India Hosts 3rd Meeting of ASEAN-India Trade Agreement Joint Committee for Review

New Delhi: India hosted the 3rd meeting of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) Joint Committee from February 16-19, 2024, at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi. Co-chaired by Shri Rajesh Agrawal, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India, and Ms. Mastura Ahmad Mustafa, Deputy Secretary General (Trade), Ministry of Investment, Trade & Industry, Malaysia, the meeting witnessed the participation of delegates from ASEAN countries.

Signed in 2009, the AITIGA underwent a review initiated in September 2022, with the aim of enhancing trade facilitation and mutual benefits. Eight Sub-committees were formed under the AITIGA Joint Committee to negotiate different policy areas related to the Agreement. The 3rd meeting built upon the progress made in the first two meetings held in May and August 2023.

During the meeting, detailed discussions were held, and progress reports were presented by the Sub-committees on market access, Rules of Origin and Standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures. The Joint Committee outlined focus areas for further deliberations, updating the work program for the review and providing guidance to the Sub-committees to carry forward negotiations.

India-ASEAN trade has reached USD 131.58 billion in 2022-23, and the ongoing review of AITIGA aims to foster balanced and sustainable expansion of trade between India and ASEAN. Both sides are working towards concluding the review by 2025. The 4th meeting of AITIGA Joint Committee is scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in May 2024.