Thousands of farmers' collectives across various states are now benefitting from the opportunity to sell a diverse range of agricultural products on the government's e-commerce platform, the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). Since the inclusion of farmers' producer organisations (FPOs) on the ONDC platform in April 2023, approximately 4,000 such bodies have successfully marketed 3,100 varieties of value-added agricultural products.

 

How Does ONDC Help?

The ONDC plays a crucial role in supporting and training FPOs, offering free registration and assistance in developing and digitising product catalogues. Additionally, the platform aids in generating shipping labels, identifying delivery partners, and facilitating digital payments. This comprehensive support empowers FPOs to leverage the digital marketplace efficiently for marketing their products.

 

The collaboration between ONDC and the Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC), an entity under the agriculture ministry, aims to address challenges faced by FPOs in accessing markets nationwide.

 

What is ONDC?

Launched in April 2022 as a section 8 company by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, ONDC has emerged as a pivotal platform for agricultural commerce. The recent partnership with Meta underscores the platform's commitment to upskilling small businesses, including FPOs, highlighting the convergence of technology and agriculture.

 

For FPOs, the digital network provided by ONDC offers direct access to digital marketing, online payment systems, and facilitates both business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) transactions. This not only enhances the market reach for FPOs but also encourages local value addition, contributing to the growth of logistics in rural areas.

Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Tribal Affairs, Shri Arjun Munda launched the Framework for Voluntary Carbon Market in Agriculture Sector and Accreditation Protocol of Agroforestry Nurseries in Delhi today. Secretary Shri Manoj Ahuja, Secretary of DARE and Director General of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Senior officials of Central and State Ministries and Various Organizations related to agriculture were present on the occasion, while many stakeholders also joined the programme virtually.

 

In his address, Shri Munda said that the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare prepared a framework to promote Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) in the agricultural sector of the country with a view to encourage small and medium farmers to avail benefits of carbon credit. Introducing farmers to the carbon market will not only benefit them but also accelerate the adoption of environment-friendly agricultural practices. He requested full cooperation from the concerned ministries of the Centre and the States and other concerned organizations to promote the carbon market in the interest of farmers. He said that work should be done in this direction in collaboration with the farmers of the southern areas, in a manner convenient for them and along with the solution; there is a need to focus its benefits on our farmers. This is the first step in which we want to ensure everyone's participation. Global challenges like global warming are in front of all of us; hence we have to move ahead with caution. He asked ICAR to play an active role in this direction and do good work in a right manner.

 

Shri Munda said that the agriculture sector in the country is making an important contribution to the economy and livelihood of crores of people. 54.6% of the country's workforce is engaged in agriculture and allied sectors’ activities. The share of agriculture sector in GDP is 18.6%, while the sown area is 139.3 million hectares, out of the total geographical area of the country. Keeping this importance in view, the Ministry has taken several steps under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for sustainable development. Shri Munda said that the Accreditation Protocol of Agroforestry Nurseries will strengthen the institutional arrangements for production and certification of planting material on a large scale to promote agroforestry in the country. He asked all the stakeholders to adopt it so that quality planting material can provide assured returns and the objectives and goals of the National Agroforestry Policy can be achieved. He also urged for proper use of natural resources. Shri Munda said our Prime Minister Shri Modi is very sensitive towards the development of agricultural sector and climate change, and under his leadership we are fully committed to solve the problems.

 

India has begun commercial export of pomegranates to the USA after it lifted the export ban in 2022. The government expects this move to open a big market for the Indian pomegranates, a fruit which is being increasing preferred by consumers across the world for its health benefits.

 

A consignment of 1344 kilograms of pomegranates of Kay Bee Export treated in the presence of an inspector from the USA was shipped by air on January 24. 'The pomegranates were first processed at the pack house of Kay Bee Exports and then irradiated at the Irradiation Facility Centre (IFC) of Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board (MSAMB) at Vashi in the presence of the US inspector to Florida in USA,' said MSAMB in a release.

 

It added, 'In 2017-2018, the United States had banned the import of pomegranates from India due to fruit fly infestation in pomegranate.'

