India Hosts 3rd AITIGA Joint Committee Meeting

The 3^rd meeting of AITIGA Joint Committee for undertaking the review of ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA)  was hosted by India in Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi from 16-19 February 2024. The meeting was 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. Delegates from ASEAN countries viz. Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand & Viet Nam participated in the meeting.

The AITIGA was signed in 2009.  In September 2022, both sides tasked the AITIGA Joint Committee  to undertake the review with the aim of making the Agreement more trade facilitative and mutually beneficial. A total of eight Sub-committees have been constituted under the AITIGA Joint Committee for undertaking negotiations on different policy areas related to the Agreement. The   first two meetings of  the Joint Committee were held in  May and August 2023.

The Joint Committee in its 3^rd meeting held detailed discussions and took stock of the progress in the  negotiations.  The Sub-Committeesreported the progress and outcome of their discussions related to market access, Rules of Origin and Standards, technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures to the Joint Committee.  Following the   intense discussions, the Joint Committee outlined the  focus areas for  further deliberations  and updated the work programme  for  the Review  while providing necessary guidance to the Sub-committees to carry forward the negotiations.

India-ASEAN trade has grown to USD 131.58 Bn in 2022-23. The review of AITIGA will facilitate further expansion of trade between India and ASEAN in a balanced and sustainable manner.Both sides are aiming to conclude the review in 2025. The 4^th meeting of AITIGA Joint Committee is planned to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in May 2024.