India on Wednesday sought greater trade with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in agro products.

Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath met UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan in the capital and said both the countries should increase the trade in agro products.

"Greater trade in agro products with UAE and the entire Gulf region is important to India. Our top priority for exports to UAE is vegetables, fruits, processed foods, poultry etc," Kamal Nath said.

 The UAE Minister agreed to Kamal Nath's suggestion that a delegation from Agriculture and Processed Food Export Development Authority (APEDA) can visit UAE to discuss the possibilities in food and agriculture sector with the importers in UAE.

The possibility of setting up laboratories

in India for testing the quality of food exports to meet the standards set by UAE authorities was also discussed.

The UAE Minister informed that less than 1% of all UAE investments were in India and UAE was keen to focus on investing in India's economy including the agriculture sector.

 The trade between India and UAE was US $ 12.9 billion in 2005-06. Exports from India were US $ 8.59 billion while imports were US $ 4.31 billion.

 Main items for import from UAE include pearls, precious and semi-precious stones, gold, electronic goods etc and the main export items from India include gems & jewellery, non-ferrous metals, plastics, manmade yarn etc.