New Delhi/IBNS: The representatives of European Free Trade Association (EFTA) States, comprising Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland met with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday in New Delhi to discuss the prospects of resuming their negotiations towards a Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA).
The EFTA delegation included Minister of Trade and Industry of Norway Jan Christian Vestre; Swiss State Secretary at the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO Helene Budliger Artieda; Permanent Secretary of State of Iceland at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs Martin Eyjlfsson; Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Liechtenstein to EFTA, WTO and the UN in Geneva Kurt Jger, and Secretary-General of the European Free Trade Association Henri Gtaz.
Minister Goyal and EFTA representatives exchanged views on the state of play of their negotiations and explore ways to advance the talks.
The participants acknowledged the challenges posed by the current global economic and trade environment, as well as the need to address the bilateral trade and economic partnership issues in a constructive and pragmatic manner, the Ministry of Commerce Industry said in a statement.
Both sides agreed to continue their efforts to resolve all outstanding issues and work towards deepening and strengthening the economic partnership while contributing to a more inclusive global trading system, it added.