 

Th Agricultural and Processed Foods Export Development Authority (APEDA) and the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) had jointly started discussions with the United States Department of Agriculture to lift the export ban. However, the USA has put a few conditions and prescribed some processes like mite wash, sodium hypochlorite treatment, washing, drying etc before the pomegranates are packed in boxes followed by irradiation, said Maharashtra state government officials.

 

India expects to tap a big market for pomegranates in the USA. 'The USA has included pomegranate in the dietary guidelines for skin disorder which has created a huge demand for pomegranate in USA. The Indian pomegranate variety has more demand than the California pomegranate variety. As this year’s pomegranates season in California has ended, there is scope for Indian pomegranates to capture the US market,' said MSAMB.

 

Like in case of mangoes, for which the USA sends an official as inspector to supervise the processing of mangoes for exports, it has sent an inspector for the pomegranate processing.

 

Maharashtra is the top producer and exporter of pomegranates in the country.

 

'We has done a trial shipment of pomegranates with the INI Farms about two months ago. We are currently using the air route as the freight time and costs are high by the sea. The ongoing Israel and Palestine war has made it tough to use the shorter Red Sea route. We expect the exports to increase after use of the sea routes becomes a feasible option,' said an official of the MSAMB, who requested not to be quoted.

 

Ahead of the Interim Budget, a Finance Ministry report on Monday placed FY25 GDP growth close to 7 per cent despite new geopolitical risks such as the Red Sea crisis that could impact global inflation and economic output. The report said India can aspire to become a $7-trillion economy by 2030.

 

In a normal year, the annual Economic Survey is presented a day before the Union Budget and gives real growth rate for the coming fiscal. This being an election year, the annual Survey will be tabled in July, but the interim report ‘Indian Economy- A Review’ prepared by the Economic Affairs Department of the Finance Ministry underlined that India’s growth will outpace the global economy in the next fiscal year.

 

In the preface to the report, Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran said: 'Some predict it will achieve another year of 7 per cent real growth in FY25 as well. If the prognosis for FY25 turns out to be right, that will mark the fourth year post-pandemic that the Indian economy will have grown at or over 7 per cent.'

 

Growth forecast

Earlier, the National Statistical Office (NSO), in the first advance estimate for FY24, projected a growth rate of 7.3 per cent as against 7.2 per cent of FY23. Many domestic and global research agencies expect growth rate in the range of 6.3 to 6.5 per cent with upward bias.

 

The DEA report attributed the optimistic growth rate to recent and future structure reforms and the strength of the financial sector. 'Only the elevated risk of geopolitical conflicts is an area of concern,' it cautioned.

 

'Under a reasonable set of assumptions with respect to the inflation differentials and the exchange rate, India can aspire to become a $7-trillion economy in the next 6-7 years (by 2030),' the report said.

 

The report underlined that the government has, over the recent years, helped banks strengthen their balance sheets by recapitalising them and restructuring the industry. From the recapitalisation and merger of public sector banks (PSB) and amendment of the SARFAESI Act 2002 to enacting the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016 (IBC), these reforms have helped clean up the balance sheets of banks and corporates.

 

The government and RBI have ensured that the 'twin balance sheet problem' of corporates and banks have converted into 'twin balance sheet advantage'.

 

Rising capex

The report said the government’s move to focus on capex-led growth strategy has paid rich dividends for the economy. Effectively, the capital expenditure of the public sector (including Union government capex, grants to the States for capital asset creation, and investment resources of the Central PSEs) has increased from Rs.5.6-lakh crore in FY15 to Rs.18.6-lakh crore in FY24, it highlighted.

 

Meanwhile, on the Indian financial markets, which have gone from strength to strength over the last decade, the report highlighted. 'The performance of Indian equity markets has enabled India to secure the second largest weightage in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index.

 

There is evidence of robust investor interest in India’s bond markets following the decision by JP Morgan to include India’s sovereign bonds in its widely tracked Emerging Markets Bond Index. Higher Participation will lead to inflows, which will further help reduce the government borrowing, it added.

 

Highlights of The Indian Economy-A Review

-Public sector capital investment surged in the last 10 years, the financial sector is healthy, and non-food credit growth is strong, enabling the Indian economy grow at a brisk rate

 

-Unwavering commitment to ensuring steady economic growth is generating resources for investment needed for climate change adaptation, building resilience, and mitigating emissions.

