Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Commerce & Industry

10-August-2011 17:04 IST

Meeting of Commerce Secretaries of India and Pakistan

Bi-lateral trade and commerce talks were held between Commerce Secretaries of India and Pakistan on 27-28 April 2011, in Islamabad. The two sides, inter-alia, agreed to improve trade infrastructure and expand trade through Attari-Wagha land route. It was agreed to set up a Working Group to address and resolve clearly identified sector-specific barriers to trade. Both sides agreed to undertake new initiatives to enable trade in electricity and Bt. Cotton seeds as also expand trade in petroleum products. It was agreed that cooperation in Information Technology sector would be encouraged through the private sector. Both sides agreed to facilitate grant of Business Visas to encourage expansion of trade. Pakistan recognized that grant of MFN status to India would help in expanding bilateral trade relations. It agreed to replace its present ‘Positive List’ with ‘Negative List’, by October 2011.

Joint Working Groups have been set up for Customs cooperation, trade in electricity and trade in all types of Petroleum Products. A Joint Working Group on ‘Economic and Commercial Cooperation & Trade Promotion’ to be co-chaired by the Joint Secretaries of the respective Departments of Commerce has been set up for reviewing the implementation of the decisions taken during the meeting of the two Commerce Secretaries and also other trade promotion issues.

Pakistan recognized that grant of MFN status to India would help in expanding bilateral trade relations. It has agreed to replace its present ‘Positive List’ with ‘Negative List’, by October 2011.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia in a written reply to a question, in the Rajya Sabha today.

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Most Favoured Nation status recognized as central to trade expansion, with commitment to replace positive list by deadline. Parties agreed to improve trade infrastructure and land route connectivity, promote private sector IT cooperation, facilitate Business Visas, and enable trade in electricity, Bt cotton seed and petroleum products. Joint Working Groups were established for Customs cooperation, electricity trade, petroleum trade, and Economic and Commercial Cooperation & Trade Promotion to review implementation. Pakistan recognized that granting Most Favoured Nation status would assist bilateral trade and committed to replace its Positive List with a Negative List by the agreed deadline.