KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MALAYSIA and India have agreed to try to finalise a free-trade agreement by March 2009, Indian officials said on Wednesday after the first round of talks.

The two-day negotiations in the Malaysian capital established a roadmap for the deal which is aimed at 'forging a long-term, comprehensive and dynamic economic partnership between the two countries', they said.

'Both sides will endeavour to complete the negotiations by March 2009,' the Indian High Commission (embassy) said in a statement.

Malaysia has said that a bilateral pact - which will cover trade in goods and services, investment and economic cooperation - could boost its exports to India by 1.3 times, or US$12 billion (S$17 billion), by 2012.

In 2006, India was Malaysia's ninth largest trading partner, ninth largest export destination and 17th largest import source.

The next round of talks will be held in New Delhi on April 10-12. -- AFP