Malaysia wants stronger trade ties with India

New Delhi, Jan 20 (PTI) Malaysia Wednesday said it wants
to complete talks this year for a separate trade-opening pact
with India, in addition to liberalising commerce through the
Indo-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement, operationalised this month.

"I would like to conclude the Malaysia-India
Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) by the end
of this year, if possible," Malaysian Prime Minister Mohd
Najib Tun Abdul Razak said at a meeting organised jointly by
Assocham, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and
Industry (FICCI) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
here.
Razak said he would propose this in his meeting with
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as well. "I would
propose...when I meet my counterpart that the the CECA is
vital for us."
He would like Singh visiting his country to sign the
agreement.
Razak said the market-opening CECA would spur economic
growth for both the nations.
With bilateral commerce exceeding USD 10.5 billion in
2008-09, Malaysia is India's second largest trading partner
(after Singapore) among the 10-nation Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN).
"On our part, we will do all that is necessary to fast
track negotiations for this purpose," he said.
Razak also sought fast-tracking of negotiations to
conclude India-ASEAN FTA on services and investment. PTI RR
RDM


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