CANBEERA: The free trade agreement between India and Australia that is expected to be signed by end of this year may not be the most robust but would create mechanisms to harvest immense business opportunities, the head of a think-tank here said today.
“The agreement could be later improved upon and that would signal huge opportunities that exist between the two nations,, CEO and foundation director of Australia India Institute said.
“It would also create the mechanisms to harvest immense business opportunities,” he said.
“The Free trade agreement may not be the most robust one but it will certainly begin by identifying sectors where the two can do much more,” said Mattoo, while giving a talk on ‘The Modi Government An early assessment of its policies and impact’.
Bilateral trade between Australia and India has been pegged at Australian dollars (AUD) 15 billion and the two sides have set a target to lift it to AUD 50 billion.
During official visits to India and Australia in September and November 2014 respectively, Abbott and Modi renewed both countries commitment for an early conclusion of an equitable, balanced, comprehensive and high quality agreement.
