Malaysia hopes to negotiate on FTA during Razak's visit

Kuala Lumpur, Jan 13 (PTI) Malaysia hopes to give a
political push to their negotiations on a bilateral free trade
agreement with India and to collaborate in areas of IT,
biotech and pharmaceuticals during Premier Mohd Najib Tun
Razak's upcoming visit to New Delhi beginning January 19.
Razak, accompanied by a 200 strong delegation, will make
an official visit to India beginning January 19 to broaden and
deepen the existing close bilateral cooperation, the Foreign
Ministry said in a statement Wednesday.
Malaysia is expected to sign at least 13 Memoranda of
Understanding with India in various fields including Highway
and infrastructure projects.
The visit would also provide an excellent opportunity for
Najib and his host Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to
exchange views and achieve closer understanding on issues of
mutual interest, the statement said.
The premier has said that he wanted to see the Malaysia
India FTA to go forward.
Admitting that it had been on the backburner for a while,
the premier felt that it was the right time to reignite talks
and finalise the treaty by the year end.
He said that the Indian economy was growing fast and that
it would play an important role in international affairs.
Najib's delegation includes several ministers, deputy
ministers, chief ministers, members of parliament and senior
officials as well as representatives of the business sector
and the media.
"Both sides are expecting that this will be a substantive
visit," premier Najib said on Monday.
During his four day visit, Naib is also scheduled to
call on President Pratibha Patil, and Vice President Hamid
Ansari.
Najib hoped that India Malaysia trade, which is
currently at USD 10 billion, will be enhanced in near future.
Najib's wife Rosmah Mansor will accompany him.
He will also visit Chennai to attend and deliver a
keynote address at the 16th CII Global Partnership Summit 2010
entitled "Global Partnership: Meeting Challenges".
He will also attend a round table meeting with some
Indian industrialists and launch a Malaysian property
exhibition.
Najib had said recently that he would take up the
issue of many Indians who failed to return from Malaysia after
the expiry of their visas. There are 39046 Indians, mostly
from Tamil Nadu, who are now illegals in this country.
Besides IT, biotech and pharmaceuticals, Malaysia also
hopes to collaborate with India in areas of green technology
and heavy industries. PTI JB
RBT