The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has sought withdrawal of 5 per cent duty on export of iron ore pellets, citing that the levy will discourage shipments of value-added products. The Pellet Manufacturers´ Association of India (PMAI) had expressed apprehension over Rs 35,000 crore of investments becoming non-performing assets due to the export duty because domestic demand is too low and most producers are operating at less than 50 per cent capacity.

Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said that the Cabinet will soon take a view on liberalising foreign direct investment (FDI) policy in railways sector. The department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP) has proposed to allow 100 per cent FDI in high-speed train systems, suburban corridors, high-speed tracks and freight lines connecting ports and mines. However, existing passenger and freight network operations will not be opened to foreign investors.

Civil aviation industry experts and policymakers from across the world will meet again at the fourth edition of the India Aviation Conference on 13 March in Hyderabad during the India Aviation 2014 Show. It is a biennial event which is jointly organised by Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) at Begumpet Airport to highlight the growing opportunities in Indian civil aviation sector and to provide a platform for deliber

Industry body in India, Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) has expected a huge potential for ship repairing and shipbuilding business in the country. According to Assocham, more than 20-year-old ships require periodic and extensive repair and maintenance and, in India, of the total 1,122 vessels in the fleet, over 41 per cent are over 20 years old and need regular attention.

In addition to seven Central government Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and 12 State/Private Sector SEZs set up prior to the enactment of SEZ Act, 2005, formal approval has been accorded to 574 proposals out of which 391 SEZs presently stand notified.

Government has put in place an investor-friendly policy on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), under which FDI, up to 100 per cent, is permitted, under the automatic route, in most sectors/activities. FDI policy is reviewed on an ongoing basis, with a view to making it more investor friendly, said the Uniion Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry EM Sudarsana Natchiappan in Rajya Sabha on December 11.

The Government of India has announced the National Manufacturing Policy on November 4, 2011 with the objective of enhancing the share of manufacturing in GDP to 25 per cent and creating 100 million jobs over a decade or so, said the Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry EM Sudarsana Natchiappan in Rajya Sabha on December 11.

The control over price and distribution of cement has been removed since 1989. The industry was de-licensed in 1991 under the policy of economic liberalisation. Cement has also been removed from the list of essential commodities. Thus, presently the prices of cement are governed by the market forces of demand and supply.

To market its projects both abroad and in India the Union Road Transport and Highways Ministry is looking to hire industry bodies and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). The government's move comes after private investors showed disinterest in the the road projects this year.