Explore Business Standard
Don’t miss the latest developments in business and finance.
India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will announce the launch of negotiations for a free trade agreement on Thursday, which aims at promoting two-way commerce and investments between the regions, an official said. GCC is a union of six countries in the Gulf region -- Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain. India's exports to the GCC member countries grew by 58.26 per cent to about USD 44 billion in 2021-22, as against USD 27.8 billion in 2020-21, according to data from the commerce ministry. The share of GCC members in India's total imports rose to 18 per cent in 2021-22, from 15.5 per cent in 2020-21. Bilateral trade has increased to USD 154.73 billion in 2021-22, from USD 87.4 billion in 2020-21. "GCC officials will be here for the announcement," the official said. India has already implemented a free trade pact with the UAE in May this year. This would be a kind of resumption of FTA talks as earlier two rounds of negotiations had been held in 2006 and
India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are expected to launch negotiations for a free trade agreement on November 24 with an aim to boost economic ties between the two regions, an official said. GCC is a union of six countries in the Gulf region -- Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain. "The FTA will be launched on November 24. GCC officials will be here to launch the talks," the official said. India has already implemented a free trade pact with the UAE in May this year. Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal had, on November 16, said that India will be launching a new free trade agreement (FTA) next week. This would be a kind of resumption of FTA talks as earlier two rounds of negotiations held in 2006 and 2008 between India and GCC. Third round did not happen as GCC deferred its negotiations with all countries and economic groups. India imports predominately crude oil and natural gas from the Gulf nations like Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and exports pearls,
India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member countries are expected to start negotiations for a free trade agreement next month with an aim to boost economic ties between the two regions, an official said. GCC is a union of six countries in the Gulf region -- Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain. "Terms of reference for the agreement are being finalised and we expect to launch the negotiations next month," the official said. India has already implemented a free trade pact with the UAE in May this year. According to experts, the GCC region holds huge trade potential and a trade agreement would help in further boosting India's exports to that market. Rakesh Mohan Joshi, Director, Indian Institute of Plantation Management, Bangalore, said the GCC market is unexploited by domestic exporters and it holds huge potential. "GCC is a major import dependent region. We can increase our exports of food items, clothing and several other goods. Duty concessions under a tra