 

-Greater inclusive development, much lower unemployment rate, and moderate inflation, mark the journey from fragility to stability and strength during the last 10 years.

 

-Covid management, mature stimulus measures and the monumentally successful vaccination launched the return of the economy to a high-growth path

 

-Structural reforms implemented since 2014 have strengthened the macroeconomic fundamentals of the economy.

 

-Over the last decade, the Indian concept of welfare has been significantly transformed into a more long-term-oriented, efficient, and empowering avatar.

 

- Female LFPR rose from 23.3 per cent in 2017-18 to 37 per cent in 2022-23, reflecting a tectonic shift towards women-led development in India

 

-Female gross enrolment Ratio in senior secondary education more than doubled from 24.5 per cent in FY05 to 58.2 per cent in FY22 and in higher education quadrupled from 6.7 per cent in FY01 to 27.9 per cent in FY21

Industry leaders, top government officials and international experts will on January 30 discuss India’s export control systems for sensitive goods and technologies, the government said Sunday.

 

The commerce and industry ministry along with external affairs ministry and other government agencies is organising the National Conference on Strategic Trade Controls (NCSTC), focusing on India’s trade control for certain dual-use goods-which have both industrial and military uses- software and technologies, called Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment and Technologies (SCOMET).

 

As part of India’s Strategic Trade Control system and in consonance with the relevant control lists, guidelines and provisions of the international conventions, mechanisms and regimes, the country regulates the exports of dual use items, nuclear related items, and military items, including software and technology under the SCOMET list, which is notified by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under the Foreign Trade Policy.

 

“The conference mainly focuses on outreach to the industry especially for those dealing in sectors regulated under India’s SCOMET list including special materials and high tech equipment, chemicals, biotechnology, defence, aerospace (comprising Drones/UAVs), electronics and semiconductors, telecommunications, information security, and related software and technology,” the commerce and industry ministry said in a statement.

 

Key International speakers including the Chair of 1540 Committee of United Nations Security Council and the Chair of Missile Technology Control Regime, senior government officials including Commerce Secretary, Member (Customs) of CBIC, Director General of DGFT, etc. would be participating in the Conference and addressing the industry and other stakeholders. More than 500 industry representatives are expected to attend the conference, according to the ministry.

Agriculture has often been considered an essential component in India’s quest to become a fully industrialised and developed nation. After all, it contributes around 18 per cent of the nation’s GDP and provides livelihood for more than 55 per cent of the nation’s population, according to available data. From milk to cereals, fruits and vegetables, the country ranks top in the world for volume of production for many agricultural products.

 

With exports exceeding $40.9 billion in 2023 and an overall agri market size ranging between $350 and $500 billion, according to available data, India’s agricultural sector is on its way to become the food basket of the world. However, this will require investing in innovation and technology to enhance capacity and productivity towards achieving future targets.

 

As 2024 comes into full glare, there are great expectations from players in the sector for increased adoption of agro innovation through significant budgetary considerations. Operators in the agricultural sector are looking forward to a promising year as far as agro innovation is concerned. From artificial intelligence (AI) to machine learning (ML), robotics, and automation, there’s a long list of technologies that are expected to shape India’s farming sector in 2024 and following years.

 

Breakthroughs to look out for

One of the most disruptive technologies that will drive farming in 2024 is automation. Kisan drones, one of the fast-rising unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) used in the agricultural sector, will become even more widespread in India. Kisan drones are going to be the important tools for crop protection, which are used to spray crop protection products the crops to protect the crops from insect, pests and diseases and ensure productivity.

 

In the same vein, Kisan drones have been identified by the Indian government as important components in the nation’s Agriculture 4.0 vision. Most of them come with a 15 litre payload and a 30-minute flight time; enough to spray over certain portions of the farm, assist with pollination, and also help with surveillance. Thankfully, there are a couple of programmes initiated by the government that support the proliferation of drones across farms in the country.

 

Using several programmes, including the Kisan Drone Yatra and Kisan Drone Yojana, the Indian government is providing a number of subsidies and interventions. On one hand, women small holder groups are provided the drones for them to sell to local farmers at subsidised rates. On the other hand, the government provides grants which cover 75 per cent of the cost of each drone to small holding farmers, making accessibility to such technologies possible for small and marginal farmers.

