(a) the names of the countries with which India has established trade relations during the year 2000-2001;
(b) the details thereof;
(c) the salient features thereof;
(d) whether agreements have also been reached in other fields other than trade; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI AJIT KUMAR PANJA)
(a), (b) & (c) During the period under review , Government have continued to develop, strengthen and diversify trade and economic relations with various countries. Trade Agreements were signed with the Governments of Mauritius, Tanzania, Sudan, Malaysia and Laos. These agreements are aimed at facilitating, promoting and diversifying trade in goods and services on the basis of mutual interest and benefit. They also provide mechanisms for regular consultations. An Agreement on issues relating to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) was also concluded with the Government of the People`s Republic of China.
(d) & (e) Bilateral cooperation has been strengthened in other fields with various countries. During the State Visit of the President of the Russian Federation, in October 2000, a number of bilateral agreements covering, inter alia, agriculture, communications, cooperation between Governments of the States and Union Territories of the Republic of India and Executive Bodies of the Subjects of the Russian Federation, and the establishment of an Indo-Russian Inter-Governmental Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation were signed. A Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement has been signed with the Government of Laos. India has signed the Vientiane Declaration on Mekong-Ganga Cooperation in tourism, culture, education, and transport and communications with Thailand, Myanmar, Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia. Agreements on cooperation in the Small Scale Enterprise Sector, and cooperation in the field of training of diplomats, have been signed with the Sudanese Government. Agreements on cooperation between customs administrations and cooperation between the National Information Agency of Uzbekistan and the Press Trust of India have been signed with Uzbekistan. In addition to these, cooperation in various fields, including culture, science and technology, agriculture, information technology, foreign office consultations, and labour relations, has been strengthened with a number of countries through the signing of Memoranda of Understanding, and various Protocols for such cooperation.