ITALY WANTS TO DOUBLE TRADE WITH INDIA BY 2009


Reuters

Italy wants to more than double two-way trade with India to 10 billion euros ($13.17 billion) in three years, its trade minister said on Thursday. Emma Bonino said Italian firms are eyeing greater investments in infrastructure, chemicals, auto components, food processing and fashion designing. She said a business delegation will accompany the Italian prime minister, Romano Prodi, when he visits India next month. "The bilateral trade is still weak. Our common goal is to increase trade to 10 billion euros in three years," she told a business conference. India's exports to Italy were at 1.43 billion euros during Jan-June 2006, while imports stood at 960 million euros. In 2005, two-way trade amounted 3.88 billion euros.