The Indian government said that it has received a proposal from Georgia and Eurasian Economic Union to negotiate the free trade agreements (FTA). The Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that a Joint Feasibility Study with Georgia will be conducted to examine the feasibility of proposed FTA.

She also said that a joint feasibility study group report between the Eurasian Economic Union and also its member states and India has been accepted the first meeting of Trade Negotiation Committee which will be held after the mutual consent.

These agreements are likely to provide opportunities for generating the economic growth and employment as well as the increase in mutual investment flows, Nirmala Sitharaman said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

Replying to a separate question Sitharaman said that India continues to engage with the US administration for better access of its professionals in America.

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"H-1B and L-1 visa issues, including increase in visa processing fees, high rejection rates and other difficulties faced by the Indian services companies, have been raised with the US at various levels," Sitharaman added.

India has also taken up the issue on US visa fee hike in the Dispute Settlement Body of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

On the separate question on exports, she said that there were 36 alerts received for export of fresh fruits and vegetables to EU and also 41 number of shipments of these agri-commodities to the US were issued import refusal.

The rejections were imposed on the charges of adulteration, pesticide residue, contamination, misbranding and also product forbidden or restricted for sale, Sitharaman said.

Mrudula Duddempudi.