London/New Delhi, June 26 (IANS). Describing the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) as a historic opportunity for both the countries, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said that there is an atmosphere of tremendous enthusiasm in Britain about this agreement. He said that there is a lot of optimism about this agreement in the business community of India and Britain and it will give a new impetus to trade and investment between the two countries.
Talking to news agency IANS, Piyush Goyal said that he has reached Britain with the largest business delegation in the history of India. He told that about 170 industrialists and businessmen from different states and different areas of the country have come with him. He has had several important meetings in London with representatives of British companies and Indian industry.
He said that the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement is not limited to trade in goods and services only, but will form the basis of a comprehensive economic partnership between the two countries. According to him, this agreement will not only increase trade but will also strengthen the relations between India and Britain.
Piyush Goyal further said that some such opportunities come in life which are very important to recognize in time and take advantage of them. If such opportunities are missed, they never come again. Appealing to the industry of both the countries to take full advantage of this opportunity, he said that this is the right time to take the economic relations between India and Britain to new heights.
He also mentioned the message of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in which the Prime Minister had said that “this is the right time.” Goyal said that there cannot be a better message than this in the context of India-UK partnership and businessmen of both the countries should take full advantage of this opportunity.
In response to a question on the India-US trade agreement, the Union Minister said that recently the US Trade Representative (USTR) had visited India, with whom detailed talks were held for two days. He said that broad consensus has been reached between the two countries on most of the important points of the proposed trade agreement.
However, he said that discussion is still going on on an important issue. India wants to have better and more competitive market access to the US market compared to other competing countries, especially countries in the ASEAN region. The American side has assured to find a solution on this issue.
Piyush Goyal expressed confidence that as soon as this issue is resolved and Indian goods and services get better preference in the US market, the trade agreement between India and America can be finalized and taken forward.
–IANS
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