 

The move towards precision farming will also see a boost in 2024. This means increased deployment of remote sensing, global positioning systems (GPS), geographic information system (GIS), and data collection to support site-specific crop management. Where in-field variability occurs, this can also be spotted easily and addressed. Precision farming also allows farmers to vary the number of seeds they plant and the amount of fertiliser spread by a square meter, for instance.

 

Aerial imaging, biotechnology, convergence with internet of things (IoT), and RFID technology are other technological tools that will become more commonplace within the agricultural space in India. While these technologies may seem out of the reach of poor, local farmers, provision can be made to promote schemes like cross-subsidy. Furthermore, there is a need to enhance extension services to include agro innovation training, so that farmers are also taught how to use emerging technologies.

 

Other innovations to expect

The hope of many farmers in India is that the Union Government will give more attention to agriculture in the forthcoming budget. This will go a long way to support research & development which can help boost productivity. While that is underway, innovations like vertical farming and regenerative agriculture should drive the farming sector in 2024. A good example of regenerative agriculture is when farmer plants cover crops during the fallow period, as this will help to protect the soil and restore its fertility.

 

Building a better, prosperous ecosystem

From the governments at all levels to farmers, investors, agritech entrepreneurs, and other relevant bodies, there’s a need to collaborate effectively towards ensuring increased penetration of the technologies and innovations discussed in this post. The journey to food security depends on it. The government needs special initiates to provide incentives, support, and education to local farmers who must be willing to learn and accept modern ways of doing things, while techpreneurs must continually innovate to provide the best tools for India’s farming sector. At the same time looking at the current situations, reaching this technology to the last farmer will take some time may be years, but the starting steps are most important to set the tone towards a better agriculture.

The European Commission has changed the level of inspections on various imported products, including decreases related to ethylene oxide and increases in pesticide residues.

 

The revised legislation sets the rate of official controls and special conditions for food and feed of non-animal origin imported into Europe. Rules are modified every six months.

 

Decisions are based on reports in the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) and information from documents, identity, and physical inspections by EU countries in early 2023.

 

Checks on sesame seeds for Salmonella from India have been tightened to 30 percent of consignments. However, controls for ethylene oxide will be relaxed from 50 percent to 30 percent of shipments.

 

Ethylene oxide amendments

Instant noodles containing spices and seasonings or sauces from South Korea have had a higher rate of official controls because of the risk of contamination by ethylene oxide since December 2021. Findings by member states show better compliance, so the control level of 20 percent of consignments entering the EU has been reduced to 10 percent.

 

Stricter checks on food supplements containing botanicals from South Korea and peppers (other than sweet) from Uganda due to ethylene oxide have been removed.

 

The frequency of identity and physical checks on cumin seeds from Turkey for pyrrolizidine alkaloids has been increased to 30 percent.

 

Guar gum from India has been subjected to increased official controls because of the risk of contamination by pentachlorophenol and dioxins since February 2015. National inspections show improvement in compliance, so the level of controls has been reduced from 50 percent of consignments entering the EU to 30 percent.

 

Peanuts, also known as groundnuts, from the U.S., will still be checked at a frequency of 20 percent for aflatoxins. Vanilla extract controls for pesticide residues also remain unchanged at 20 percent.

 

The majority of updates feature pesticide residues. Increased oversight has been put on seem and helmet beans from Bangladesh, yard-long beans from India and Sri Lanka, granadilla and passion fruit from Thailand, durian from Vietnam, vine leaves from Egypt, and rice from Pakistan. However, controls have been relaxed for mint from Israel.

 

Oversight related to Chernobyl

 

The EU Commission has also updated rules covering import conditions of food and feed from other countries following the accident at the Chornobyl nuclear power station in 1986.

 

Conditions apply to products containing or derived from wild mushrooms and wild fruits of the genus Vaccinium, such as cranberries and blueberries, several other mushroom types, and some juices and waters.

 

Mixtures of nuts and dried fruits, jams, fruit jellies, marmalades, fruit or nut purée and fruit or nut pastes, mixtures of juices, flavored waters, and certain foods with several ingredients containing the affected mushrooms and fruits are also covered by the rules.

