Latest news with #EconomicAffairs
Times of Oman
a day ago
- Business
- Times of Oman
64.3% Indians now covered under social security, against 22% in 2016
New Delhi: About 64.3 per cent of Indian population is covered by social protection systems in 2025, increasing from 22 per cent in 2016, indicating a substantial expansion in social security coverage in the country, according to the latest Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) National Indicator Framework (NIF) Progress Report, 2025. According to the report, which was quoted in the Department of Economic Affairs' monthly review, the proportion of the population that is multidimensionally poor has decreased from 24.9% in 2015-16 to 15% in 2019-21. "This achievement is a testament to the government's commitment towards inclusive growth," read the monthly economic review report. The government's initiatives for improving access to basic amenities are reflected in the rise in the percentage of the population using an improved drinking water source in rural areas, which has increased from 94.6% in 2015-16 to 99.6% in 2024-25. Universal household electrification is expected to be achieved by 2021-22, while 100 per cent of the districts are projected to achieve the Open Defecation Free (ODF) target by 2024-25, according to the report. "The Government's efforts to provide affordable housing, social security for workers, food security, financial inclusion, universal access to basic amenities and high-quality affordable healthcare are instrumental in improving the overall well-being and standards of living," it added. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation's (MoSPI) latest Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) National Indicator Framework (NIF) Progress Report, 2025, provided a comprehensive picture of the impact of these initiatives in achieving SDG targets. Coming to the monthly economic review report, India's economy sustained its growth momentum in the first quarter of 2025-26, supported by robust domestic demand, resilient business and services activity, and a favourable onset of the southwest monsoon. High-frequency indicators reflected broad-based strength, registering strong year-on-year growth. While the manufacturing and construction sectors continued to expand, the services sector anchored overall economic growth in Q1 of 2025-26, according to the abstract of the review report. Inflationary pressures continue to recede in Q1 of 2025-26, with CPI inflation falling to a 77-month low of 2.1 per cent in June 2025. This sharp moderation was driven by a significant decline in food inflation, particularly in the prices of vegetables and pulses.
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
PM Shehbaz underscores digital economy push to enhance transparency, ease public access
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday said that digitisation of the economy will help improve transparency and ensure public convenience without adding financial burden on citizens. Chairing a high-level meeting to review progress on the government's digital transformation and cashless economy agenda, the premier said the core objective of the digital transition plan is to offer efficient services to the public free of additional cost. 'The federal government is encouraging digital payments and electronic fund transfers through focused policy measures,' Sharif noted. PM Shehbaz approves formation of digital ecosystem in FBR He directed authorities to hold meaningful consultations with provincial governments to ensure effective and inclusive implementation of the digital transformation roadmap. The prime minister also instructed provincial administrations, including those of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, to fully cooperate with the federal government in advancing the digital and cashless economy agenda. With provincial support, he said, the government's digital initiatives could be accelerated to achieve key targets within the stipulated timelines. Sharif further called for institutionalising stakeholder engagement as a regular feature of the transformation process. PM Shehbaz lauds FBR reforms as tax filers jump to 7.2mn The briefing during the meeting highlighted that the National Digital Commission and Pakistan Digital Authority had been established, and necessary regulatory frameworks finalised. The process of appointing the chairperson and members of the authority is in its final stages. Officials also informed the meeting that the Merchant Onboarding Framework, a key component of the digital payments infrastructure, was formally launched on July 25, 2025. The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Minister for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani, the chief secretaries of all provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan and AJK, as well as senior federal officials.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Denmark's Lose Says EU Ready to Defend Own Interests
Denmark's Minister for Economic Affairs Stephanie Lose says the EU remains constructive in the trade talks but will be firm that it is ready to defend its own interests. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Zawya
09-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Third edition of information and awareness campaign for small cross-border traders along the Abidjan – Lagos corridor: official launch of the Lomé stage
As part of the implementation of the third edition of the Information and Awareness Campaign for small-scale cross-border traders along the Abidjan – Lagos corridor, the Department of Human Development and Social Affairs in collaboration with the Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture of the ECOWAS Commission organised the official launch of the Lomé stage on the 4th of July 2025 at the Hôtel 2 février in Lomé, Togo. The launch ceremony was attended by Her Excellency Professor Kossiwa ZINSOU-KLASSO, Minister for Social Action, Solidarity and the Advancement of Women. The aim of this campaign is to build on the achievements and results of the 2023 and 2024 Editions carried out along the Tema-Paga and Dakar-Banjul-Bissau Corridors in order to facilitate cross-border trade and improve the operations of small-scale women traders by enhancing their knowledge and understanding of the texts governing cross-border trade and related community initiatives. The ceremony, which took place against the backdrop of ECOWAS' golden jubilee, was an opportunity to raise awareness among women traders of ECOWAS cross-border agri-food trade initiatives, policies and strategies, in particular the Regional Programme for the Integration of Agricultural Markets – PRIMA (2021-2026) covering Togo and Benin, and on building the capacity of women traders in the toolkit developed by ITC for women involved in small-scale cross-border trade (Transparency at the border and Combating gender-based violence). The launch ceremony was attended by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Togolese Republic, the Ministry of Trade, Handicrafts and Local Consumption, Regional Integration and Togolese Abroad of the Togolese Republic, the ECOWAS Resident Representation in Togo, the ECOWAS National Office, the ECOWAS Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food, based in Lomé, the Togolese Chamber of Commerce, representatives of small-scale cross-border traders' associations and technical and financial partners. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Bengaluru-Berlin partnership to drive innovation, startup exchange: Priyank Kharge
Academy Empower your mind, elevate your skills A joint declaration of intent was signed between the Government of Karnataka and the State of Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany, Karnataka's Minister for Electronics, IT/BT Priyank Kharge said on posted on 'X' that the declaration was signed in the presence of Franziska Giffey , Mayor of Berlin and Senator for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises, Germany."This partnership under Karnataka's Global Innovation Alliance will reduce the distance between Berlin and Bengaluru by enabling startup exchange , soft-landing support, and deeper tech and innovation collaboration ," the minister to him, the collaboration will focus on areas such as FinTech, Artificial Intelligence, IT/Digitalisation, and Life Sciences, which reflect Bengaluru's global leadership in emerging technologies and complement Berlin's strengths in innovation and ecosystem development."Both governments believe innovation must be equitable, so we are placing special emphasis on women-led enterprises and green innovation," he said Karnataka would soon institutionalise this partnership through a joint steering committee and dedicated nodal points on both sides to track progress, co-create programmes, and ensure outcome-based Giffey, who is leading a 25-member trade delegation to Bengaluru and Delhi, announced after the signing that Berlin would open a representative business office in Bengaluru next year to promote bilateral trade. This will be Berlin's third such office after New York and is accompanied by Stefan Franzke, CEO of Berlin Partner for Business and Technology; Jeannine Koch, CEO of medianet berlinbrandenburg eV; and Berol Bicer, Executive Board Member of the Berlin Chamber of Industry and delegation includes companies and startups from the digitalisation, energy, mobility, and GreenTech sectors, aiming to explore new markets and build partnerships in their two-day visit to Bengaluru, the delegation will visit the Infosys campus, RV College of Engineering, and IIM Bangalore, and hold meetings with industry bodies, including NASSCOM.
