India, ASEAN to work on ‘mutually beneficial' FTA
A video call between commerce and industry minister
Piyush Goyal
and Malaysia's minister of investment, trade and industry (MITI) Zafrul Aziz ahead of the India-Asean post ministerial conference at the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) and Related Meetings set the tone for re-energized talks.
Earlier, in a post on X, Zafrul stated that enhancing the agreement was the focus of his discussion as the chairman of Asean Economic Ministers with Goyal.
'Malaysia, as the Asean chair for 2025, is committed to upgrading and modernizing AITIGA to reflect current realities and ensure it remains relevant and mutually beneficial. Together, let's elevate ASEAN-India economic relations to new heights,' he said.
Goyal, who had last month come under fire for calling the FTA 'silly' as it was a conduit for cheap Chinese products, also came on X to share that he had a 'productive' meeting with the Malaysian minister and 'discussed ongoing review of AITIGA and addressing its challenges therein.'
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In his opening remarks, minister of state for external affairs Pabitra Margherita, who is attending the post-ministerial conference at the Summit, said: 'For India, Asean is the cornerstone of its Act East Policy and the Indo-Pacific vision and India firmly supports Asean unity and Asean centrality.' He also stated, 'with support from our Asean partners, we achieved 100% implementation of the Asean-India plan of action 2021-2025.
'
'The discussions at the foreign ministers meet was constructive and in fact Asean and India have adopted the Plan of Action 2026-30. To strengthen the strategic partnership we must look at this relationship in a comprehensive manner. PM Modi himself has participated 11 times in ASEAN India summits since 2014, and this engagement as policy has got translated into trade, investment, people to people linkages and boosted the civilizational connect,' Jayant Khobragade, ambassador, India's Mission to ASEAN, Jakarta told TOI.
Tourism between the two regions has got a new momentum with 2025 being marked as the Asean-India Year of Tourism and India supporting the Tourism Work Plan 2023-2027 with $US 5 million. 'Air connectivity between Philippines and India is starting soon, and now only Laos is left in the Asean bloc,' he added.
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