LOC15:20
12:20 GMT
NEW DELHI, Jan 31 (KUNA) -- Terming land and maritime connectivity with
ASEAN (Association of South East Nations) as being one of the foremost
priorities in the ASEAN-India strategic partnership in the months ahead, India
Saturday vowed on an urgent basis to strengthen the connectivity to promote
trade and maintain peace and security in the region.
"Two major developments are lending even greater urgency to our
connectivity agenda. One is the ASEAN march towards an ASEAN Community by
2015, which will consolidate a market of more than 600 million people and a
combined GDP of USD 2.3 trillion," Indian foreign ministry official for the
region, Anil Wadhwa stated during a function on the topic "ASEAN-India
Maritime Transport Cooperation," organized by ASEAN-India Centre in the
capital New Delhi.
"The second development is the consolidation of economic and commercial
engagement between India and ASEAN through the FTA on Trade in Goods, which
has been in place since 2009, and the Free Trade Agreement on Services and
Investment which is expected to be signed in the coming months after ASEAN
countries complete their internal processes for signature. This will integrate
an economic space of 1.8 billion people and a GDP of over USD 3.7 trillion,"
the official added.
Detailing out more information, the foreign ministry official said India
has become the third partner country of the ASEAN, after China and Japan, to
begin formal discussion on connectivity with the ASEAN Connectivity
Coordinating Committee (ACCC).
Indian foreign ministry said they have asked the country's Ministry of
Shipping to establish a Joint Working Group on Maritime Connectivity to look
into various aspects of promoting maritime connectivity with ASEAN.
"In particular, we need to find ways to assure trade volumes to sustain a
shipping line connecting India, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam," the
official added. (end)
wk.sd
KUNA 311520 Jan 14NNNN