New Delhi: The 6th ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) Joint Committee meeting concluded successfully at Vanijya Bhawan in New Delhi. The two-day meeting, co-chaired by Rajesh Agrawal, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, India, and Mastura Ahmad Mustafa, Deputy Secretary General (Trade), Ministry of Investment, Trade & Industry, Malaysia, saw participation from all 10 ASEAN member states — Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The discussions were part of a week-long series of negotiations (November 15–22, 2024) aimed at reviewing and advancing the AITIGA, a crucial framework governing trade between India and the ASEAN bloc.
AITIGA’s review involves eight Sub-Committees tasked with negotiating critical aspects such as market access, rules of origin, customs procedures, trade remedies, and legal provisions. During this round, all eight Sub-Committees convened, with five holding physical meetings alongside the main Joint Committee discussions.
The review is guided by high-level agreements reached at the 21st ASEAN-India Economic Ministers Meeting in September and the 21st ASEAN-India Summit in October, both held in Laos. Leaders at these meetings emphasized the urgency of concluding the AITIGA review by 2025, a goal that saw significant progress in New Delhi as negotiators advanced textual discussions and initiated groundwork for tariff negotiations.
Taking advantage of the physical presence of ASEAN delegates, Indian officials held bilateral meetings with representatives from Thailand and Indonesia to address key trade concerns. Additionally, Chief Negotiators from India and ASEAN held separate talks to align on priority issues and chart a roadmap for future discussions.
ASEAN remains a pivotal trade partner for India, accounting for 11% of its global trade. Bilateral trade between India and ASEAN reached $121 billion in 2023-24, with $73 billion recorded during April-October 2024, marking a 5.2% growth.
The ongoing AITIGA review is expected to further enhance trade flows by addressing market barriers, aligning technical regulations, and creating a more sustainable trade environment. The review also complements India’s focus on bolstering ties with the dynamic ASEAN region under its Act East Policy.
The next round of AITIGA Joint Committee discussions is scheduled for February 2025 in Jakarta, Indonesia, where negotiators aim to build on the progress made in New Delhi.
India’s engagement with ASEAN through AITIGA underscores its commitment to fostering deeper economic ties and leveraging shared opportunities to drive mutual growth.
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