Canada-India CEPA conversations to start next week: Piyush Goyal

Canada and India are looking at Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and conversations around that will kickstart next week, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said Friday.

- TBG NETWORK

"Canada and India are looking at CEPA and next week we will kickstart conversation around that," the Minister said, speaking at the FICCI's 98th AGM. Addressing the FICCI's 98th Annual General Meeting and Annual Convention, Minister Goyal said that India has already concluded a very balanced, robust, fair and equitable agreements with Australia, UAE, Mauritius, UK, the 4 nation EFTA group.

"At this point of time we are in talks with 14 group of countries collectively representing around 50 countries of the world. Our focus is on countries of significance where we complement each other. We are talking to Oman while Bahrain and Qatar want to enter into negotiations with India along with the GCC countries. We are also talking to New Zealand, simultaneously with Australia on second stage agreement," he added. Minister Goyal further stated that India is reviewing ASEAN and Korea FTA to bring more balance. India is also actively in discussion with the US and 27 nation European Nation.