The Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) is a landmark trade agreement that came into force between India and Singapore on August 1, 2005. This agreement has been in the news recently due to its impact on the economies of both countries. However, there is still some confusion among the general public regarding who signed the CECA agreement and what it entails.
The CECA agreement was signed between the Prime Ministers of India and Singapore, Dr. Manmohan Singh and Mr. Lee Hsien Loong, respectively. The agreement was the result of three years of negotiations between the two countries and was aimed at promoting economic cooperation and boosting trade between India and Singapore.
The CECA agreement covers a wide range of areas including trade in goods, services, investment, and intellectual property rights. Under this agreement, both countries agreed to reduce or eliminate tariffs on a large number of goods traded between them. Singapore also agreed to provide greater access to its services market, including financial, healthcare, and education services, for Indian companies.
The CECA agreement has been hailed as a major success for both India and Singapore, as it has contributed significantly to the growth of bilateral trade and investment. Since its implementation, trade between India and Singapore has grown by over 60%, reaching a total of US$16.7 billion in 2019.
In conclusion, the CECA agreement was signed between the Prime Ministers of India and Singapore in 2005. The agreement has been instrumental in boosting trade and investment between the two countries and has contributed to the growth of their respective economies. As such, it remains an important agreement for both India and Singapore, and its impact is likely to be felt for years to come.