Stating the external headwinds such as high inflation in western countries and declining growth momentum are bound to have some impact on Indian exports, commerce minister Piyush Goyal speaking at the Hindustan Times leadership summit, reaffirmed that India’s merchandise exports would still record an annual growth rate of 10-12%.

 

Goyal’s comments come after slowing export growth in the country sparked fears of job loss in labour-intensive sectors such as textile and manufacturing. India’s merchandise exports grew at the slowest pace in 19 months while imports moderated despite sharp currency depreciation in September.

 

'Businesses never panic over a monthly up-down. There have been a number of external headwinds, covid, a war that sent the commodity prices shooting up, and a decline in demand in western countries ..but India's merchandise trade will grow by about 10 to 12% annually. And there is statistical evidence that India will become a $30 trillion economy when we complete 100 years of independence,' Goyal said.

 

Key sectors including engineering, ready-made garments, cotton yarn, plastics and linoleum reported a decline in exports in September compared to the corresponding month last year owing to slowing demand across India’s major markets including the US and the European Union amid high inflation and recessionary outlook.

 

Speaking about the free trade agreement (FTA) being signed under the Modi government, Goyal said that the FTAs are no longer signed for the sake of it and it is being made sure that India’s long-term benefits are taken care of.

 

'Unfair trade deal was negotiated earlier. The BJP government believes in continuity and so we were continuing our negotiations on Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) but our MSMEs and dairy sector were afraid of the deal and the impact of the deal. The reason we walked out of RCEP is that it is essentially a China- India FTA. I don't know why and how this is being done,' the minister said.

 

Responding to a question on an FTA with the US, Goyal said that the US is in a different position at the moment and it is not signing an FTA with anyone at the moment let alone India.

 

'And India- US trade is only getting better. We did opt out of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), but we have not closed the doors on it. We are not doing it at the moment. Discussions are taking place and if we think we will be able to benefit substantially, we will consider joining it.

 

But India will sign deals on its own terms. You heard US treasury secretary Janet Yellen talking about friend shoring. They want to improve trade relationships with India and there is massive interest in India for an FTA. Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Eurasia countries, Israel and several others want an FTA with us. We don't have enough room to do all the FTA at the moment,' he added.

The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal said that the objective of the PM Gati Shakti Mission is to transform connectivity infrastructure in India. He was speaking at the Prime Minister's Gati Shakti Multimodal Waterways Summit organised by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India from November 11-12, 2022 at Varanasi. 

 

The conference was jointly inaugurated today by Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Shri Yogi Adityanath, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal and Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal.

 

Speaking on PM Gati Shakti Mission, Shri Goyal said the project would bring synergy among the ongoing infrastructure projects undertaken by different ministries. Several Ministries of the government have been brought on one platform under this Mission. These include Railways, Roads and Highways, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Telecommunication, Power, Shipping and Civil Aviation. 

 

The minister appreciated the work done related to the Inland Waterways under PM Gati Shakti Mission. He said that this government had faced many challenges in the last eight and a half years, and added that the credit for turning these challenges into opportunities goes to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. It is only due to his forward thinking and right guidance, many ministries are now working cohesively today. PM Gati Shakti Yojana has been made possible under the PM's able leadership and guidance.

 

Shri Goyal said that the Prime Minister believes that if any country has to develop, then it is essential to improve the infrastructure. There have been major transformations in providing basic amenities such as toilets, pucca houses, electricity, digital technology among many other things. Number of airports and ports has also doubled, he highlighted.

 

He highlighted that hardly any country in the world has a plan as holistic as Gati Shakti. This program will result in seamless connectivity across the country, benefitting the industry, trade as well as the common man. It will cut down Logistic cost and reduce the time of transportation of goods. Land records have also been added under this scheme, which will accelerate the speedy completion of any project.

 

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), in association with the Federation of Industry & Commerce of North Eastern Region (FINER), organized an awareness programme on millet-exports-cum-buyer seller meet on Wednesday in NeDFI convention centre in Guwahati.

 

Sunita Rai, regional head-NER of APEDA, in her welcome speech informed the United Nations General Assembly adoption of an India-sponsored resolution to mark 2023 as the International Year of Millets. The Government of India is committed to promoting millets and their cultivation. India is one of the leading producers and suppliers of millet.

 

The main millet-growing states in India are Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. However, the production of millet in the northeastern states is very low. States like Assam have initiated the Assam Millets Mission (AMM) for seven years starting 2022-23. Globally, India is the largest producer of millet followed by Niger and Nigeria. India is among the top 5 exporters of millet in the world. The world export of millet has increased from $400 million in 2020 to $ 470 million in 2021. India exported millets worth $64.28 million in the year 2021-22, against $59.75 million in 2020-21. However, the share of millet-based value-added products is negligible.

