The Minister of State for Commerce & Industry and Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution C. R. Chaudhary, attended the 6th RCEP Inter-sessional Ministerial Meeting (IMM) in Singapore on 12-13 October, 2018. The Ministers from 16 RCEP countries met in Singapore to discuss a modern, comprehensive and mutually beneficial economic partnership agreement among ASEAN and ASEAN’s FTA partners.

The Ministers reviewed developments since the 6^th RCEP Ministerial Meeting held on 30-31^st August, 2018 in Singapore, which was attended by Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation, Suresh Prabhu. They welcomed the intensification of market negotiations. While appreciating some narrowing of gaps, the Ministers urged all RECP Participating Countries to continue to exert all efforts towards meeting the targets set in the Package of Year End Deliverables.

C. R. Chaudhary held bilateral meetings, on the side lines of 6^th RCEP IMM, with Trade Minister of Singapore, Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism & Investment of Australia, Minister of Trade & Export Growth of New Zealand and Vice Minister of China, Wang Shouwen. Singapore sought India’s help in early conclusion of RCEP negotiations. Next round meeting of Trade Negotiating Committee (TNC) is scheduled to be held in Auckland, New Zealand, later this month.