India, S Africa to enter into preferential trade agreement

Kolkata, Jul 27 (UNI) South African Customs Union (SACU) and India will start the first round of talks in next month to enter into preferential trade arrangments.

Speaking at a seminar, organised by Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Counsellor (Economic) of South-African High Commission Jardine Omar said here today that the modalities of this high-level talks would soon be finalised by governments of both countries.

'' There will be at least four to five rounds of talks before SACU countries and Union Ministry of Commerce under the Union Government reach an agreement, '' Mr Omar added. The trade agreement might take some time to get finalised.

'' The broad areas, to be discussed in the trade talks, are manufacturing, Information Technology, Mining, Food Processing and other sectors. However, service sectors, agriculture and textiles will be kept in abeyance, '' he said.

SACU countries include South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lhatso and Swaziland.

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