Update on Prabhu’s ASEAN meetings
India and Singapore have launched the 3rd Review of the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) in Singapore to further deepening of business, economic and trade collaboration between the two countries.
The review was launched by India’s Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation, Suresh Prabhu, and Minister of Trade Relations of Singapore, S Iswaran on 1 Sept 2018.
The two ministers also discussed ways to further promote trade of goods, services and boosting investments.
Singapore is the second largest trading partner of India within ASEAN and India is the largest trading partner of Singapore in South Asia, with a bilateral trade of US$17.7 billion in 2017-18.
Singapore’s trade with India constitutes about 21.8% of our total trade with ASEAN and 2.3% of our global trade.
India had a trade surplus of US$2.73 billion with Singapore in 2017-18.
Prabhu also participated in the 15th ASEAN Economic Ministers-India Consultations.
In the meeting, India reaffirmed the need for review of ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement. The Indian Commerce & Industry Ministry attended East Asia Summit (EAS), where the members exchanged views on regional and global trade.
On the side lines of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Ministerial Meeting in Singapore, Prabhu held series of meetings with the Trade and Industry Ministers of Japan, New Zealand and ASEAN countries.
During his bilateral meeting with Hiroshige Seko, Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Prabhu sought greater Japanese collaboration and investments in automobiles, cargo aircrafts and manufacturing sectors.
He assured India’s full cooperation in Japanese Township Projects in 12 Indian States.
The Japanese Minister welcomed Indian proposal seeking greater access for Indian nurses and healthcare service providers in Japan.
During the meeting with New Zealand’s Minister of State, Damien O’Conner, New Zealand proposed to explore possibilities of making investments in Agri services in India.
Prabhu discussed areas of mutual interest on trade including market access issues with the Trade Minister of Indonesia, Enggartiasto Lukita.
With bilateral trade of US$20.40 billion in 2017-18, Indonesia has emerged as India’s largest trading partner among the ASEAN countries.
Prabhu also attended the 6th East Asia Summit- Economic Ministers’ Meeting (EAS-EMM) and 15th India-ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting (AEM) in Singapore today. Singapore is currently holding the Chair of ASEAN.
The 6th East-Asia Economic Ministers’ Meeting was chaired by Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Trade and Industry, Singapore, and was attended by Economic Ministers from 10 ASEAN countries and their eight dialogue partners, Australia, China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the Russian Federation and the United States of America.
The Ministers welcomed the higher global economic growth forecast for 2018 and took note of the increasing importance of trade and investment relations among the EAS economies.
Acknowledging the potential for disruptions in the macro-economy that could affect overall market sentiments and global growth, the EAS-EMM forum expressed the hope that the economic linkages among the EAS members will enable them to address these challenges.
The Ministers agreed to the importance of keeping markets open and fair as well as improving transparency and predictability of the business environment.
The meeting recognized the importance of ongoing work to maximize the opportunities of, and address the challenges presented by, the digital economy and the rise of regional and global value chains, as part of their efforts to promote economic growth and integration in the region.
The 6th EAS–EMM was followed by the 15th ASEAN Economic Ministers – India Consultation.
Co-chaired by Chan and Prabhu, the meeting attended by Economic Ministers from 10 ASEAN countries took stock of the current level of trade and economic engagement between India and ASEAN and reaffirmed the commitment to further strengthen ASEAN-India economic relations.
ASEAN has emerged as the second largest trade partner of India in 2017-18 with bilateral trade valued at US$81.33 billion, comprising 10.58% of India’s total trade with the world.
ASEAN Ministers also appreciated the outcomes of the ASEAN-India Business and Investment Meet and Expo held on 22–23 January 2018 in New Delhi, that was organised soon after the 31st ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit and its role in providing a platform for both government and industry leaders to exchange views and provide ideas and solutions towards sustaining the momentum of trade and investment in the region.
It was also announced in the Singapore meeting that the next ASEAN-India Business Summit will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in November 2018 with the theme “Towards Building Strategic Partnership between ASEAN and India in the Era of the 4th IR and Digital Economy” which will be followed by the 4th India-ASEAN Dialogue Partner Expo and Summit scheduled for 21-23 February 2019, in New Delhi.
The ASEAN-India Business Council (AIBC) presented their recommendations to the forum to sustain the momentum of trade and investment in the region. Issues related to promoting connectivity, collaboration on Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) development, blue economy, healthcare, and tourism as well as women and youth economic empowerment were discussed.
The Ministers emphasized on the importance of promoting private sector activities and strengthening business-to-business relations, including through the AIBC, to further broaden and deepen ASEAN-India economic linkages. fiinews.com
