The Hindu Business Line : India seeks greater trade with UAE in agro products

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India seeks greater trade with UAE in agro products

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APEDA delegation may visit UAE

BOOSTING TIES: The Minister of Commerce and Industry, Mr Kamal Nath, with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Abdulla Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, at a meeting in the Capital on Wednesday. - Kamal Narang

New Delhi June 6 India today sought greater trade in agro products with the UAE, particularly in vegetables, fruits, processed foods and poultry.

In a meeting with the visiting Minister of Foreign Trade, Sheikh Abdulla Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Minister of Commerce and Industry Mr Kamal Nath said: "Greater trade in agro products with the UAE and the entire Gulf region is important to India."

The visiting Minister agreed with Mr Nath's suggestion that a delegation from the Agriculture and Processed Food Export Development Authority (APEDA) could visit the UAE to discuss the possibilities in food and agriculture sector with importers there.

The possibilities of setting up laboratories in India for testing the food quality to meet standard requirements were also discussed.

The UAE Minister said that less than one per cent of all their investments were in India and that the UAE was keen to focus on investing in India's economy, including the agriculture sector.

Trade between India and the UAE was worth $12.9 billion in 2005-06. In the first 10 months of 2006-07, India's exports - mainly petroleum (crude and products), gem and jewellery, readymade garments, cotton, machinery and drugs and pharmaceutical products - amounted to $9.8 billion, while imports amounted to $7.08 billion. The main items of import were pearls, precious and semi-precious stones, gold and electronic goods.

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