Indonesia exploring FTA pacts with India, Australia

Singapore, Jul 3 (UNI) Indonesia is exploring the possibility of concluding a Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with India, Australia and New Zealand, Chief of the Finance Ministrys Fiscal Policies Board, Anggito Abimanyu said.

''We have held preliminary discussions with India, Australia, and New Zealand but the most comprehensive talks were held with Japan,'' he said in Jakarta yesterday.

Indonesia has already signed FTAs with China, South Korea and fellow member countries within the Association of South East Asian (ASEAN) grouping. The cooperation agreements with the three countries would probably cover trade aspects rather than economic cooperation in a wider sense.

''But maybe they will only provide for free trade or reduction of import duties,'' the Indonesian state news aency Antara quoted Anggito as saying in Jakarta.

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