India, next focus area for Japan : Japanese MPs

New Delhi, July 10 (UNI) Chief Secretary, Select Commission on FTA and EPA of Japan Hideaki Ohmura stressed on the need to start negotiations on EPA between India and Japan to increase the trade between the two countries from the current 2.5 bln dillion dollar to 10 billion dollar within the next three years.

Mr Ohmura who is also the leader of a four-member delegation of Member of the House of Representatives at a meeting with their Indian counterparts organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) stated that currently Japan was in talks with Vietnam, Indonesia and was at the final stage of an investment with China and after this India would be the next target.

Expressing concern that despite the fact that many Japanese countries were already in India, the bilateral trade between the two countries was not up to the mark, he said adding that there was an urgent need to begin talks on EPA and FTA between Japan and India.

Yasutoshi Nishimora, another MP from Japan stated Indian' superiority in the food processing and cold storage technology was much needed in Japan while India could transfer its technology in the manufacturing sector to India.

He also pleaded for an open sky policy between the two countries as direct flights between Indian and Japan were very few as of now.

The other MPs accompanying him were Nobuko Kishi and Taku Otsura Mr Kishi pointed out that lack of infrastructure including electricity and clean water and the long distance between India and Japan could be the reasons for the low level of bilateral trade between the two countries and called the two Governments to take remedial measures.

He also sought India's support in the food and agricultural sector where Japan was not self sufficient and had to import as much as 60 per cent of its requirements.

Mr Otsura called for measures to strengthen regional security and safety if trade and cooperation between the two countries was to be strengthened.

Sachin Pilot, MP from the Congress Party stated that food processing, agriculture, airports had been identified as areas for increasing cooperation and assured the Japanese delegation that India would like this relationship to flourish in years to come.

Manvendra Singh, MP from the Bharatiya Janata Party said that concerns of security mainly arose due to lack of communication and political ignorance and stated that Japan and India had common security concerns.

Robert Kharshiing, MP said that Indian MPs, cutting across party lines were in favour of increasing trade and commerce between the two countries and asked the Japanese not to worry much about safety and security.

CII head of internatioanl trade policy T S Vishwanath stated that the level of trade between the countries would be substantially increased once the CEPA was in place by the end of the year.

He pointed out that the focus areas in this effort would be SMEs, pharmaceuticals and manufacturing sectors while many Indian IT companies were also looking at Japan for cooperation.

UNI ARB DKS ND1936