India and Australia have agreed to set up a mechanism to resolve issues coming in the way of trade in agricultural goods between the two countries.
NEW DELHI: India and Australia have agreed to set up a mechanism to resolve issues coming in the way of trade in agricultural goods between the two countries.
"We have agreed that officials from both sides would sit down and see if there are any issues regarding trade in farm produce between the two countries and resolve them," Australian Trade Minister Warren Truss said at the 16th Meeting of India-Australia Joint Business Council.
Favouring greater trade in agriculture goods, he said whatever restrictions are put in place due to concerns on pests and weeds would be based on science.
He was responding to demand from the Indian side to allow imports of mangoes. Australia is also a major exporter of agriculture products and is a member of Crain Group in WTO, which free trade in farm products.
Truss also said officials of two countries would also look at easing visa regime for businessmen from both sides. He said Australia wants that India should give long-term multiple entry visas to Australian businessmen.
Pointing to the prospects of manufacturing sector in India, Truss said, as Australia has small population it would have to depend on others for manufactured products and would in turn like to supply food, fibre, minerals and energy.
At the Joint Ministerial Meeting, Commerce and Industry Minister invited Australian investment in mining, farm and education. He said India was committed to the second generation of reforms that would improve governance and help consolidate gains from first stage of reforms.
India-Australia trade has been growing at a rapid pace and touched $5.7 billion in 2005-06 from just $1.4 billion in 2000-01.
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