India and New Zealand have decided to speed up the process for early conclusion of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) following a meeting between the two sides here on Tuesday.
The two countries also reviewed the progress in firming up a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with New Zealand saying that it “needs to be picked up” at its end.
As regards the FTA, visiting foreign minister of New Zealand Murray McCully said, “Free Trade Agreement is an immediate goal for us. In pursuing an FTA, we believe that the potential of the relationship between New Zealand and India will be unlocked.”
External affairs minister Salman Khurshid, who held talks with Mr McCully, said economic relations are a strong pillar in bilateral partnership. He said that both countries recognised that there is great potential to further strengthen bilateral trade and investment relations.
According to Mr Khurshid, “FTA will help further enhance our trade and investment relations in the future.” Asked why there was delay in signing up of a FTA, Mr Khurshid said, “Good wine always takes time to mature.”
As for growing economic ties between the two countries, he said a number of Indian companies in banking, minerals, IT and others, have established business in New Zealand.
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US woman gangraped in Manali
Shimla, June 4: A 30-year-old American national was allegedly raped by two persons in the popular tourist resort of Manali, the police said on Tuesday.
The victim, who reached Manali on Monday, had gone to old Vashisth area to meet some friends. She was allegedly raped on Monday night by two persons who had given her lift in a tipper on her way back to Manali, they said.
In her complaint, she alleged that she was raped by two persons and the accused also took away her iPhone and some currency. The accused youth in the age group of 18 to 25 years fled after committing the crime, ASP R. Jamwal said.
Kullu SP Vinod Dhawan said the police has got some clues about the vehicle used for committing the crime. Medical examination of the victim has been conducted and the report is awaited. The police has registered a case of rape under Section 376 of the IPC and the US embassy in New Delhi has been informed. — PTI