3rd Meeting of ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement Joint Committee Concludes Successfully

The 3rd meeting of the AITIGA Joint Committee, aimed at enhancing trade facilitation between ASEAN and India, concludes with promising outcomes.

From February 16th to 19th, 2024, India hosted the 3rd meeting of the AITIGA Joint Committee 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 welcomed delegates from ASEAN countries including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The AITIGA, signed in 2009, underwent a review process initiated in September 2022 to enhance its trade facilitative measures. Eight Sub-committees were established to negotiate various policy areas under the agreement. The 3rd meeting involved detailed discussions and progress assessments by the Sub-committees, covering market access, Rules of Origin and Standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures.

As a result of intense deliberations, the Joint Committee identified focus areas for further negotiations and updated the work program for the review process. India-ASEAN trade, which reached USD 131.58 billion in 2022-23, is expected to expand further with the AITIGA review, aiming for a balanced and sustainable trade relationship. Both sides are targeting the conclusion of the review by 2025.

The 4th meeting of the AITIGA Joint Committee is scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in May 2024.

Source: PIB