Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is set to benefit the domestic mineral sector, according to the Ministry of Mines. VL Kantha Rao, Secretary (Mines), highlighted the opportunities for the Indian mineral sector, particularly the aluminium industry, in terms of enhanced market access and competitiveness in the FTA partner country.
Towards making good use of the CETA provisions, he emphasised the need to understand product demand in UK through roadshows. He also cited opportunities in R& D collaboration between the two countries. The Ministry of Mines organised a webinar with the objective of bringing together Indian mineral industry to discuss potential benefits and opportunities arising from India-UK CETA.
It was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Mines and its organisations; Minister (Economic), High Commission of India (HCI), London, UK; and industry leaders and representatives of several industry associations like Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (FIMI), Aluminium Association of India (AAI), Aluminium Secondary Manufacturers Association (ASMA) and Material Recycling Association of India (MRAI) and notified private exploration agencies.
BP Singh, CMD of NALCO; Rajesh Kumar, CEO of BALCO; B.K. Bhatia, DG FIMI and other industry leaders from Hindalco, ASMA and MRAI welcomed the trade pact and highlighted ways and means by which Indian mineral industry, especially the aluminium primary and secondary sector, can gain market momentum in the UK. Dr Anupam Agnihotri, Director, JNARDDC shared insights on how institutional cooperation in R&D can be taken forward. Over 230 participants from across the industry joined the webinar.
