Page 2 - India Efta Trade

India-EFTA investment chapter: A new beginning

EFTA governments have committed to promoting investments, and facilitating job creation (as a result of such investment), as well as cooperating on technology collaboration between EFTA and India

India embraces trade deals as cos look beyond China for alternatives

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government is taking advantage of India's growing appeal as the world's fastest-growing major economy and an alternative to China for global supply chains

16 years, 21 rounds of talks: India-EFTA free trade agreement a reality

For promised FDI, India's nominal GDP must grow 9.5% in $ terms over 15 yrs

India limits market access in financial services to EFTA countries

The FTA text says the opening of branches by foreign banks in branch or wholly-owned subsidiary (WOS) mode shall also be subject to the requirements

Best of BS Opinion: New-age trade deal, Stock market valuations, & more

Here is the best of Business Standard's opinion pieces for today

New-age trade deal

India should focus on bringing technology

India, EFTA trade pact will push growth of domestic wine industry: CIABC

Alcoholic beverages makers' body CIABC on Monday said the free trade agreement between India and four European nation bloc EFTA will help push the growth of the domestic wine industry. The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) members are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC) Director General Vinod Giri said that time-bound reduction of customs duties on an equitable and sustainable level will support the domestic industry. As per the documents of the agreement, duty concessions on wine are similar to those given to Australia, with no concessions for wines costing less than USD 5. Wines priced between USD 5 and less than USD 15 will see a duty reduction from 150 per cent to 100 per cent in the first year, then decreasing gradually to 50 per cent over 10 years. For wines costing USD 15 or more, he said, the initial duty cut is from 150 per cent to 75 per cent, eventually reducing to 25 per cent after 10 ...

Govt can withdraw duty concessions if EFTA doesn't invest $100 billion

India will have the option of temporarily withdrawing customs duty concessions on EFTA country goods under the trade agreement between the two sides, if the four European nation bloc would not fulfil its USD 100 billion investment obligations. Though the investments have to flow in 15 years -- USD 50 billion in the first 10 years (counted after implementation of the pact) and another USD 5 billion in next five years, the trade deal also provides for a three-year grace period to the EFTA bloc to meet the obligations, according to the documents accompanying the agreement. India and four-nation European Free Trade Association (EFTA) bloc signed Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) on March 10 under which New Delhi received a foreign direct investment commitment of USD 100 billion in 15 years from the member countries of the grouping. The EFTA members are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. There is a three-stage government-to-government consultation process ...

India can reverse mkt access to EFTA if FDI commitments not met: Artieda

$100 billion FDI is a massive number. It took my breath away, said Swiss State Secretary for Economic Affairs Helene Budliger Artieda

Will get duty-free access to India for selected agri products: Switzerland

Switzerland on Sunday said it will get duty-free access to the Indian market for selected agricultural products after a transition period of up to ten years under the trade agreement signed between India and EFTA. India on Sunday signed the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) under which New Delhi received an investment commitment of USD 100 billion from these four European countries. EFTA members are Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. "India is now the most populous country in the world. The growing middle class in particular is contributing to major growth potential. However, India currently levies very high import tariffs on most products," Switzerland said in a statement. Under the FTA, India will lift or partially remove customs tariffs on 95.3 per cent of industrial imports from Switzerland (excluding gold) either immediately or with transition periods, it added. Swiss Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin an

India, EFTA trade deal to help boost trade, investments: Industry bodies

The free trade agreement between India and the four European nation bloc EFTA will help boost trade and investments in the country in sectors such as engineering, pharma, food processing, and apparel, says the industry. India on Sunday signed a Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) under which New Delhi received a USD 100 billion investment commitment from these four European countries. The investment commitment by the companies of the grouping - Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein - would be executed over a period of 15 years and facilitate creation of one million direct jobs in India. Industrialist and Tirupur Exporters Association President A Sakthivel said that the pact would help promote two-way commerce and help Indian apparel exporters increase their shipments. "The investment commitment will boost domestic manufacturing," Sakthivel said. Industry body CII President R Dinesh said that the "unique" pledge b

