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'US has no time-frame for lifting sanctions against India'

The United States has not indicated any time-frame for lifting sanctions against India, Minister of Commerce and Industry Murasoli Maran informed the Rajya Sabha, or the Upper House of Parliament, today.

In a written reply, he said that the government had used every opportunity to convey to the US during the visit of President Bill Clinton that all unilateral sanctions against India were unjustified and counter-productive and should be completely lifted.

Though Washington had lifted a number of restrictions imposed on New Delhi after the nuclear tests of May 1998, it had not yet given any time-frame for lifting all the sanctions, he said.

Maran, however, added the sanctions were unlikely to have any noticeable impact on Indian trade and commerce.

During question hour, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Raman Singh said the government was keen to encourage private participation in industrial development of the north eastern region.

He said the industrial package for the region includes transport subsidy and the Integrated Industrial Development Plan, or IIDP.

"We want private entrepreneurs to take advantage of the facilities available for the setting up of new industrial units," he said.

The finance ministry had notified 123 industrially backward districts classified as category A and category B for grant of tax concession under Income Tax Act 1961.

UNI

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