By IANS
New Delhi : India and Pakistan begin two-day talks between their commerce secretaries Tuesday to diversify the trade basket and resolve issues like the opening of bank branches in each other's countries that can spur business ties between them.
Commerce Secretary G.K. Pillai will hold talks with his Pakistani counterpart Syed Asif Ali Shah and discuss a range of issues like easing of trade restrictions, joint patent registration of basmati rice, export of cement by Pakistan to India and opening of more trade and transit points.
Pakistan is likely to raise the issue of trade imbalance with India. Trade volume between Pakistan and India has grown to around $1.7 billion, with India's exports touching a whopping $1.3 billion and its imports from Pakistan, $377 million, Online news agency Monday quoted Pakistani trade ministry officials as saying.
The commerce-secretary level talks, part of the fourth round of composite dialogue, will be followed by a meeting of the joint study group on trade on Aug 2.
Issues related to the transportation of goods and transit trade, establishing linkages between capital markets, and liberalising the visa regime for travelling businessmen will also be discussed, official sources said.
The two sides will also discuss the possibilities of holding trade exhibitions to showcase their products in each other's country.