India and Sri Lanka will work towards not only enhancing economic co-operation by doubling bilateral trade to $9 billion by 2017, but also for the early conclusion of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

Three-day visit

Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma will be in Colombo for three days from August 3. He will be meeting his counterpart Rishad Bathiudeen to discuss ways to widen the free trade agreement in goods and expanding it to include services and investments. He would also be attending the India Show.

Mr. Sharma is also scheduled to meet Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa. “Mr. Sharma’s visit would set the tone for doubling the bilateral trade to $9 billion by 2017 and also move forward the dialogue process for early conclusion of CEPA,” an official statement said.

At present, bilateral trade stands at $4.5 billion. CEPA is aimed at liberalising trade in services and investments by updating existing agreements on investment protection and avoidance of double taxation. Mr. Sharma will also discuss the scope of strengthening the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, it said.

Over 108 Indian companies would showcase a wide range of products and services, including automobile, engineering, infrastructure, tourism, food processing, ICT, financial services, pharmaceuticals and education. (Source: The Hindu)