India’s Current Engagement of FTAs and PTAs

India-South African Customs Union (SACU) Framework Agreement

Proposal for bilateral PTA between India and South Africa came in January 2000.  Indian Institute of Foregin trade (IIFT) was entrusted with a feasibility study.  A decision was taken to enter into negotiation for a PTA, with a view to deepen the mutual trade and investment flows, between two countries.
Initially time limit for complementing PTA negotiations was fixed as December 2005.  However, there was no time frame for initiating negotiations on FTA.
South Africa along with Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana and Namibia formed a South African  Customs Union (SACU) with a common customs tariff policy.  South Africa and India are members of Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation.  South Africa and EU have FTA. South Africa has also signed a framework agreement for creation of a Free Trade Area with Southern Common Market