Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma expressed the hope for early conclusion of the proposed free trade agreement between India and EU

Talking to reporters in Antwerp,Belgium Mr Sharma said that issues like reduction of duties on European wines, spirits and automobiles are on the table. Much progress has been made. Most of the issues stand have completed .

Sharma is leading a two-day high-level Ficci business delegation to Belgium.

On opening up of services sector by the European Union member countries, Mr Sharma said that movement of professionals are important as Indian service providers, particularly the IT sector, are doing a great job abroad.

India and the 27-nation EU bloc are negotiating Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) since June 2007, but negotiators have not reached any breakthrough due to differences on several issues.

The two-way trade stood at USD 91.3 billion in 2010-11. A Ficci report said that trade is likely to more than double to exceed USD 207 billion by 2015, if the trade pact is formalised.