 

While speaking at the event, the chief guest, Jyotish Talukdar, an APEDA authority member, spoke on the opportunities in millet production in Assam. He said that the Government of Assam has been intensely pursuing the farmers with the view to expanding and increasing millet cultivation in the state and the Government of Assam has initiated Assam Millet Mission 2022-23 across the state. In his speech said about the initiative of the PM that 2023 will be a millet year. He requested APEDA, NCDC, NABARD, the Assam Government and FINER to join hands and work together to make this millet mission a success.

 

Joseph Sebastian, Regional Director, NCDC, who was also present in the meeting, requested all the farmers present in the meeting to join the FPOs to get the benefits of NCDC schemes.

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal said the World today recognizes that India has arrived. He was speaking at a function organized by a media house in New Delhi today.

 

Shri Goyal said that both in the political world and the business world, everyone now acknowledges the India story. Elaborating on it, he said India’s story shows a lot of positive mindset, shows aspirations of a billion plus people desiring a better life for themselves. The story is not limited to economic growth only, it also shows political stability, which has a huge thrust on the corruption free society, he added.

 

India is the one bright spot in the world, which will not only improve the lives of a billion plus people, but would also lend a helping hand to the world economy, he said. The world is dependent on India for not only its own economic growth and India's market, but also for India's demographic dividend and huge talent pool. Shri Goyal said he believes India is going to be a global superpower in the next 25 years.

 

Shri Goyal said the Government gives top priority to the interests of India while entering into FTAs with countries. India doesn’t enter into agreements just for the sake of doing it but only after extensive consultations with all the stakeholders and in-depth brainstorming covering all the issues, he added. Shri Goyal informed the gathering that India negotiates from a position of strength but wants a fair and balanced deal.

 

Shri Goyal highlighted that opting out of RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) was a courageous decision made in the interest of our industry and our nation.

 

Shri Goyal said that the new India had a bright tomorrow, a very powerful tomorrow and a very prosperous tomorrow.  He termed India as the energetic youthful nation, which wants better things in life, which is willing to experiment, innovate, and take risks.  

 

Sharing his experience of interaction with the startup youths in Varanasi yesterday, he said there is a lot of positive energy in the country and high levels of nationalistic spirit. The mindset of the people is changing, India's confidence is getting stronger and India's future is secure, he added.

 

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday exuded confidence that the India-US bilateral trade in goods and services will reach USD 500-600 billion by 2030 as their relation continues to strengthen. The trade between the two countries stands at about USD 175 billion at present.

 

On whether India will join the trade pillar of 14-member Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), Goyal said it would depend on what India will get in return.

 

While 13 member countries have joined all four subjects -- trade, supply chains, clean economy and fair economy-- under IPEF, India has opted out of the trade pillar as of now. It has joined the other three subjects.

 

'With regard to joining the trade pillar of IPEF, India decides its strategy on its own terms...If you want binding commitments (from India) on different subjects, tell me what I am getting in return. It has to be good for my people and my country. What you give me in return will determine whether I will join the trade pillar. You negotiate and if we see some advantage, then we will join.

 

'India and the US relations are continuously improving and strengthening and today we have a bilateral trade of about USD 175 billion (exports and imports of goods and services). I believe that in the coming 7-8 years , it will be USD 500-600 billion by 2030, when our exports in goods and services will be USD 2 trillion each,' Goyal said.

 

He was speaking at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit 2022.

 

On a free trade agreement with the US, the minister said America is not looking for a new trade pact with any country.

 

The US is looking at India as its friend and a trusted partner, he added.

 

The IPEF was launched jointly by the US and other partner countries of the Indo-Pacific region on May 23 in Tokyo.

 

The 14 IPEF partners represent 40 per cent of the global GDP and 28 per cent of global goods and services trade.

 

The members include the US, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

 

On trade pacts, he said the government conducts comprehensive consultation with all the stakeholders before taking a call on these agreements.

 

'We do not do FTAs for the sake of FTA,' he said, adding trade pacts signed between 2008 and 2011 are 'unbalanced and unfair'.

 

Further, on assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat, he exuded confidence that the BJP would form the government in both states with full majority.

The FSSAI has stated that alcoholic beverages imported into India in bulk shall be ‘scrutinised’ against sub regulation 1.3.9 of the FSS (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018, which defines the upper limit of alcohol in an alcoholic beverage and safety parameters.

