Bilateral trade issues including promoting tourism and education sectors and allowing Indian mangoes access to the Australian market are expected to be discussed during the eighth India-Australia Joint Ministerial Commission starting on Monday.

Addressing the first session of the three-day meeting, Vinay Bansal, additional secretary in the ministry of commerce and industry said though considerable progress had been made in enhancing bilateral trade, the same did not reflect the true potential.

India's exports to Australia registered an impressive 19.37 per cent growth during April-October 2002-03 as compared to the same period last year, an official release said adding that bilateral trade had also increased by 4.24 per cent at $1 billion during the same period.

The meeting, which would be addressed by the Commerce and Industry Minister Arun Jaitley and Australian Minister Mark Vaile on Tuesday would also review the report of the Joint Working Group on energy and minerals and natural fibres and textiles.

Raising the pending issue of access for Indian mangoes to the Australian market, Bansal said the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service officials should visit India as soon as possible to discuss extending the scope of its agreement with the Export Inspection Council to other products.