SME Times News Bureau | 17 Apr, 2013
India and the European Union (EU) failed to make any substantive
progress in their trade and investment talks in Brussels as the two
sides stuck to their long-standing demands during the ministerial
meeting.
India made a strong pitch for declaring it as a "data
secure country" that will help boost software exports. Commerce and
Industry Minister Anand Sharma underscored the country's interest in IT
and movement of Indian professionals and the importance of getting a
good package on services.
The EU conveyed its strong interest in
financial services, automobile sector, wines and spirits and cheese,
according to a statement released by the commerce ministry in New Delhi on Tuesday.
"EU also sought assurance on the facilitation of registration of their Geographical Indicators," the statement said.
Sharma
co-chaired the talks with EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht and
Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner Dacian Ciolos.
The
discussion took place just three days after Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh and German Chancellor Angela Merkel showed their commitment for
the deal. Analysts were expecting some substantial progress on the deal
after assurances from the top leadership.
The next ministerial
meeting for the India-European Union broad-based trade and investment
agreement is scheduled to take place in June.
