‘India, South Korea to sign economic pact soon’
Financial Express, India
‘India, South Korea to sign economic pact soon’
Political Bureau
13 April 2007
NEW DELHI, APR 12: India’s proposed trade pact with South Korea should span all sectors, especially the services and the IT sector so that economic cooperation between the two countries is placed on the fast track, Seoul’s former mayor and the country’s presidential hopeful Lee Myung Bak, currently visiting New Delhi, said on Thursday.
Lee, who is a strong contender for presidentship in South Korea and is visiting India as part of an international image building exercise, also expressed optimism that the bilateral comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) would be finalised by the year end.
CEPA talks with Seoul were initiated last March with five rounds of negotiations so far, the most recent one being held last week. The two sides are currently in the process of exchanging updated initial offers on tariff reduction levels. South Korea last week inked an FTA with the US.
Lee also extended wholehearted support to New Delhi’s civilian nuclear cooperation with Washington