 

The FSSAI ordered that such consignments shall only be scrutinised for safety parameters prescribed in the FSS Act and rules while the standards with respect to the upper limit of alcohol shall not be applicable on the bulk consignments.  

 

The food authority has issued an order in this regard stating, 'It is clarified that such consignments may be scrutinised against sub regulation 1.3.9 of FSS (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018, wherein upper limit of alcohol shall not apply and only safety parameters shall be tested along with other labelling requirement.'

 

The sub regulation 1.3.9 of the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation says, 'alcoholic beverages shall be packed in suitable containers as specified in the packaging regulations: provided that bulk containers shall have no upper limit for alcohol content and shall meet the safety parameters of the product standards. Such products shall also carry a label declaring, ‘for manufacture of alcoholic beverages only’.'

India hosted the Second Agriculture Ministerial-level meeting of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) here today under the chairmanship of the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar. Agriculture ministers of Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand participated in the meeting.

 

While addressing the meeting through video conference, Shri Tomar urged the member countries to cooperate in developing a comprehensive regional strategy to strengthen cooperation for the transformation of agriculture. Referring to the importance of millet as a nutritious food and the efforts made by India to promote millet and its products during the International Year of Millets - 2023, he urged the member countries to adopt a conducive agricultural food system and a healthy diet for all. He asked participating countries to actively participate in India's initiative to promote millet as a food. Shri Tomar said that natural and ecological farming should be promoted to conserve agricultural biodiversity and reduce the use of chemicals.

 

Shri Tomar said that along with digital farming and precision farming, initiatives under the 'One Health' approach are also taking shape in India. He emphasized the importance of cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors to ensure food security, nutrition, environmental sustainability and livelihood support, for which it is required to increase technical and economic cooperation to deal with the challenges of climate change, agro-biodiversity, microbial preventive resistance under the 'One Health' approach and other programmes.

 

Shri Tomar reiterated Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's statement at the 5th BIMSTEC Summit held in Colombo in March, 2022 on enhancing regional cooperation between BIMSTEC nations for food security, peace and prosperity in the region. At the same time, he expressed India's commitment to promote agricultural productivity, food security and nutrition, sustainability, research and development and enhance cooperation with BIMSTEC in the areas of agri-business, climate change management, digital agriculture, etc.

 

The 2nd BIMSTEC Agriculture Ministerial Meeting adopted the Action Plan for Strengthening BIMSTEC Agricultural Cooperation (2023-2027). An MoU between the BIMSTEC Secretariat and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) has been signed and approval has been given to bring Fisheries and Livestock sub-sectors under the Agricultural Working Group. BIMSTEC member countries appreciated India's efforts to strengthen cooperation in agricultural research and development and for awarding six scholarships each for postgraduate and PhD programmes in agriculture.

 

The meeting was attended by the Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Kailash Choudhary, Secretary, Department of Agriculture Research and Education (DARE) and Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Dr. Himanshu Pathak, along with other senior officials of the Ministry.

 

BIMSTEC was established in the year 1997. It includes five countries of South Asia – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and two countries of South-East Asia – Myanmar and Thailand.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan will inaugurate the three-day mega agricultural fair and exhibition being organized by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, in collaboration with the State government and district administration, at Morena tomorrow. Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and the local MP, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar will preside over the Inaugural ceremony. About 35,000 farmers of Chambal-Gwalior zone will participate in this event. For the guidance of farmers, 12 separate sessions and 4 group sessions will be held on various important topics every day, in which agricultural experts from across the country will give information and presentations. On this occasion, the Chief Minister will inaugurate 103 Amrit Sarovars and also lay the foundation stone of Sanjeevani Centres. Besides, foundation laying ceremony will be held for indoor and outdoor facilities in the stadium costing Rs 10 crore. The Governor of Gujarat, Shri Acharya Devvrat will visit the fair on the second day. The Union Civil Aviation Minister Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia will join the fair virtually, while the Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Shri Kailash Choudhary, MP Agriculture Minister Shri Kamal Patel, Minister of State- Narmada Valley Development, Horticulture and Food Processing (Independent Charge) Shri Bharat Singh Kushwaha will also attend the Inaugural function.

 

Addressing a virtual press conference from Delhi today, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar said that the agricultural fair and exhibition is being organized to make Gwalior-Chambal region advanced and a pioneer in agriculture. In this fair, scientists of agricultural universities, agricultural zonal centers, officials and workers of agriculture department as well as representatives of various governmental and non-governmental organizations related to agriculture will provide guidance to the farmers. The specialty of this fair is that a large number of farmers, keen in adopting new technology and modern agriculture, will participate in the events. Farmers will be given training on using and adopting new agricultural technology and advanced agricultural machinery so that they can learn from this event and make their farming more profitable.

