India for early investment, services pacts with Asean

NEW DELHI: India has called for an early conclusion of the India-Asean agreement on services and investment which would encourage movement of professionals and flow of investments between the two.

In a meeting with Singaporean trade minister Lim Hng Kiang, commerce and industry minister Anand Sharma stressed on the need for concluding the agreement soon.

The Singaporean minister, too, underscored the need for having the agreement on services and investment between Indian and the Asean countries in place soon, an official release said. The India-Asean free trade agreement on agricultural and industrial goods has already been implemented since the beginning of the current year.

Mr Sharma, who is on a two-day visit to Singapore, discussed opportunities for investment in India’s infrastructure development using Singapore’s expertise in areas of water management, urban planning and skills development.

He briefed Singaporean senior minister Goh Chok Tong on the progress of the Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor and the areas where Singapore companies could bring in their expertise and investments.

Mr Sharma also met Singaporean foreign minister George Yeo and discussed bilateral relations and issues related to India’s engagement with Asean, the release said.