New Delhi, January 23
Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Kamal Nath said today that the Central Government was awaiting land acquisition rehabilitation package from the state governments for farmers whose land is acquired for SEZ and categorically ruled out placement of any cap on their number.
Speaking immediately after the business meeting with Ms Tarja Halonen, President of Finland, jointly organised by ASSOCHAM, CII & FICCI, Mr Nath said the Central Government had already asked Chief Ministers to submit land acquisition package to the eGoM headed by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj and other relevant departments in consultation will consider the rehabilitation package so that more than adequate compensation is paid to farmers whose land is acquired for SEZ, the minister said. The ministerial group, he said, would again meet shortly and deliberate on land rehabilitation package with due consultation with state governments concerned.
Earlier speaking on Indo-Finish Economic Trade, Mr Nath said the trade balance was currently in favour of Finland and in due course India’s trade engagements would mount substantially with Finland. The minister sought the
support of Finland for the Doha developmental round on WTO.
The President of Finland offered Finland’s wholehearted support to India in the forthcoming developmental rounds of the WTO. India, she said was one of the key partners in the WTO and will play a significant role in the next WTO negotiations with Finland support.
Mr Mauri Pekkarinen, Minister of Trade & Industry of Finland, also called for intensification and diversification in current bilateral relations between India and Finland, emphasising that these are much below the potential.
The total exports from India to Finland in 2005-06 were $ 202 million and imports were $ 580 million. In 2004-05, the Indian exports were $ 144 million while imports were $ 389 million.
Mr. Kamal Meattle, Chairman, ASSOCHAM USA Committee, Mr Arun Bharat Ram, former president, CII,
