Malaysia, India to start FTA talks in Jan - report

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia and India will begin talks on a free trade agreement in January 2008, Malaysian Trade Minister Rafidah Aziz said in remarks reported on Saturday.

The pact could increase Malaysia's exports to India by 130 percent, or $11.85 billion, by 2012 and boost India's exports to Malaysia by 250 percent or $4.63 billion, the Business Times newspaper quoted Rafidah as saying.

"Potential areas where both countries can further explore and enhance bilateral collaboration include information communication technology, particularly in software development, biotechnology, education, tourism, transport, human resource development, healthcare and pharmaceutical," she said.

India was Malaysia's 13th-largest trading partner last year, with 23.7 billion ringgit ($7.06 billion) of total trade, according to data from the Malaysian government.