India reports ‘good progress’ in Asean-India trade pact review talks

NEW DELHI: India has announced that the joint committee reviewing the Asean-India Trade in Goods Agreement ( AITIGA ) has made” good progress”.

The 6th AITIGA joint council meeting was co-chaired by Malaysia’s Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry assistant secretary-general Mastura Ahmad Mustafa and Rajesh Agrawal, an extra minister at India’s Ministry of Commerce, on Nov 21 and 22 in New Delhi.

The two factors are aiming to improve the 14-year-old free trade agreement to make it more business-friendly. Eight sub-committees are examining various problems such as business entry, rules of nature, sanitary and phytosanitary steps, Customs procedures, and industry remedies.

” During this round of debate, the sub-committees have made good progress in literary conversations, and some floor has also been covered towards initiating tax discussions”, a statement from India’s Ministry of Commerce said.

Following the recent Asean-India Economic Ministers Meeting and the Asean-India Summit in Laos, members from all 10 Asian nations met for a meeting in New Delhi.

In February, the AITIGA joint council meeting is scheduled to take place in Jakarta.

The Indian speech read,” The review of AITIGA will be a step ahead in promoting responsible deal with the Asean place.”

Trade between India and Asean reached US$ 121bil during the April 2023- March 2024 time. – Bernama