New Delhi: Trade and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday that India is open to importing Scotch whiskey into India from the UK to a greater extent.
While speaking at the inaugural session of the IIC India-UK Annual Conference, Goyal urged the UK to start committing to a full FTA deal.
“Bilaterally, it is always easier to get involved, open to discussing the import of scotch whiskey to India from the UK to a greater extent. Not that I drink scotch, but I want to end the sale of spurious liquor in India. on behalf of Scotch whiskey. As a bargain we seek to create opportunities for our MSMEs, farmers, fishermen, handicrafts, textile industry, gem and jewelry industry, “said Goyal.
“There are many industries that have huge potential to work with companies in the UK, where the UK is a large net importer where India has the competitive and comparative advantage to be able to meet UK requirements,” Goyal said.
“We should initiate a commitment on the FTA. It is the need of the moment. We should look at the preferential trade agreement so that we can show the whole world the sincerity and seriousness of the UK-India compromise. In bilateral agreements between 2 nations, we give something and we receive something. We can benefit companies and create jobs on both sides of the table, “added the union minister.
India offers enormous potential to provide quality health care at affordable prices and at a speed that they will not get in the UK, he said.
The UK can certainly benefit significantly from India’s healthcare offering. Many of the doctors in the UK’s national health service are Indian, he added.
Goyal also urged the UK to pick between 40 and 50 items and consider an early harvest agreement with India, which will comply with the WTO.
The minister said that the confidence the IIC has shown in terms of India’s ability to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic has been truly remarkable. “We will recover quickly, we will ensure that companies return to normalcy and we will return to the growth trajectory. We believe that our manufacturing ecosystem will grow by $ 300 billion in the next 5 years. To boost domestic consumption and exports, we are focusing on the 24 subsectors of the industry, “he said.
Goyal said India made sure all its international commitments were met during the pandemic. He said: “This is the trusted partnership that India offers to the world and has been recognized. Throughout the pandemic, our services exports were at 90% of last year’s level of the corresponding period. This has increased the credibility of India as Trusted partner worldwide. Under NarendraModi’s leadership, we have been able to earn the goodwill, friendship and trust of world leaders and countries. “
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