 

Certain foods with wild mushrooms or wild berries might also contain ingredients of animal origin, so physical controls should only be performed at the border control post, said the EU Commission.

 

The maximum permitted levels of radioactive contamination in terms of cesium-137 is 370 Bq/kg for milk and milk products and food for infants and young children. It is 600 Bq/kg for all other covered products.

India has exported Rs 5525.18 crore worth of organic products during the financial year 2022-23 which was Rs 275 crore more than the previous year's export of around Rs 5249.32 crore.

 

Although in last five years it was only in 2020-21 when the export of organic products was highest at Rs 7078.50 crore.

 

And the export is yet to reach the levels of 2020-21.

 

According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industries, India's export of organic products are governed under the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP), notified in 2001 under the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992.

 

And a product is allowed to be exported as 'Organic Product' only when accompanied by a Transaction Certificate issued by a Certification Body accredited by National Accreditation Body

(NAB) for Organic Products under the NPOP.

 

'For expansion of organic export to new markets, India is engaged in Mutual Recognition Agreement negotiation with potential importing countries', reads a statement issued by the Ministry.

Rates of parboiled rice exported from top hub India advanced to record highs this week on limited supplies and steady demand from Asian and African buyers, while prices eased in Vietnam and Thailand.

 

India's 5% broken parboiled variety was quoted at record $533-$542 per ton this week, up from last week's $525-$535.

 

'Supplies in the market are limited since the government's paddy buying is leaving little for private players. Additionally, rice milling of the new season crop is currently underway, further reducing the availability of milled rice,' said Nitin Gupta, senior vice president of Olam Agri India.

 

India's rice output is expected to drop this fiscal year for the first time in eight years, raising the prospect of New Delhi extending curbs on exports of the grain to control food prices in the lead-up to elections.

 

Vietnam's 5% broken rice was offered at $630 per metric ton, down from $653 per ton a week ago.

 

Traders noted that domestic supplies are accumulating, and that harvest has begun partially in the Mekong Delta, which is expected to peak in March.

 

'Trading activity is slow as buyers are waiting for prices to fall further in anticipation of stronger supplies from the upcoming winter-spring harvest,' a trader based in Ho Chi Minh City said.

 

Thailand's 5% broken rice prices was quoted at $663-$665 per ton, down slightly from $665 last week.

 

Prices softened due a weakening baht, said a Bangkok-based trader.

 

However, there was domestic activity and a fresh order for 0.5 million tonnes from Indonesia, which helped buoy prices, he added.

 

Rice prices in Bangladesh stayed elevated after a sharp rise last week despite good yields and record reserves, prompting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to issue orders for immediate action against rice hoarders.

Australia is keen to get easier access to India’s agriculture market under the proposed Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) that is being negotiated between Canberra and New Delhi even as first phase of the trade pact, officially known as the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), has resulted in Indian goods to be available at much lower cost in that country, according to Philip Green, High Commissioner of Australia to India.

 

Speaking exclusively to ABP LIVE, Green said the ECTA has since coming into force already achieved a 77 percent utilisation rate of free trade access by exporters on both sides. However, he added, it is crucial for Australia to get more market access in India for agricultural goods, including agriculture technology.

 

'The first phase – ECTA – is going very well. The utilisation rate of the free trade access is now at 77 percent. That’s an extremely high level for free trade agreements. Indian products are able to enter Australia more cheaply and therefore more are flowing,' the Australian envoy told ABP LIVE during an interview.

 

According to Green, export of apparel and clothing from India has seen a 10 percent increase since the ECTA came into force in December 2022. He also highlighted that exports of Indian agricultural goods witnessed a 16 percent rise due to the trade deal.

 

'We are very keen to conclude the second phase, which is called CECA… (In CECA) Agricultural access is important to us. We are a big agricultural exporting country and we think that Indian consumers can benefit from more Australian agricultural goods at lower costs,' he said.

 

India and Australia have been negotiating the CECA since May 2011. However, after several rounds of negotiations, talks were suspended in 2016. It was thereafter revised in September 2021, and eventually the ECTA was signed.

