India’s bilateral trade with the countries of ASEAN and East Asia including North East Asia during the year 2006-07 (upto April 2006) amounts to Rs.21,172.98 crore. Detailed country-wise / commodity-wise data for India’s trade with all her trading partners are made available through the Department of Commerce website: http://commerce.nic.in
Initiatives for conclusion of Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreements (CECA) and Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) are being pursued with the countries of East Asia as important features of our Look East Policy. These initiatives include establishment of a CECA with Singapore in June 2005, establishment of a Joint Study Group (JSG) for examining the feasibility of a CECA with Malaysia, an MOU for establishment of a JSG with Indonesia, a JSG for consideration of a Regional Trading Arrangement (RTA) with China, a Framework Agreement on FTA with Thailand and Bilateral Initiatives for an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) respectively with Republic of Korea and Japan. Besides, negotiations are on conclusion of a CECA with ASEAN.
This was stated by Shri Jairam Ramesh, Minister of State for Commerce, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
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SB/MRS
(Release ID :19307)