Industry & Economy
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Foreign Trade
`Indo-Dutch science, tech pact to be announced in 3 months'
Our Bureau
The Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mr Laurens Jan Brinkhorst (left), calling on the Minister for Science and Technology, Mr Kapil Sibal, in the Capital on Tuesday. — Kamal Narang
New Delhi
,
Oct. 25
THE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands, Mr Laurens Jan Brinkhorst, said on Tuesday a new science and technology agreement with India would be announced in three months outlining the specific areas for mutual cooperation.
Addressing an interactive meeting organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Mr Brinkhorst said there were widespread perceptions of the lack of patent protection in the pharmaceuticals sector. He also said limits to foreign investment in banks was holding up the expansion of Dutch banks. He also highlighted problems with regard to reciprocal anti-dumping measures.
He identified lack of openness and clarity in regard to foreign direct investment limits and policy prescriptions in pharmaceuticals, banking, insurance, telecom and anti-dumping as the impediments in deepening Indo-Dutch business relations.
The Minister said the Hong Kong Ministerial will mark the beginning of a new round and India was expected to play a key role in the talks. He advised India "not to hide behind agriculture issues alone."
He said services and non-agricultural market access would also be the key elements in the Ministerial round. In this context, he asked India to shed the remnants of a protectionist past as such a stance will not be in keeping with its growing image in the world.
Mr Saroj Kumar Poddar, Senior Vice-President, FICCI, said the key focus areas identified by the Chamber where Indo-Dutch business linkages could be further strengthened include agro processing, financial services, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, environment, IT and biotechnology.
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