Kolkata Apr 26 PTI India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement is going to strengthen not only the bilateral trade between the two countries but also improve Indias image in the world post-RCEP said a professor of a policy research instituteIndia had in November 2019 opted out of the 15-nation Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership which is touted as the worlds largest trading blocAustralia-India ECTA is a great trade deal which is going to strengthen not only bilateral trade between the two trade partners but also improve Indias image post-RCEP Research and Information System for Developing Countries professor Prabir De said in a round table discussion organised by the Bengal Chamber on MondayIndia and Australia had on April 2 signed an economic cooperation and trade agreement under which Canberra would provide duty-free access in its market for over 6000 broad sectors of India including textiles leather furniture jewellery and machineryThe agreement is likely to be implemented in about four monthsDuring the round table discussion Australian High Commissions Economic and Public Affairs Counsellor Hugh Boylan highlighted benefits of the deal which would help in taking the bilateral trade from USD 275 billion at present to USD 45-50 billion in the next five yearsThis is the first trade agreement that India has signed with a developed economy after more than a decadeAustralia is the 17th largest trading partner of India and India is Australias 9th largest trading partnerThe Bengal Chamber president Abraham Stephanos said it is important for businesses to understand the opportunities unlocking from the trade agreement and the chamber is actively acting as a facilitator PTI BSM BDC BDC