 

One of the main reasons why concluding the CECA has missed many deadlines is due to Australia’s insistence on having reduced or tariff-free access to India’s agriculture market. The CECA is currently under negotiations and may not be concluded before the later part of this year until a new government comes to power in India after the parliamentary elections that are expected to be held in April-May 2024.  

 

Last December, an Australian parliamentary delegation visited India to discuss Australia’s entry into the Indian farming segment, which remains a contentious topic between both sides.

 

'We understand that this (agriculture) is sensitive for India. We have no desire to upset the lifestyles of important numbers of Indian people. To the contrary, we actually think that this deal (CECA) can be built in such a way that it supports the agricultural sector in India. We have a lot of agri-tech and we are prepared to share that. We would like to find ways of making sure that this is a win-win for Australia and India in agriculture,' said Green.

 

India Needs To Be ‘Quick & Assertive’ In Importing Critical Mineral, Rare Earth  

In October 2023, the Anthony Albanese government unveiled a plan to make it easy for countries to invest in mining and processing critical minerals and rare earth by announcing a $1.25 billion fund. With China dominating the market and the demand for critical minerals like lithium and cobalt increasing, Australia has said it wants India to be a steady player in that supply chain.

 

'Concluding the CECA would mean better utilisation of Australian critical minerals in India’s renewable energy trade especially in electric vehicles and batteries … India wants to do more in the renewable sector and we want India to be successful in that and we have a lot of the resources that are required for that. We want to make sure that Indian firms and governments are part of that supply chain,' said Green.

 

Australia is the largest exporter of lithium and second-largest producer of cobalt in the world. 

 

'We are going to be real about this. The demand for our critical minerals is high. Purchases in North America, purchases in North Asia, purchases in Europe, they are on the ground, as are some Indians. So my message to the Indian industry is that we are here to help, we want you to succeed, but you got to be quick and you are going to be assertive in a way you are going to go about it,' he stressed.

 

Green, who assumed charge as Australia’s envoy for India in August, also said: 'I do not think India is lagging behind. This phase is natural. We know about the mining game, it won’t be quick, developing mines takes time, takes high level of trust and of course, takes resources. I am confident that we will get there but my message is we all have to work harder and faster at this moment so when we come to the end of the next term of an Indian government we can say yes we got that done.'

 

India ‘An indispensable Partner’ In Indo-Pacific

With tensions now rising in the Red Sea region due to relentless attacks by Houthis on merchant vessels that have invited military operations in Yemen by the US and the UK, Australia said its ties with India are now more critical than ever under the Indo-Pacific strategic framework.

 

'We (Australia and India) live in a more complex, contested and dangerous world and we both need greater partnerships and deeper friendships with those whom we trust and with those with whom we have similar outlooks. For Australia, India is on a very short list of those countries that we want to deepen and we feel it’s important as we face more tension in our region,' said Green.

 

He added that 'both our governments are making very powerful efforts to manage those tensions', and aiming to see that the conflict in the Red Sea region 'do not widen in a way that it becomes dangerous for all of us'.

 

Earlier this month, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Iran where he raised the issue of 'threats of maritime shipping' with Tehran. Meanwhile, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong visited Jordan, Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and the United Arab Emirates, to mitigate the growing tensions arising in the Middle East that is threatening growth in global commerce.

 

Since December, Houthi rebels have been attacking merchant ships passing through the Red Sea in retaliation to Israel’s deadly airstrikes on Gaza that has given rise to a humongous humanitarian crisis.

 

'The situation in Gaza is dire. Although Hamas attacks are to be completely decried, the ending of Hamas must be sought and we support Israel in that, the humanitarian interest of the people of Gaza must be held in that balance, that’s terrifically important… We are also focussed on the original cause of this, which we would like to bring to a sustainable ceasefire … And a ceasefire that is not unilateral,' said Green.

 

Australia is also part of the Quad, which includes India, Japan, and the US. According to the envoy, the Quad will remain focussed on the Indo-Pacific while he ruled out any expansion plans of the grouping.

 

'We are dealing with a world with global challenges in multiple locations. For our country, still, the top priority is the stability and peace in the Indo-Pacific and against that ambition India is an indispensable partner,' said the Australian envoy.