India to sign FTA with ASEAN countries on Dec 17

New Delhi, Nov 11: India will sign Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with ASEAN next month signalling a greater political and strategic partnership with the South-East Asian countries, a senior government official said on Tuesday, Nov 11. ''We are going to sign FTA with Asean countries on Dec 17,'' Special Secretary, Department of Commerce, Rahul Kullar said while talking to reporters on the sidelines of an industry event. The agreement will be signed in Bangkok, he said.

India enjoys a substantial trade deficit with ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations). While its exports to the ten-nation group was to the tune of 16 billion dollars in 2007-08, Indian imports from that region was of the order of 24 billion dollars during the same period.

UNI