Tuesday, April 5 2005 17:35 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: India today (Apr 5, 2005) asked Germany to act as a bridge in resolving contentious issues like non-tariff trade barriers between New Delhi and EU (European Union).

"While the Indian economy has liberalised and opened up its markets, there is a feeling the European Union is shutting its doors to Indian exports. We seek German cooperation in settling the issues of various non-tariff barriers that Indian exporters have been facing," Commerce Minister Kamal Nath said.

At a meeting with the visiting German Federal Minister of Economy and Labour Wolfgang Clement at FICCI, Nath said, "In the last two years steps have been taken which, we feel, are not transparent and fair."

Rules for multilateral trading system must remain equitable to all and should not provide a window that creates trade barriers, which negate the aims of the WTO, he added.

Emphasising Germany's commitment to successfully conclude the WTO negotiations, Clement said, "The talks can be successful only if all the sides are willing to compromise."

Germany would like to see more substantial offers in the areas of services and market access for industrial products, he said, adding his country would do "everything it can to make WTO talks a success".

The two Ministers also stressed on increasing bilateral economic cooperation and sought greater investment in each other's country.

Nath invited German businessmen to raise investment in the country especially in pharma, biotech, IT, telecom and entertainment sectors. Clement also sought increased presence of Indian firms in Germany.