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Key Points

ASEAN countries have emerged as a critical trade partner for India, contributing 11% to its global trade. The recent high-level meetings in New Delhi focused on modernizing the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA). Delegates from ten countries participated in comprehensive discussions to streamline trade procedures and remove economic barriers. The ongoing dialogue demonstrates the strong commitment to mutual economic growth and strategic partnership.

Key Points: ASEAN India Trade Reaches $123 Billion in Economic Milestone

  • ASEAN-India bilateral trade hits $123 billion in 2024-25
  • Ten member nations participate in trade agreement discussions
  • Hybrid meeting explores trade procedural improvements
  • Joint Committee aims to modernize economic collaboration
2 min read

ASEAN nations contribute 11 pc in India's global trade: Ministry

ASEAN nations contribute 11% to India's global trade, highlighting strategic economic partnership and collaborative growth potential

"The week-long deliberations reaffirmed the strategic importance of ASEAN-India economic relations - Ministry of Commerce and Industry"

New Delhi, Aug 15

ASEAN remains a key trade partner for India, accounting for around 11 per cent of the country's global trade, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said on Friday.

Bilateral trade between India and the ten ASEAN member nations reached an impressive USD 123 billion in 2024-25, underscoring the deep economic linkages and the vast potential for future collaboration.

India hosted the 10th Meeting of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) Joint Committee and related meetings at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi, from August 10 to 14.

Delegates from all ten ASEAN countries - Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam - took part in the discussions, which focused on reviewing and modernising the AITIGA.

The meeting aimed to make the agreement more effective, more accessible, and better equipped to facilitate trade in an evolving global economy. Building on the momentum from eight rounds of negotiations already completed, the Joint Committee explored ways to streamline procedures, remove bottlenecks, and align regulations.

The high-level meeting, conducted in a hybrid format, brought together senior officials and trade experts from across the region. Alongside the main sessions, seven of the eight AITIGA Sub-Committees convened to dive deeper into specialised areas, including customs procedures, market access, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, rules of origin, technical standards, legal frameworks, and trade remedies.

According to the Ministry, these targeted meetings allowed for intensive work on complex issues, ensuring that any updates to AITIGA will reflect both technical rigour and the shared vision of member nations. The week-long deliberations reaffirmed the strategic importance of ASEAN-India economic relations and laid the groundwork for more open, predictable, and mutually beneficial trade.

The dialogue will continue when the Joint Committee meets again on October 6-7, 2025, at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia, in a session hosted by Malaysia, the ministry said.

The sessions were co-chaired by Nitin Kumar Yadav, Additional Secretary in India's Department of Commerce, and Mastura Ahmad Mustafa, Deputy Secretary General (Trade) at Malaysia's Ministry of Investment, Trade & Industry.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Shreya B
$123 billion trade is impressive but we should focus more on reducing our trade deficit with ASEAN nations. We import much more than we export to these countries. Need better trade balance!
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Aditya G
The hybrid meeting format shows how diplomacy has evolved post-pandemic. Saves taxpayer money while maintaining engagement. Smart move by our commerce ministry 👏
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Priyanka N
As someone working in export business, I can say ASEAN markets are crucial but documentation procedures are still too complex. Hope this meeting simplifies things for small exporters like us.
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Varun X
While trade numbers look good, we must ensure our farmers are protected. Cheap palm oil imports from Malaysia/Indonesia have hurt domestic oilseed growers. Trade agreements need balance.
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Nikhil C
The focus on technical standards and legal frameworks is crucial. Many Indian products face non-tariff barriers in ASEAN. Hope this meeting leads to more standardized regulations across the region.
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Kavitha C
Great to see women leadership with Mastura Ahmad co-chairing! More women should be involved in trade negotiations. Their perspective can bring different dimensions to economic partnerships.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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