ascent to $3,000 underscores its role as a safe haven during economic uncertainty. Central banks have been net buyers for 15 years, with purchases exceeding 1,000 tonnes annually since 2022, driven by geopolitical factors and inflation concerns. Macquarie Bank anticipates gold could peak at $3,150 per ounce in Q3 2025, while BNP expects prices to reach $3,100 in the coming months, reflecting a tightening physical gold market amid tariff fears.
Published: Mar 17 2025, 5 pmeznews.inA white paper titled “Roadmap for growth of sugar, bioenergy and allied industries” has been submitted to Indian government officials by ChiniMandi, a digital platform focused on the sugar and ethanol sectors. The document, developed from insights at the recent Sugar - Ethanol and BioEnergy India Conference, highlights the urgent need for an upward revision of the sugar minimum support price (MSP), which has remained unchanged since 2019, despite rising sugarcane fair and remunerative prices (FRP). This disparity is straining the financial health of the industry. The paper also advocates for ethanol producers to diversify into by-products like distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and extracted oil, and calls for improved logistics and infrastructure for ethanol storage and blending. Industry leaders stress that strategic planning and innovation are essential for enhancing competitiveness and sustainability in the sector, ultimately contributing to national growth and global sustainability goals.
Published: Mar 17 2025, 5 pmeznews.inA research team from the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) is currently engaged in the 12th Indian scientific expedition to the Southern Ocean, focusing on squid biodiversity amid challenging conditions, including three cyclones and extreme cold. Over 36 days at sea, Principal Scientist Geetha Sasikumar and Technical Officer K K Sajikumar are assessing the abundance and distribution of cephalopods, particularly squids, to understand their ecological roles. The expedition, organized by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, involves 42 researchers from 16 institutions and aims to sample 26 locations. Despite facing severe weather and navigating through ice, the team has observed diverse marine life, including whales and seals, which will enhance ongoing biodiversity monitoring efforts. The collected samples will undergo detailed analysis at CMFRI to inform sustainable management practices for these vital species in the Antarctic ecosystem.
Published: Mar 17 2025, 4 pmeznews.inIndia's pepper production for the 2024-25 season is projected to decline by 38% to 78,000 tonnes, down from 126,000 tonnes last year, due to reduced acreage and adverse weather conditions. The government estimates that pepper cultivation has decreased to 2.55 lakh hectares from 3.13 lakh hectares. Prices have surged, exceeding ₹700 per kg in key states like Karnataka and Kerala, partly due to a recent GST exemption for interstate sales, which has been advocated by local farmers and politicians. The Kochi terminal market has seen prices rise to ₹685 for ungarbled and ₹705 for garbled varieties. Experts note that this year is an off-cycle for pepper, with production down across all major states, and anticipate further price increases if demand persists post-Holi. Global production is also expected to decline slightly, with Brazil's output rising, while Sri Lanka's exports to India may not sustain last year's record levels.
Published: Mar 17 2025, 4 pmeznews.inSamunnati, an agri value chain enabler, has appointed Suresh Rajagopalan as its new Group Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and CEO of its subsidiary, Samunnati Agri Innovation Labs (SAIL). With over 30 years of experience in banking, payments, and fintech, Rajagopalan previously served as CEO of WIBMO, a cross-border PayTech firm acquired by PayU. His appointment aims to drive digital transformation within the agricultural ecosystem, enhancing efficiency and productivity for small-holder farmers through innovative technology-led solutions. Anil Kumar SG, Founder of Samunnati, emphasized Rajagopalan's expertise in technology and platform development as crucial for scaling solutions across the agri value chain. SAIL is dedicated to strengthening market linkages and fostering innovation in agriculture, with a vision to lead in digital agriculture by developing transformative solutions through partnerships and platform-based engagements.
Published: Mar 17 2025, 4 pmeznews.inCardamom prices have fallen by ₹250-300 per kg in North India due to sluggish consumer demand following Holi and subdued export sales during Ramadan. Currently averaging ₹26,00 per kg, traders report a 25% drop in offered quantities, with actual crop yields down 60% from last season due to drought conditions. Despite this, recent minimal summer rains have sparked optimism for improved harvests starting in June, contingent on further rainfall in April. S.B. Prabhakar, an Idukki planter, noted that while the picking season is nearly over, carry-forward stocks have mitigated some impacts of the reduced crop. However, higher prices have led to stock depletion at both production and consumption centers. With exports lagging as consuming countries deplete their reserves, prices are expected to remain firm until the new crop arrives in July/August, especially as Guatemala's production is not anticipated to recover for a couple of years.
Published: Mar 17 2025, 3 pmeznews.inIndia is actively pursuing free trade agreements (FTAs) with countries such as the UK, Canada, and the European Union to enhance bilateral trade and capitalize on opportunities in digital commerce. Despite facing protectionist measures, a report from SBI Research indicates that India is adeptly navigating the global trade landscape by diversifying its export markets and supply chains, particularly between Europe and the US via the Middle East. While US tariffs may lead to a projected 3-3.5% decline in Indian exports, this impact is expected to be offset by increased exports in manufacturing and services. India has signed 13 FTAs in the past five years and is negotiating further agreements, with the UK deal alone anticipated to boost trade by $15 billion by 2030. Experts suggest that digital trade could contribute an additional $1 trillion to India's GDP by 2025, positioning the country to strengthen its global market presence amid shifting geopolitical dynamics.
Published: Mar 17 2025, 1 pmeznews.inSpiceJet's founder, Ajay Singh, is set to enhance the airline's financial standing by infusing ₹294 crore through the conversion of warrants into equity shares, increasing the promoter group's shareholding from 29.11% to 33.47%. The funds will be channeled via Spice Healthcare Pvt Ltd, a promoter group entity, with Singh converting 13.14 crore warrants into an equivalent number of equity shares. This strategic move is part of a broader fundraising initiative aimed at bolstering the airline's turnaround strategy amid previous challenges. Additionally, Singh plans to sell up to 3.15 crore equity shares, with proceeds aiding in funding the warrant conversion. Following a recent profit of ₹26 crore for the quarter ending December 2024, SpiceJet's shares rose over 4% to ₹47.30 on the BSE, reflecting investor confidence in the airline's recovery efforts. A board meeting is scheduled for March 18 to approve the share allotment.
Published: Mar 17 2025, 12 pm
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