When Kamal Nath took over five years back, the world economy was booming. Many countries are in recession now. Nath had to mainly stall the negotiations at the World Trade Organization but Sharma will have to take the Doha Development Round forward.
The immediate trigger is the environment ministry's latest policy of asking corporates to mandatorily commit five per cent of project investments in environment protection measures.
Batting for exporters hit hard by global downturn, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma on Monday met Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and made out a strong case for fiscal relief for the export sector in the Budget next month.
Top Congress sources hinted on Thursday that Sharma will not have to resign as the party would re-nominate him by July. He is likely to get his third term in Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra or Andhra Pradesh.
Part of the official delegation accompanying Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the Association of South East Nations summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, he was briefing the media on board the aircraft earlier on Sunday.
The action comes two days after Congress president Sonia Gandhi held a key meeting and broke the ice by starting dialogue with some of the prominent 'letter-writers', who had earlier written to her demanding an overhaul of the party and an effective leadership.
Sharma said India was poised to grow at 8.5-9 per cent with its investor and FDI-friendly regime.
Says Indian Patent Law conforms fully with global obligations under the WTO IPR pact-TRIPS.
Etihad is in talks to pick up a 24 percent stake in Jet.
Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma on Wednesday appeared to share industry's concerns over naming Kumar Mangalam Birla in an FIR in coal scam case saying it was unfortunate and could raise questions over investor confidence in the country.
The Maharashtra unit of the Congress party is divided over the nomination of Commerce Minister Anand Sharma to the Rajya Sabha from the state.
Exports were up 0.8 per cent in Jan while imports rose 6 per cent.
The incident occurred when Banerjee, who was part of his party MPs' team which was raising slogans in the Well on the FDI issue, was returning to his seat after the House adjourned for the day shortly after noon.
The United Nations Media Department on Thursday made a faux pas when it identified Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma as his Cabinet colleague Kamal Nath.
Sharma was addressing the members of the Board of Trade, a body comprising captains of Indian industry.
The retail company has sought approval to invest Rs 10,500 crore to set up single-brand retail stores in the country.
Sharma said both US President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh are firmly committed to take this relationship to greater heights.
Will achieve exports of around $300 billion .
In a move that is being seen as a snub to Walmart, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma on Thursday cancelled a meeting with US retail giant's Asia head Scott Price.
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma takes on Narendra Modi, says: Gujrat cannot be sold as a model state as it has many flaws.
Commerce Minister Anand Sharma on Tuesday declined Narendra Modi's invitation for an event on Sardar Patel, suggesting that the Gujarat chief minister's motives were not sincere and the name of the great leader was being misused for partisan political agenda.
He said policy could not be rigid, while declining to say by when FDI in multi-brand retail would be allowed.
A visibly elated Sharma said the decision gave India complete protection even if it breached the food subsidy limit under WTO rules
Anand Sharma who is at the WTO meet at Bali has been making all the right noises in opposing the peace clause. However at 9 PM on Friday, he will have to make a crucial decision.
As Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma ruled out any possibility of a compromise, whispers were already being heard of a possible collapse of the talks.
Commerce Minister Anand Sharma on Monday expressed optimism that the total FDI inflows this fiscal will the same as in the previous year's at $27 billion.
The Enforcement Directorate has been asked to investigate alleged violation of FDI regulations by e-commerce company Flipkart Online Services and cash & carry chain Bharti Walmart.
Anand Sharma, Union Commerce Minister, crossed over to Pakistan early Monday morning with a large delegation comprising of officials of his ministry, members of the trade chambers and journalists to launch India show in Lahore where goods from India would be displayed for the visitors who are keen to buy them.
Without engaging with Pakistan, South Asian economic integration would not be possible
Annual event being organised by FICCI focuses on the investment potential offered by India's infrastructure sector.
Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma today assured Korean trade minister Kim Jong-Hoon that the stalled $12 billion-project of Korean steelmaker Posco would soon be resolved by obtaining the pending approvals.
Rejecting the contention that adequate consultations were not held with stakeholders on Foreign Direct Investment in retail, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma on Thursday dared the Opposition to bring privilege motion against him in Parliament.
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said that India has been less affected by the current global economic crisis due to the economy's strong fundamentals.
Batting for the worried SEZ developers who fear withdrawal of incentives in the new direct tax code, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma on Friday said his ministry would ensure that the sops continue.
Considering the challenges, he was seen as a lightweight. One year later, his report card shows few breakthrough achievements but hardly any mess-ups.
Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma will be meeting Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to make a case for the extension of one of the most popular incentives to exporters, the Duty Entitlement Passbook Scheme (DEPB), which is slated for expiry on June 30. DEPB is a duty reimbursement scheme, launched 14 years earlier.
Sharma was speaking to reporters after Coca Cola Co chairman and CEO Muhtar Kent met him at his office.
Besides addressing a high-level meeting of the US-India Business Council at Washington on June 17, Sharma will hold discussions with the US secretary of state Hillary Clinton. During his three-day engagements, the commerce and industry minister would meet US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and US trade representative Ronald Kirk.
The Obama administration has not received any specific assurances from India that it will help carry the developing countries with it to help successfully complete the stalled Doha Development Agenda, but the fact that New Delhi is hosting the World Trade Organization ministerial meeting exudes optimism in this regard, US Trade Representative Ron Kirk has acknowledged
With a view to simplify foreign direct investment process, the government plans to introduce a single FDI document by end-fiscal and is currently discussing the various modalities, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said on Monday.
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