Bilateral trade between India and the ASEAN bloc touched about $128 billion in the financial year 2025–26, underscoring the strengthening economic partnership between the two sides. ASEAN now accounts for around 11 per cent of India’s overall global trade, reinforcing its position as one of India’s key regional trading partners.
AITIGA Review Meetings Held in New Delhi
To further deepen trade and investment ties, India is hosting the 13th ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) Joint Committee and related meetings in New Delhi from July 6–10. These meetings aim to review the progress of negotiations under the ongoing AITIGA Review and provide strategic guidance to various Sub-Committees working on different aspects of the agreement.
Focus Areas: Customs, Market Access, Rules of Origin
On the sidelines of the 13th Joint Committee meeting, three of the eight AITIGA Sub-Committees are meeting to accelerate work on priority chapters. These include the Sub-Committee on Customs Procedures and Trade Facilitation, the Sub-Committee on National Treatment and Market Access, and the Sub-Committee on Rules of Origin, all of which are central to improving trade flows between India and ASEAN.
Time-Bound Deliverables to Sustain Momentum
According to the official communication, the Sub-Committees have been given time-bound deliverables so that negotiations can move towards “tangible outcomes” within agreed timelines. The meetings are being positioned as a platform to deepen cooperation, strengthen mutual understanding, and advance constructive dialogue in support of the broader India–ASEAN economic partnership.
High-Level Co-Chairing of Joint Committee
The 13th AITIGA Joint Committee meeting is being co-chaired by Nitin Kumar Yadav, Additional Secretary in India’s Department of Commerce, and Mastura Ahmad Mustafa, Deputy Secretary General (Trade) in Malaysia’s Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry. Their role is expected to be crucial in steering the review process and aligning member countries on key trade facilitation and market access issues.
