India, Malaysia agree to move forward on CECA

14 August 2007

Mumbai: India and Malaysia have adopted a report by a joint study group recommending adoption of a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement (CECA) by the two countries.

The report was signed and adopted by India's commerce secretary Gopal K Pillai and Abdul Rahman Mamat, secretary general of the Malaysian international trade and industry, on behalf of their respective governments.

The India-Malaysia CECA covers trade in goods, trade in services, investment and other areas of bilateral economic cooperation and partnership.

The study group had recommended that the negotiations on trade in goods, trade in services, investment and other areas of bilateral cooperation commence simultaneously.

Both sides have expressed keenness to commence CECA negotiations from January 2008 after requisite internal approvals.