India and ASEAN Discuss Trade Agreement Progress in Jakarta
Review of ASEAN-India Trade Agreement
Photo: @DoC_GoI/X
New Delhi, Oct 9: India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) convened to assess the progress of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) during the 15th AITIGA Joint Committee meeting held in Jakarta. An official statement released on Friday indicated that the next meeting is scheduled to take place in India in January 2027.
The Ministry of Commerce & Industry reported that the hybrid event, which occurred from October 6 to 9 at the ASEAN Secretariat, was co-chaired by Nitin Kumar Yadav, Additional Secretary of the Department of Commerce in India, alongside Mastura Ahmad Mustafa, Deputy Secretary General (Trade) from Malaysia's Ministry of Investment, Trade & Industry.
Delegates from various ASEAN nations, including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, participated in the discussions.
Furthermore, the government announced that the upcoming AITIGA Joint Committee meeting will also be held in a hybrid format in January 2027 in India, aimed at reviewing the progress of sub-committees and providing further guidance for the timely conclusion of negotiations.
During the 15th AITIGA Joint Committee, three of the eight sub-committees conducted hybrid meetings: the Sub-Committee on Legal and Institutional Issues (SC-LII), the Sub-Committee on National Treatment on Market Access (SC-NTMA), and the Sub-Committee on Rules of Origin (SC-ROO).
The Joint Committee urged all sub-committees to accelerate the completion of pending chapters under the AITIGA Review, establishing clear timelines and encouraging close collaboration to ensure measurable advancements, as stated by the ministry.
India and ASEAN reiterated their commitment to a balanced, constructive, and forward-looking agreement, aiming to address outstanding policy issues, enhance economic integration, and modernize the agreement into a mutually beneficial framework.
Earlier in the week, the Minister of State for Power, Shripad Yesso Naik, mentioned during the 20th East Asia Summit Energy Ministers’ Meeting in Manila that India and Singapore are considering options for a proposed 2,000 MW cross-border power interconnection.
One of the options being explored is a land-based transmission corridor of approximately 3,000 km, linking Imphal in India to Singapore via Myanmar, Thailand, and Malaysia.
This proposed interconnection could facilitate reliable cross-border electricity trade, support clean energy integration, and enhance regional energy security.