India-Qatar final FTA terms of reference in Oct

INDIA will soon be finalising the terms of reference for its proposed free trade agreement (FTA) with Qatar in October, signaling a fresh push in its broader trade diversification strategy, as per commerce ministry sources.

- PUSHITA DEY @ New Delhi

Commerce minister Piyush Goyal is likely to travel to Qatar in the first week of October to firm up the negotiation blueprint. The FTA with Qatar will be advanced as a part of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

Both India and Qatar have set an ambitious goal to achieve bilateral trade up to $28 billion by 2030. India is also advancing multiple other trade negotiations. Talks with the EU have gained momentum as part of efforts to formalise an FTA.