RI, India to finalize talks on economic cooperation accord in August
Antara | 06/08/08
RI, India to finalize talks on economic cooperation accord in August
Jakarta (ANTARA News) — Indonesia and India are expected to finalize talks for conclusion of a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement in August, an envoy said.
"It is being drafted. We hope in one months time there will be a meeting to that effect. The blueprint for the agreement already exists. It is now for the two nations to prepare negotiations on the comprehensive economic cooperation agreement," Indonesian Ambassador to India Andi M. Ghalib said on Saturday.
The agreement was designed to achieve the two-way trade target of US$10 billion by 2009, he said.
"The meeting is scheduled to take place in India in August. It is a follow-up to the Indonesian trade ministers visit to India some time ago," he said.
If the agreement could be signed on schedule, it would pave the way for the two countries to pursue a free trade agreement, he said.
Chairman of the Indian Committee of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) Djismun Kasri meanwhile said both countries had not maximally benefited from their huge trade potentials.
Indonesias exports to India had so far been shipped through third countries such as Singapore, he said.
"We need to conduct direct trade with India," he said.
Two-way trade between Indonesia and India stood at US$6 billion last year. Trade value would be higher than the current figure if the two nations conducted direct trade, he said.
Indonesias exports to India included coal, crude palm oil and handicraft goods while its imports from India mainly consisted of machineries. (*)
