Goyal assures citizens of consultations
India will always protect its strategic and economic interests while engaging in multilateral talks, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has assured his countrymen.
He urged citizens to talk, argue and understand issues and not indulge in creating fear psychosis as “the Government will never sign on any trade agreement without consultations”.
The most extensive stakeholder consultations have been carried out for the regional Economic Partnership Agreement talks that are underway.
India is cautious on signing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) involving 16 Asia Pacific countries and led by China. The others are 10-member countries in the ASEAN, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea. RCEP is expected to be signed in coming months.
India is also looking at new opportunities and new markets of exports with other geographies like the United States, European Union and United Kingdom, Goyal said at the launch of High Level Advisory Group (HLAG) report which have recommendations on boosting exports.
But he also pointed out that India cannot remain isolated in the globalized world as it will not be in the interests of the industry and the consumers.
The HLAG report has been prepared by the Advisory Group led by Dr. Surjit S. Bhalla to assess the global environment and make recommendations for boosting India’s share and importance in global merchandise and services trade, managing pressing bilateral trade relations, and mainstreaming new age policy making.
The report, released 30 Oct 2019, shows the way forward for India to become an attractive investment destination by grasping all the opportunities available so that India is able to achieve the target of exports contributing US$1 trillion to the GDP. fiinews.com