 

Shri Tomar said that an agricultural exhibition will also be organized, in which information about the schemes being run by the Central and State Government for farmers will be provided through stalls, as well as companies/institutions related to the supply of various inputs of private sector agriculture will display their products. In the exhibition, 132 stalls have been set up for providing latest information to the farmers. Many implements and pesticides will be displayed, which can help reduce the cost of farming and the success stories of progressive farmers will also be seen during the programme.

 

Shri Tomar informed that training will be given to the farmers in two sessions during the fair. Group sessions will be held for farmers before noon on all three days on issues including importance and need of natural farming, adoption of organic farming, use of high yield varieties of mustard and increase in productivity, importance of Soil Health Card and soil testing in farming, significance of crop insurance, cultivation of improved varieties of vegetables, fruits, spices under horticulture, seed production, production and use of improved varieties of millets, value addition, employment generation, improved animal husbandry, dairy development, fisheries, prevention of animal diseases and information on other subjects.

 

In the afternoon session, the farmers will be imparted training in smaller groups in pandals on important topics of agriculture like crop diversification, importance of nano urea and spraying with drones, advanced technology of guava production, processing- marketing, contract farming of potato, bee keeping, honey processing and marketing, advanced techniques of mushroom production, participation of women in agriculture, process of forming Farmer Production Organizations and Self-Help Groups, increase in milk production, breed improvement etc.

 

Through this event, further development of agriculture in Chambal-Gwalior zone will be possible. Union Minister Shri Tomar has appealed all the social organizations and public representatives of the region to mobilize mass participation of farmers in this very beneficial event. The purpose of this programme is to provide facilities and benefits to the large number of small farmers. Elaborate arrangements have been made by the district administration for the event.

 

To promote shipment of nutri-cereals, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry through its apex agricultural export promotion body, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has prepared a comprehensive strategy to promote Indian millets exports across the globe commencing December 2022.

 

The millets export promotion programme also comes at the backdrop of the proposal of India that was supported by 72 countries which lead to the United Nations’ General Assembly (UNGA) declaring 2023 as International Year of Millets (IYoM) on March 5, 2021. The government is currently organising IYoM-2023 at domestic and international level to popularize Indian millets as well as its value-added products across the world and make it a peoples’ movement.

 

India exports millets products worth of USD 34.32 million during 2021-22

Thrust on millets exports coincides with International Year of Millets (IYoM) to be observed by UN in 2023

Centre organising IYoM-2023 at domestic and international level to popularize Indian millets and its value-added products across the world

Indian missions abroad would be roped in branding and publicity of Indian millets

 

For exports of Indian millets’ promotion, centre has planned to facilitate participation of exporters, farmers and traders in 16 international trade expos and Buyer Seller Meets (BSMs).

 

As per the government’s robust strategy to promote millets, Indian missions abroad would be roped in branding and publicity of Indian millets, identification of international chefs as well as potential buyers such as departmental stores, supermarkets and hypermarkets for organizing B2B meetings and direct tie-ups.

 

In addition, Ambassadors of Foreign missions in India of the targeted countries and potential importers would also be invited to showcase various millet-based products, including Ready to Eat millet products and facilitate B2B meetings.

 

APEDA has planned to organize millet promotional activities in South Africa, Dubai, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Sydney, Belgium, Germany, United Kingdom and United States of America by facilitating participation of different stakeholders from India in some of the significant food shows, Buyer Seller Meets and Road Shows.

 

As part of the promotion of Indian millets, APEDA has planned to showcase millets and its value added product at various global platforms such as Gulfood 2023, Foodex, Seoul Food & Hotel Show, Saudi Agro Food, Fine Food Show in Sydney (Australia), Belgium’s Food & Beverages Show, Germany’s BioFach and Anuga Food Fair, San Francisco’s Winter Fancy Food Show, etc.

 

India is one of the leading producers of millets in the world with an estimated share of around 41 percent in the global production. As per FAO, world production of millets in the year 2020 was 30.464 million metric tones (MMT) and India’s share was 12.49 MMT, which accounts to 41 percent of the total millet production. India recorded 27 percent growth in millet production in 2021-22 as compared to millet production in the previous year was 15.92 MMT.

 

India’s top five millet producing states are Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Share of export of millets is nearly 1% of the total millet production. Exports of millets from India include mainly whole grain and the export of value-added products of millets from India is negligible.

