Whalesbook
So, ye jo India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) hai na, April 2, 2022 ko sign hua tha. Aur bhai sahab, iske baad se India se Australia jaane wala maal 4 Billion dollars se sidha $8.5 Billion tak pahunch gaya FY 2024-25 mein! Bilkul double ho gaya. Total bilateral trade bhi $24.1 Billion tak pahunch gaya hai. Australia ne toh fatafat 100 percent Indian imports par duty hata di, matlab zero duty access mil gaya hai. Reports ke hisaab se, January 1, 2026 tak saare Indian exports duty-free ho jayenge. Kapde, dawaaiyan, kheti ka maal, chemicals - sab sectors mein growth dikhi hai. Aur ek aur mast baat, organic products ke liye bhi Mutual Recognition Arrangement ho gaya hai, jisse trade aur aasan ho gaya hai.
Kya kya faayde hue?
Pehle Indian textile exporters ko Australia mein 5% tak duty pay karni padti thi, ab woh nahi hai. Isse Indian textiles aur apparel aur competitive ho gaye hain. Target toh ye tha ki textile exports 3 saal mein triple ho jayenge. Pharma sector ko bhi faayda ho raha hai kyunki Australia ne Indian regulatory bodies ko recognize karna shuru kar diya hai. Aur suno, Australia ke agricultural exports bhi India mein 88% badhe hain aur Indian agricultural exports 35% badhe hain ECTA ke baad. Australia toh India ko top 3 export markets mein lana chahta hai 2035 tak.
Challenges bhi hain...
Par bhai, sab kuch itna hi cham chamata nahi hai. Australia ne toh turant zero-duty access de diya, lekin India ne dheere dheere concessions diye hain, around 70.3 percent tariff lines par. Aur sabse badi dikkat hai India ka trade deficit jo Australia ke saath badh raha hai, mostly Australia se coal import ki wajah se. India mein jo regulatory hurdles aur rules hain na, woh bhi abhi bhi ek bada challenge hain fully benefit karne ke liye. Plus, ye ECTA sirf goods ke liye hai, services, investment protection ya labour mobility ko pura cover nahi karti. Standards ko match karna bhi abhi bhi mushkil ho raha hai kai sectors mein.
Aage kya?
Ye ECTA ek foundation hai, future mein ek Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) ki baat chal rahi hai. India 2030 tak teesri badi economy banna chahta hai, aur Australia Indo-Pacific mein strategic partner hai. Is deal se bilateral trade $45-50 Billion tak ja sakta hai future mein, agar ye challenges solve ho gaye toh.