Nath in WTO push

New Delhi, Oct. 9: India will take a tough stance on agriculture and other issues at the WTO meeting beginning tomorrow in Zurich, an official spokesperson said. Commerce minister Kamal Nath will spell out New Delhi?s position on issues related with agriculture and non-agriculture market access. This will be followed by trade negotiation committee meeting in Geneva on October 13. Nath will also hold bilateral talks with WTO director-general Pascal Lamy and other trade ministers.

FM forecast

Chennai, Oct. 9: India?s economic performance in the second quarter will be ?as good? as the first quarter?s 8.1 per cent growth, said finance minister P. Chidambaram. The economy is showing ?enormous resilience?, he added. Economic think-tank Institute of Economic Growth has also forecast a 7 per cent for 2005-06.

VAT panel

New Delhi, Oct. 9: The empowered committee on value added tax today turned down exporters? demand for exempting supplies to special economic zones and export oriented units from VAT. The panel has said the existing practice of taxing these supplies and subsequently giving credit on the levy will continue.

COAI note

New Delhi, Oct. 9: The Cellular Operators? Association of India (COAI) today welcomed the government?s initiative to consider reduction in the entry-fee for long-distance services.

World Bank

New Delhi, Oct. 9: The World Bank has teamed up with the CII to assess the investment climate in India and provide inputs to the Centre and state governments for improving the economic growth.