 

However, it is estimated that the millets market is set to grow from its current market value of more than USD 9 billion to over USD 12 billion by 2025.

 

The pre-launch of IYoM-2023 is scheduled for December 5, 2022 involving stakeholders of the supply chain such as FPOs, Start-ups, exporters, producers of millet-based value-added products. Besides, buyer seller meets would also be organized in the countries of Indonesia, Japan, United Kingdom, etc to promote Indian millets.

 

APEDA would also organise food sampling and tasting at the retail level and in key local bazaars of targeted countries where individual, household consumers can gain familiarity with millet products.

 

For promotion of Indian Millets and its value-added products, centre has developed 30 e-Catalogues on each of the targeted countries comprising information on various Indian Millets and range of their value-added products available for export, list of active exporters, start-ups, FPOs and importer/retail chain/hyper markets, etc that to be circulated to the Indian Embassy abroad, importers, exporters, start ups and stakeholders.

 

Government is also mobilizing start-ups for export promotion of value-added products in the Ready to Eat (RTE) and Ready to Serve (RTS) category such as noodles, pasta, breakfast cereals mix, biscuits, cookies, snacks, sweets, etc.

 

As per the centre’s millet promotion strategy, major international retail supermarkets like Lulu group, Carrefour, Al Jazira, Al Maya, Walmart, etc. would also be roped in to establish millet corner for branding and promotion of millets.

 

APEDA has also created a separate section for millets on its website and the country-wise and state-wise e-catalogues have been uploaded for information to the stakeholders.

 

Government has also started formulating five-year strategic plan for the promotion of millets and value-added millet products in the international market in association with ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR), Hyderabad, ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysore and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs).

 

Centre has created the Nutri Cereals Export Promotion Forum to give impetus to the export of potential products, including millets, and to remove the bottlenecks in the supply chain of Nutri cereals.

 

Millets have superior nutritional values in comparison to highly consumed cereals such as rice and wheat. Millets are rich in calcium, iron, and fibers that help in fortifying essential nutrients for the healthy growth in children. Also, the usage of millets in infant food and nutrition products is increasing.

 

As per the DGCIS data, India registered a growth of 8.02% in the export of millets in the financial year 2021-22 as the export of millets was 159,332.16 metric tonne against 147,501.08 metric tonne during the same period last year.

 

India’s major millet exporting countries are U.A.E, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Oman, Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen, U.K and U.S.A. The varieties of millets exported by India include Bajra, Ragi, Canary, Jawar, and Buckwheat.

 

The major millet importing countries in the world are Indonesia, Belgium, Japan, Germany, Mexico, Italy, the U.S.A, United Kingdom, Brazil and Netherlands.

 

There are 16 major varieties of millet, which are produced and exported, including Sorghum (Jowar), Pearl Millet (Bajra), Finger Millet (Ragi) Minor Millets (Kangani), Proso Millet (Cheena), Kodo Millet (Kodo), Barnyard Millet (Sawa/Sanwa/Jhangora), Little Millet (Kutki), Two Pseudo Millets (BuckWheat/Kuttu), Ameranthus (Chaulai) and Brown Top Millet.

 

APEDA has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IIMR to boost value-addition and farmers’ income. APEDA launched a variety of millet products for all age groups at affordable prices ranging from Rs 5 to Rs 15 during AAHAR food fair, which is Asia’s biggest B2B international food and hospitality fair.

The 11th Session of the India-Belarus Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation was held on November 10, 2022 in New Delhi. Shri Som Prakash, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, led the Indian delegation and H. E. Mr Vladimir Makei, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, led the Belarusian delegation.

 

The Intergovernmental Commission reviewed the results of bilateral cooperation that took place after the tenth session of the Commission in 2020. While expressing satisfaction at the progress made in regard to some projects, the Commission also directed concerned Ministries and Departments to focus on key sectors in the trade & investment spheres to finalise concrete outcomes.

On the economic front, there has been substantial progress with expanding cooperation across all sectors of focus. India and Belarus reiterated their strong desire to further broaden their cooperation with emphasis on key sectors such as pharmaceuticals, financial services, science and technology, heavy industries, culture, tourism, and education.

The two ministers directed their respective business communities to engage with each other in these sectors to further mutually beneficial cooperation.

The two sides agreed to promote cooperation among various states in India and regions in Belarus, especially in focus areas.

India and Belarus are strategic partners since 1991. The two countries cooperate on several areas. This visit was an opportunity to review the existing relationship and find out ways and means to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries.