Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: India and Uzbekistan agreed to deepen trade ties, address the issue of non-tariff barriers and work towards doubling bilateral trade in the next three years, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Rajesh Agrawal, Department of Commerce Secretary, co-chaired the 14th Session of the India-Uzbekistan Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation with Shokhrukh Gulamov, Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan.
The meeting was held in Tashkent, with the Indian co-chair participating through video conference.
“The Commission discussed several product categories where Indian exports to Uzbekistan can be expanded. These include pharmaceuticals, medical devices, agricultural products, processed foods, agricultural machinery, engineering goods, electrical machinery, electronics, smartphones, automobiles and auto components, tractor accessories, textiles and textile machinery, chemicals, healthcare services, education services, tourism, logistics and other business services,” the statement said.
The Commerce Secretary said that non-tariff barriers relating to approvals, standards, testing, certification, customs procedures and market-access requirements need regular review; and businesses need predictability, regulators need dialogue and standards bodies need direct contact.
A time-bound mechanism on resolving non-tariff barriers to trade would help convert goodwill into trade outcomes.
Both sides also recognised India’s capabilities in agriculture and allied exports, processed foods, agricultural machinery, seed development, agricultural research and climate-resilient farming technologies.
Besides, the two sides discussed ICT and digital cooperation.
India highlighted its capabilities in IT, digital public infrastructure, telecom, fintech, cybersecurity, health services, digital education, engineering consultancy and digital logistics.
