| |
| | WTO | Trade policy review - India 2002 |
 | | In order to achieve further significant reductions in poverty, India is currently targeting higher real GDP growth of between 7% and 9% (compared with 5.4% expected for 2001/02); to meet this goal, it will be important, as stressed by the authorities, to continue, and even accelerate, the reform process and increase competition in the economy. |
 | | In addition, India maintains bilateral trade agreements with several of its neighbours, including Bangladesh and Nepal; under a free-trade agreement with Sri Lanka, in effect since 1 March 2000, India grants duty-free access for over 1,000 tariff lines and a 50% margin of preference for the rest of the tariff, except for a negative list. |
 | | Despite liberalization, India’s record in attracting investment remains disappointing, with FDI accounting for some 1% of GDP; and there appears to be no significant improvement in FDI inflows since the last Review, suggesting perhaps that the policy and infrastructural environment are still constraints. |
| www.wto.org /english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp195_e.htm (4925 words) |
|