to boost commercial trade between the two countries australia and india are set to design a trade and economic framework agreement, australian trade minister mark vaile and india's minister for commerce and industry, kamal nath, announced thursday.
the said agreement will provide necessary direction for future talks to enhance cooperation between the two countries.
the trade between india and australia stood at a$7.4 billion in 2004 and idia was its 13th largest trade partner.
while india exported textiles, tea and crustaceans, australian exports to india mainly comprised gold and coal.
prime minister john howard is to visit india in july, vaile informed.
the australian government is undertaking a scoping study on fta with china, currently, he added.