The Textiles Committee in collaboration with UNCTAD India, Ministry of Commerce and Industries, Government of India is organizing a workshop on "India-Japan EPA/CEPA Negotiations: Identifying Products of Interest and Concern to India" in the Textiles Committee Auditorium, Mumbai on 10th March 2008.

The delegates including the senior officers from the state of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Goa, Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli from the sectors like textiles & clothing, chemicals, electronics, automobiles, auto-components & parts, steel, rubber, plastics, pumps, machineries, fisheries and marine products will participate and interact in the meeting.

The delegates will provide the feedback to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and UNCTAD for identifying the products of concern and interest for the proposed negotiation with Japan.

These Workshops are planned to be organised at five different venues during the period February- March 2008. The States/UTs have been grouped into five regions, and each Workshop would cover the stakeholders of the States/UTs allocated to the region.

The Workshop for stakeholders of Gujarat, Goa, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu is scheduled to be held in Mumbai on 3 March 2008. Textiles Committee, Mumbai is our partner organisation for this Workshop.

UNCTAD India Programme is undertaking an economic analysis for identifying products of interest and concern to India in the negotiations with Japan. This desk study would be disseminated and feedback sought from stakeholders.

The Workshop will inform the participants about the on-going India- Japan EPA/CEPA negotiations and invite their feedback with respect to identifying products of concern to India which should not to be subject to elimination of tariffs.

In addition, views of stakeholders would be obtained on products of export interest to India. We hope that the deliberations of the Workshop will provide useful inputs for informing India’s approach on tariff related issues in the India- Japan EPA/CEPA negotiations.

The Workshop would bring together representatives of State governments, civil society, consumer organizations, industry representatives, farmers’ organisations, experts and policy makers involved in this field from the relevant states covered. Officers from the Department of Commerce and UNCTAD India Programme would participate in these Workshops.

The Workshops would provide an opportunity to stakeholders to articulate their interests and concerns on tariff related issues in these negotiations.