India-EFTA deal: Swiss watches, chocolates to enter India at lower prices

Domestic customers will get access to high-quality Swiss products such as watches, chocolates, biscuits, and clocks at lower prices as India will phase out customs duties under its trade pact with the EFTA bloc on these goods over a period of time. India and the four-European nation bloc EFTA signed a trade and economic partnership agreement (TEPA) on Sunday to boost trade and investments between the two regions. The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) members are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. It will take up to a year to implement the agreement due to an elaborate ratification process of these pacts in different countries. "We are giving duty concessions on Swiss watches, and chocolates," an official said. Some famous Swiss watch brands are Rolex, Omega, and Cartier. Nestle, which is a Swiss brand, is a major player in the Indian FMCG industry and manufactures chocolates in India. It is the third-largest listed entity in the Indian FMCG segment. According

India-EFTA deal symbolises shared commitment to equitable trade: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the India-EFTA trade agreement symbolises our shared commitment to open, fair and equitable trade. He also said that the global leadership of EFTA countries in innovation and R&D across diverse spheres like digital trade, banking and financial services, and pharma will open up new doors of collaboration. "Heartiest Congratulations and best wishes to the negotiators and signatories involved in the signing of India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA)," Modi said in a written message. The Prime Minister's statement was read by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal here in the presence of ministers and officials of EFTA countries. "In the last 10 years, India's economy has taken a quantum leap, moving from being the world's eleventh largest economy to the fifth largest. Our next goal is to make India's economy in the world," the Prime Minister said. They are here for the signing of the FTA. The European Free Trade ...

Here are key details of India's pact with four-nation European trade bloc

India and the members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) held 21 rounds of talks over 16 years to clinch the broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement

India, EFTA ink free trade agreement; $100 bn investment target in 15 yrs

The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) members are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland

India, four-nation EFTA set to sign free trade agreement on Sunday

India and the four-nation European bloc EFTA will sign a free trade agreement on Sunday with an aim to boost two-way trade in goods, services and investments, an official said. The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) members are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. The pact received approval from the Union Cabinet on March 7, the official said. India and EFTA have been negotiating the pact, officially dubbed as Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), since January 2008 to boost economic ties. The agreement has 14 chapters, including trade in goods, rules of origin, intellectual property rights (IPRs), trade in services, investment promotion and cooperation, government procurement, technical barriers to trade, and trade facilitation. EFTA has 29 free trade agreements (FTAs) with 40 partner countries, including Canada, Chile, China, Mexico, and Korea. Under free trade pacts, two trading partners significantly reduce or eliminate customs duties on the maximum

India-EFTA trade deal to bring in $100 billion investment in 15 years

The investment will be linked to the creation of one million jobs in India

Modi govt always keeps in mind long-term benefits of FTAs for India: Goyal

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said that the Modi government always keeps in mind commensurate and long-term benefits for the domestic industry while negotiating free trade agreements. He stressed that "gone" are the days when India used to accept the terms of the world. "We crystal gaze into the future to make sure that its (FTAs) impact in the future will also be positive and we also look at balanced, fair and equitable FTAs," he told PTI in an interview. "So we can see the big Indian opportunity that we are offering and we want to make sure that we get commensurate benefits (from these pacts) for the country," he said. He indicated "some good news" on this front in the days to come. The remarks assume significance as India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) bloc concluded the talks for an FTA. EFTA members are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. The minister said that the free trade pacts of the Modi government involve a huge am

Medical groups raise concerns around India-EFTA after leaked documents

Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Public Eye, and Delhi Network of Positive People expressed concern that the deal, which is nearing completion, includes harmful intellectual property (IP) proposals

India-EFTA trade deal raises concerns on domestic access of generic drugs

Leaked IP chapter suggests potential hindrance to affordable medicine production