New Delhi, June 29: Seeking to give a new dimension to their ties, India and Singapore will today sign two accords on stepping up economic cooperation and assisting each
other on criminal matters.
The Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) is an integrated package comprising an FTA, a bilateral agreement on investment promotion and protection, an improved double taxation avoidance agreement and a work programme of
cooperation in healthcare, education, media and tourism.
The mutual legal assistance treaty in criminal matters seeks to provide the widest level of such cooperation between the two countries.
The agreements will be signed after talks between Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here today.
The two Prime Ministers will discuss a range of bilateral and multilateral issues including the exchange of visits, bilateral trade and economic cooperation, CECA, security and defence cooperation, regional cooperation within Asean framework and UN reforms.
During his stay, Lee will call on President A P J Abdul Kalam, Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi besides having meetings with Ministers of Finance, Commerce and Industry. He will also have a meeting with leader of opposition L K Advani.
Lee will address a business luncheon meeting organized by CII, FICCI and Assocham on Thursday on the theme "India's engagement with South East Asia".
New Delhi is attaching significance to Lee's visit, his first to the country after assuming office last year.
Bureau Report
