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SAFTA

South Asia Free Trade Agreement

Maldives Minister says India seeking a free trade deal with island nation
27-May-2024 India Today
Maldivian Minister Mohamed Saeed has said that India has initiated efforts to create a Free Trade Agreement with the island nation, and discussions on the same are ongoing.
BITs with EC, South Asia to continue
11-Oct-2022 The Express Tribune
Pakistani government decides to avoid future investment treaties and cancels agreements posing legal risks.
Pakistan suspended trade with India due to violation of article 7 of SAFTA, MPs told
26-Jul-2020 The Nation
The ministry of commerce on Friday said that India has violated article 7 of SAFTA (Trade Liberalization Programme), therefore, Pakistan has formally suspended imports and exports with India in last year.
India plans SAARC trade talk soon, but past differences could prove to be a hurdle
3-Apr-2020 The Print
SAPTA and SAFTA never took off is because all these countries were never able to focus on trade, keeping politics aside.
Textiles industry delegation submits agenda to Irani
21-Jun-2019 SME Times
Delegation of FICCI Textiles Committee met Smriti Zubin Irani, Minister for Textiles and Women and Child Development recently and impressed upon her to launch a special mission for synthetic fibre and textiles value chain to make Indian industry competitive in the global trade which is predominantly done in the man-made fibre (MMF)-based items.
Local steel makers seek steps against low-cost import under SAFTA
23-Oct-2018 New Age
Local steel manufacturers have demanded protection of locally made several types of finished steel products from uneven competition with low-cost commercial imports under SAFTA benefit.
CEPA with Bangladesh can be template for enhancing trade in South Asia: Suresh Prabhu
1-Oct-2018 Yahoo
India and Bangladesh have proposed early conclusion of a Compressive Economic Cooperation Agreement to boost bilateral trade and investment and set an example for giving a fillip to regional trade in South Asia.
Trade through SAFTA demanded
12-Sep-2016 Daily Times
Eight finance ministers from South Asia pushed for the fast-track formation of the South Asian Economic Union (SAEU) to ensure larger investment inflows, higher trade volumes and energy generation.
SAFTA meet likely next month
25-Mar-2016 The Himalayan Times
The commerce ministers will discuss on enhancing intra-SAARC trade flows under SAFTA and vision for further trade liberalisation by reducing non-tariff and para-tariff barriers.
Businesses call for FTA reform as Indian exports continue to fall
22-Mar-2016 Food Navigator Asia
Business leaders have called on the Indian government to conduct a thorough review of the country’s trade agreements as experts predict this year’s exports will slump to 2010 levels.
India softens stance on Bay of Bengal free trade agreement
22-Feb-2016 Live Mint
Softening its earlier stand, India has decided to conclude a low-ambition free trade agreement with the seven-nation grouping Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, or Bimstec.
Dhaka decides to protest Delhi’s anti-dumping investigation
16-Nov-2015
Dhaka has decided to protest the New Delhi’s action relating to allegation of dumping jute goods and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) by Bangladesh, officials have said.
Sitharaman bats for early implementation of SAFTA
12-Oct-2015
Commerce and industry minister Nirmala Sitharaman made a strong pitch for greater integration of the South Asian region, even as she underscored the need for speedy implementation of the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (Safta) agreement.
India’s act ‘breaches’ int’l conventions, agreements
28-Sep-2015
Experts have termed India’s unofficial trade blockade on Nepal as a breach of international conventions and multilateral agreements that both Nepal and India have signed.
Regional integration, private sector to help South Asia boost growth: Report
20-Sep-2015
Increasing regional integration through enhanced role of private sector and cooperation in areas like trade, energy security and connectivity will help South Asian nations boost economic growth, says a report.
Private sectors of Sri Lanka, Pakistan urged to forge deeper links to boost trade
2-Sep-2015 Colombo Page
Pakistan and Sri Lanka are important partners not only in promoting bilateral trade and economic interactions but also enhancing regional economic integration through SAARC and SAFTA.
’A well-conceived trade pact can open up opportunities for textile exporters’
12-Nov-2014
The Indian textile industry as well as the policy makers are too focused on export incentive scheme for export promotion
Afraid of free trade
25-Apr-2014
Diplomacy in South Asia is given over to give-no-quarter bureaucrats, who cleave to a nationalism that continues to trump economics.
Zero tariff for 10 categories of Indian imports
26-Nov-2013
Despite the adverse impact on local industries, the Government has allowed tariff-free imports on ten categories of Indian goods, which had hitherto remained in the negative list under the Indo-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement, Daily Mirror learns.
No assurance on MFN from Pak
12-Nov-2013
No assurance was given by the Pakistan government on Tuesday for granting India the Most Favoured Nation trade status, almost a year after it missed the deadline to do so in order to normalise bilateral trading relations.