Malaysian PM for KL-Delhi FTA
Pallab Bhattacharya, New Delhi
Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Monday suggested a free-trade agreement between his country and India to boost bilateral economic cooperation and joint venture to explore other global opportunities as the two countries signed an accord on cooperation in satellite sector. On his first visit to India since assuming office, Badawi assured the Indian industry and business leaders that all roadblocks on the way to smooth functioning of FTA would be removed. Addressing the leaders of Indian industry and business, he asked them to come out with suggestions to maximize gains from FTA. Pointing out that Malaysia was India's largest trading partner in Asean, Badawi, who is on a five-day tour, said bilateral trade has gone up by 500 percent in the last nine years and is expected to cross 4.5 billion dollars this year. Referring to India's imports from Malaysia that accounted for just 3.4 percent and Malaysia's only 0.8 percent, he said these figures clearly pointed to the immense untapped potential for enhancing bilateral trade. Badawai, who held talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and called on President A P J Abdul Kalam, said while India has adopted a "Look East" policy, Malaysia was "looking West" at India and West Asia.
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