India, Kazakhstan to sign IPR agreement

India and Kazakhstan will sign an agreement on intellectual property rights (IPR), during the upcoming visit of President Nursultan Nazarbayev here later this month, the Press Trust of India reported on Sunday.

The Kazak President is expected to visit India from January 24 and will be the Chief Guest for the Republic Day celebrations on January 26.

Negotiations for the IPR and a pact on safety standards were concluded by the two sides during the visit of Kazakh Vice Minister of Industry and Trade Zhanar S Aitzhan here a few days ago.

Under the IPR agreement, Kazakhstan will accept Indian IPR on Basmati rice, Alphanso mangoes and Darjeeling tea. Under the standards agreement, the two sides will accept safety standards issued by the two countries for pharmaceuticals and processed food. This is aimed at enhancing two-way trade of medicines and processed food.

The agreement will help Kazakhstan join the World Trade Organization. India is among the four countries with which Kazakhstan is holding talks to enter the WTO, the report said.