ASEAN-INDIA


The meeting of ASEAN and Indian Senior Officials on the establishment of Sectoral Dialogue between ASEAN and India was held in New Delhi on 16-17 March 1993. The Meeting noted and affirmed the exchange of letters between the two sides on the establishment of Sectoral Dialogue relations between ASEAN and India in such areas as trade, investment and tourism. In the area of trade, India proposed four areas of cooperation which could form the basis for future discussions in Sectoral Dialogue meetings. These proposals involve : 1) the holding of regular trade talks between India and ASEAN; 2) the establishment of a mechanism for the exchange of trade and commercial data; 3) the promotion of linkages between the business communities of India and ASEAN; and 4) the establishment of a mechanism for interaction on industrial standards and quality.

The meeting noted that India would be establishing a fund under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) to develop programmes and projects in the fields of tourism, administration and management, trade and investment, computers and informatics and solar energy and environmental protection. This fund would be placed at the disposal of the ASEAN Secretariat and administered by a Joint Management Committee which will be established for this purpose.

ASEAN also put forward several proposals such as an Information/Promotion Centre for Trade/Investment, lists of investment opportunities for investors from both sides, an increased exchange of trade missions and trade fairs and the development of joint marketing strategies for the promotion of exports to third countries. India informed ASEAN of changes in investment policies and the improvement of investment incentives on the Indian side and proposed joint ventures between ASEAN and India.

The ASEAN-India Joint Sectoral Cooperation Committee (JSCC) will be set up as the inter-governmental consultative body to coordinate the ASEAN-India Sectoral Dialogue relations. The meeting also agreed to set up an ASEAN-New Delhi Committee consisting of the Heads of Diplomatic Missions of ASEAN Member Countries in New Delhi to facilitate ASEAN's Sectoral Dialogue relations with India. ASEAN and India also agreed to establish a Joint ASEAN-India Business Council which will consist of representatives from the respective private sectors of ASEAN and India.