India, Bhutan to establish first rail link with ₹4,033 cr outlay over 3 yrs (Business Standard)
India has announced its first-ever rail links with Bhutan, a ₹4,033 crore project that will create 89 km of priority railway lines over the next three years, connecting Assam’s Kokrajhar to Gelephu and West Bengal’s Banarhat to Samtse—two Bhutanese cities being developed as hubs for mindfulness tourism and industry. The initiative is expected to significantly boost passenger and cargo movement, complementing earlier India–Bhutan collaborations in road, digital, and waterways connectivity, and building on integrated check-posts and trade routes already in place. As part of its deeper economic partnership, India has also doubled its development assistance to Bhutan to ₹10,000 crore under the 13th Five-Year Plan, reinforcing its role as Bhutan’s largest development partner and key driver of its infrastructure and modernisation.
India bets on EFTA, UK FTAs to offset US tariff hit on marine exports (Business Standard)
Top government officials told a parliamentary panel that India’s marine exports, especially shrimp and fish, are losing competitiveness in the US because of steep 50 percent tariffs, which benefit rivals like Ecuador, though the overall impact of US tariffs on other sectors, such as pharmaceuticals, remains limited for now. They explained that India is seeking a balanced trade agreement with Washington while also pushing forward new FTAs, including with the European Free Trade Association from October 1 and with the UK next year, both of which will slash duties and open major markets for Indian marine products. At the same time, New Delhi is pursuing wider diversification into Europe, South America, Africa, and West Asia, with officials stressing that reducing reliance on the US is key to sustaining long-term export growth.
Uttar Pradesh on an unstoppable growth trajectory, says Piyush Goyal (Business Standard)
Union Minister Piyush Goyal hailed Uttar Pradesh’s rapid transformation at the International Trade Show 2025, stressing that strong infrastructure, improved law and order, and supportive governance have made the state a top choice for investors and entrepreneurs. He highlighted the success of initiatives like the One District One Product scheme, the rise of thousands of new industrial units, and the state’s role as the first in India to create a dedicated Export Promotion Ministry, which together have boosted global recognition for local craftsmanship and MSMEs. Goyal added that the inclusivity of UPITS—bringing together government, industry, startups, and women entrepreneurs—shows how collective effort is driving Uttar Pradesh’s development and positioning it at the heart of India’s growth vision for 2047.
