New Delhi, July 29 (KNN) India and the UK have reached a consensus on broader structure of the free-trade agreement (FTA) and are expected to sign the pact this year, reported Reuters. 

"We want to finalise the deal at the earliest," Sunil Barthwal, India's commerce secretary, told reporters on Friday.

He informed that negotiations on almost all contentious issues were completed. Barthwal added that the deal could be signed "much before" the year-end.

India views FTA with Britain as crucial step to becoming a bigger exporter. The UK meanwhile, would obtain wider access for its whiskey, premium cars and legal services.

If the deal gets signed, it will be India's first with a devloped country after its interim trade pact with Australia last year.  (KNN Bureau)