Click to play videoNew Delhi: India and Pakistan literally decided to cement their trade ties during the latest round of commerce secretary level talks, the fourth in a series that are being held after a gap of 16 months.
“15 million tonnes would be available for export. Two factories have applied.The final inspections are done. By the end of this month they should be ready to export,” said Commerce Secretary, Pakistan, Syed Asif Shah.
Pakistani cement will have to meet Indian quality specifications; the process of certification is on within an assurance that India will fast forward the process.
“We are looking at third party accreditation so that bis teams do not have to go,” said Indian Commerce Secretary, G K Pillai.
The two countries have set up a technical panel to secure recognition from the WTO for Basmati as a nomenclature that can be used for export of aromatic rice only from this region.
While working jointly on this issue, Pakistan has objected to India exporting rice as superbasmati, a nomenclature that it claims as its own.
“It is a product that Pakistan has evolved and exported from day one. And if India wants to export as superbasmati, we have contested that,” said Shah.
Other issues that came up for discussion:
* Trading trust
* Trucks crossing Wagah border
* Pak tea import by rail; possible duty cuts
* 484 more Indian items for export
* 20 more Pakistani items for import by India
* Setting up of checkpoints on either side of the Wagah border where trucks could load and unload, so that goods do not have to be transported manually across no man's land.
* Import of tea by Pakistan, by rail, and possible duty concession
* List of 484 tariff lines for inclusion in Pakistan's import list.
* Invitation to Pakistan to identify 20 products for export to India, so that its trade imbalance is redressed.
State Bank of India and Bank of India will be allowed to set up two branches each in Pakistan in exchange for Pakistan's United Bank and National Bank getting similar concessions in India by end of this year. In other words, banks will cement the trust.
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