FTA | Will provide huge opportunities to work together 

PTI kochi

The proposed bilateral trade pact between India and the US will be the "mother of all deals" that will provide huge opportunities for Indians and Americans to work together, Union minister Piyush Goyal said on Friday.

Addressing the Invest Kerala Global Summit (IKGS) here, the commerce and industry minister said he has come here to express the central government's solidarity and full support to the event. His comments also came against the backdrop of differences between the BJP-led Centre and the Kerala government, which is headed by the Left Democratic Front (LDF), on various issues.

The minister mentioned about India's Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the UAE and said it was the world's fastest ever negotiated free trade agreement. "We hope to start the process soon for CEPA with Bahrain," he said in the presence of ministers from Bahrain and the UAE. According to Goyal, India is already in dialogues with the European Union, the UK and Oman for the trade deals.

"... we will soon start discussing with the Trump administration of the US a strong, powerful economic engagement and a bilateral trade deal which will be the mother of all deals providing huge opportunities for Indians and Americans to work together and complement each other's strengths in this very turbulent world," the minister said.

Highlighting the growth opportunities in Kerala and the country, Goyal told investors not to miss the bus and with respect to the state, not to miss the boat. ".... those who miss the boat may be left at the shore while others will sail with tailwinds of growth, progress and prosperity that India offers," the minister said.