FTA to be key agenda during PM's Japan visit

New Delhi, Dec 7 (UNI) India and Japan will hold talks on a free trade agreement (FTA) covering goods, services and investments when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visits Japan next week.

The talks will also help increase the number of flights between both the countries.

''The agreement is likely to be finalised early next year, reflecting the current upbeat mood between the two countries,'' Deputy Chief of Mission Japanese Embassy Ryoichi Horie today said at a meeting on 'India-Japan Economic Partnership'.

More mutual efforts and endeavours are needed to grow the India-Japan economic partnership, he added.

Ahead of Dr Singh's Japan visit, business and political leaders are hopeful of significant breakthroughs in economic and political ties between the two countries.

Small and Medium Enterprises are also likely to be one of the focal areas during the PM's visit.

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