UPDATE 2-India says Doha trade talks "at last mile"

(Adds fresh trade minister quotes)

By Surojit Gupta and Unni Krishnan

NEW DELHI, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Leading negotiating nations are closer than ever before to concluding successfully the arduous Doha round of world trade talks, India's trade minister said on Tuesday, adding an end-2008 deadline could be reached.

The United States and the European Union are calling on developing countries to open up their markets to manufacturers by cutting import tariffs in return for cuts by rich countries to subsidies and tariffs on farm goods.

"We are closer than ever before in closing the Doha round. We are at the last mile," Kamal Nath said at a global business forum organised by Fortune magazine in New Delhi.

Later, at a conference organised for the visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Nath said the Doha round could be concluded by the end of next year as there was greater convergence between those negotiating.

"There is great convergence between India and EU. We have almost total convergence. I believe convergence can be found on industrial products in the next two months," Nath said.

"If EU is willing to set a time frame, India is willing to work with it." The Doha round was launched six years ago to boost the global economy and help poor countries export more.

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