Call for protection of indigenous products

Guwahati, Sep 7 (UNI) A workshop on India-EU Trade and Investment Negotiations held here today focused on identifying products of concern to India while trying to amplify the bilateral trade volume with the EU.

Inaugurating the workshop Principal Secretary of the state's Department of Industries and Commerce Harish Sonowal called for a cautious effort on part of India during trade and investment negotiation with the EU so as to protect indigenous products from getting wiped out of the domestic market.

Mr Sonowal cited example from history saying that the weavers of the country and the traditional handloom sector was pushed onto to the verge of extinction when the then East India Company had allowed free access to Indian market for machine-made garments.

India should negotiate hard with the EU for removal of certain barriers to get a level playing field in respect bi-lateral trade, he said.

''It is essential for identifying our products in which trade barriers shouldn't be eliminated. Otherwise EU made goods will flood the market at the cost of our produce,'' he cautioned.

Giving a presentation on behalf of the Department of Commerce, Government of India, Bipin Menon, Joint Director of Foreign Trade informed that EU had remained India's largest trading partner.

He said India's exports to EU countries was worth US $ 23.23 billion in 2005-06 against import volume of US $ 26 billion.

The major items exported by India included apparel and clothing, mineral fuel, precious and semi precious metals, organic chemicals, machinery and mechanical appliances, footwear and other products, electrical machinery and equipment and Iron and steel products.

Major items imported by the country from the EU include machinery and mechanical appliances, pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, metals, aircraft, electrical machinery and iron and steel products.

The workshop was held under the aegis of Department of Commerce, Government of India, UNCTAD India Project and Indian Chamber of Commerce.

UNI