The Commerce Ministry plans to send a team to travel across the country and explain the impact of free trade agreements signed with Japan and Malaysia.

“My colleagues will make a team and go all over the country to explain the provisions of the tariff concessions and services agreement that have been entered into so that everybody, on a pan-India basis, gets to know exactly what there is and what is the gain,” said the Commerce Secretary, Mr Rahul Khullar, at a FICCI function.

Partnership pacts

Under the India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), both countries will eliminate import duties on 94 per cent of the goods traded between the two sides in the last 10 years.

Mr Khullar said that this would give a big boost to the domestic textiles and pharmaceutical industry and added that domestic players should start exploring the business opportunities in Japan. The CEPA is expected to come into effect from April 1.

Through the India-Malaysia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), India will get greater access to the services sector in Malaysia.

Malaysia will also open up sectors such as accounting and auditing, architecture, urban planning, engineering, medical, dental, IT and management consultancy services to Indian companies.

He advised Indian business to take advantage of the provisions of the agreement with Malaysia and tap specific export sectors.

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