‘India, Arab trade to top $100 bn in 4 yrs’

He made it clear that the trade figures did not include oil and petroleum products.

“The future of Arab Indian economic relations is very promising. It can easily be a success story. I would venture to talk about a goal of USD 100 billion in the coming two to four years if we continue to progress in the same active pace,” he said.

The Forum marks a new era in the relations with India including in political, economic and cultural fields as well as in trade, investment, energy, environment, media, science and technology, human resources development, Moussa said.

Speaking on the occasion, Mukherjee said “we believe the Forum will emerge as a mechanism to strengthen and diversify our relations in various fields.

Mukherjee also extended India’s unstinted support to the Palestinian cause but expressed concern over the lack of progress in peace talks.

“The Arab peace initiative that we wholeheartedly support was a significant move. We feel that the Annapolis process needs to be taken forward,” he said.

Mukherjee also voiced concern over the isolation of Gaza and the recent upsurge of violence there.