New Delhi keen to wrap up talks on CEPA

NEW DELHI: India is keen on completing negotiations on a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) with Japan by the year-end. Commerce and industry minister Kamal Nath on Wednesday said the two countries had advanced the target for finalising the terms of CEPA, which will cover goods, services and investments.

“We will have two rounds of two meetings each. The next meeting would be on September 3 in Tokyo. We are looking to complete it (CEPA) by this year, advancing the target date,” Mr Nath said at the launch of the India-Japan Business Leader’s Forum here.

The forum comprises CEOs of top Indian and Japanese firms, including Reliance Industries, Infosys, Bharat Forge, Moser Baer, Toyota and Mitsubishi Corporation. It is co-chaired by RIL CMD Mukesh Ambani and Canon Inc chairman Fujio Mitarai, who inked a MoU to this effect.