India is planning to adopt a new strategy toward negotiating free trade agreements even as the country is engaged in talks with members of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the proposed ASEAN-focused regional free trade area.

As part of the strategy, the South Asian country is looking to appoint two independent agencies to prepare a template for negotiating FTAs as a way to safeguard its interests, according to Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu.

"We will do a completely new approach toward FTAs. ... We are appointing two independent agencies who will talk to all the stakeholders, and prepare inputs which can be used during negotiations," Prabhu said Friday during an event organized by India's Consumer Electronics and Appliances Manufacturers Association.