Taiwan and India signed an air services agreement and a memorandum of understanding on agricultural cooperation Sept. 12 in Taipei City, marking a significant step forward in relations between the two sides, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“In line with the government’s New Southbound Policy, the accords will open a new chapter in bilateral exchanges and cooperation across the fields of agriculture, aviation and tourism,” the MOFA said. “In addition, Taiwan looks forward to deepening its partnership with India in such areas as culture, education, science, technology and trade.”
The air services agreement covers issues related to aviation safety and security, commercial opportunities, cooperative marketing arrangements, recognition of certificates, settlement of disputes, and tariffs. It enables multiple airlines to operate 14 direct passenger services from each side per week, according to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications.
There are currently three direct passenger flights as well as one cargo flight each week between Taipei and New Delhi provided by Taiwan-based China Airlines. The signing of the air services pact builds a solid foundation for the development of civil aviation relations between India and Taiwan and will help facilitate increased bilateral trade and economic cooperation, cultural exchanges and tourism, the MOTC said.
Under the agricultural MOU, Taiwan will collaborate closely with India in the planning, production, processing, distribution and marketing of aquaculture, farm, fishery, horticulture and livestock products based on the principles of equality and reciprocity. The two sides will also bolster cooperation across several fields including agricultural finance, farmers’ associations, environmental sustainability, genetic resources and production materials such as fertilizers and seeds through personnel exchanges and joint academic research, the Cabinet-level Council of Agriculture said.
The New Southbound Policy aims to strengthen Taiwan’s ties with South Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand through increased business collaboration, people-to-people exchanges and supply chain integration. India was Taiwan’s 18th largest trading partner in 2015, with bilateral trade volume totaling about US$4.8 billion. (KH-E)
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