South Asian trade pact becoming redundant, warn experts

October 3rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - India's free trade agreement (FTA) with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) will not adversely affect the country's fisheries sector, Minister of State for Agriculture K.V. Thomas said here Saturday.

August 29th, 2009 EU signs trade pact with southeast African nationsBRUSSELS — The European Union signed a temporary trade pact Saturday with Mauritius, Seychelles, Zimbabwe and Madagascar calling for tariffs on European goods to be removed over the next 15 years. The four countries in southeast Africa have had full access to the EU consumer market — the world's biggest — since the start of 2008 for most goods.

August 15th, 2009 BANGKOK - China and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Saturday signed an investment pact that provides guarantees against nationalisation, riots and disputes and is expected to boost investment. "The ASEAN-China Investment Agreement is expected to boost bilateral investments by 40 to 60 percent over the next two years," Thai Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai said after inking the pact with Chinese Commerce Minister Chen De-ming.

August 13th, 2009 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - India's signing of an economic pact with the ASEAN nations has evoked strong criticism from Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, who said Thursday that the pact was "detrimental" to the agriculture sector in the state.

August 13th, 2009 KOZHIKODE - Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan Thursday once again expressed his concerns over the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between India and ASEAN countries, and said the central government has ignored the pact-related issues the state has raised.

August 7th, 2009 SKorea, India sign broad agreement to boost tradeSEOUL, South Korea — South Korea and India signed a broad trade agreement Friday to slash tariffs on goods and services in a bid to increase commerce between two of Asia's biggest economies. South Korean Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon and India's Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma penned what the two sides formally called a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, but which South Korea is calling a free trade deal.

August 5th, 2009 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala's Leader of Opposition and former chief minister Oommen Chandy Wednesday defended the proposed trade pact between India and ASEAN nations, saying the positive sides of the agreement should also be seen. "It is now a reality and there is no way out.

July 20th, 2009 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Kerala capital is set to host a two-day international conference beginning Tuesday on the global economic crisis, its impact on Gulf nations and its implications for migrant labour, including Indians, working there. The event, which would be held at the Centre for Development Studies here, would focus on the slowdown of the growth rate of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) economies and its significance for the South Asian and Southeast Asian developing economies that are the main sources of migrant labour for the Gulf countries.

July 2nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - The stage is set for a comprehensive economic pact between India and South Korea after the union cabinet Thursday approved signing of the agreement. "The union cabinet today (Thursday) approved the proposal for signing of a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) with South Korea," Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni told reporters here.

June 22nd, 2009 MUMBAI J - The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) benchmark sensex crossed over 140 points in opening trade, thanks to the capital inflows by foreign funds, and signals of stability from the other Asian markets. Continuing its rising pace for the second consecutive session, the 30-share index, which was pitched at 256.36 points in the last session, collected another 140.40 points, to register 14,662.29 in opening trade.

May 13th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that India has no connection with the Pak-Afghanistan transit trade pact. Commenting on Pak-Afghan trade pact, the Foreign Minister clarified that India has no connection with the agreement.

April 28th, 2009 China and Peru seal free trade pactBEIJING — China and Peru signed a free trade pact on Tuesday, state media said, part of Beijing's efforts to bolster ties with Latin America. Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping and his Peruvian counterpart, Luis Giampietri Rojas, witnessed the signing following talks at the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

April 21st, 2009 ISLAMABAD - With India launching its first spy satellite, RISAT-2, to keep an eye on all activities along Pakistan border, experts believe that Pakistan too would initiate a programme to counter the Indian move. Experts are of the view that Pakistan would not remain insensitive over the issue and would soon follow India to boost its surveillance potential.

March 22nd, 2009 DHAKA - A regional approach to river water sharing, rather than a bilateral one, would help solve the sticky issue with neighbour India as well as Nepal and Bhutan, Bangladeshi experts have said. Speaking on the eve of World Water Day 2009, they said the water issue should be clubbed with multilateral trade while engaging with the South Asian neighbours.

January 27th, 2009 CHENNAI - Chennai Port and Canada's Port of Halifax have signed an agreement for cooperation in port management activities, it was announced here Wednesday. 'The MOU (memorandum of understanding) will enable sharing of knowledge in managing ports and terminals,' Chennai Port chairman K.