In a first, India opens up central govt procurement market to UAE

Experts say this may open a Pandora's box with demand for similar commitment

In a major shift in its trade policy stance, India has opened up its central government procurement market to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) under the free trade agreement (FTA) signed last month. This will give national treatment status to UAE companies, on a par with Indian companies, while bidding for central government tenders.

“The (two) parties recognise the importance of government procurement in trade relations and set as their objective the effective, reciprocal and gradual opening of their government procurement markets, in order to maximise, inter alia, competitive opportunities for the suppliers of the parties,” the text of the