LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5528
ANSWERED ON- 27/03/2026
ASEAN INDIA RELATIONS
5528. SHRI RAO RAJENDRA SINGH
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-
(a) the details of progress made in the culmination of ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA);
(b) whether, in light of recent geopolitical turbulence, both stakeholders are working towards enhanced trade and maritime cooperation; and
(c) if so, the details of such a future roadmap for the same?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a to c) The ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) was signed on 13th August 2009 and came into force on 1st January 2010 in respect of India, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. By 1st August 2011, all ASEAN members became signatory to the FTA. India and ASEAN are constructively engaged in the review of ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA).
India and ASEAN are maritime neighbours. To strengthen maritime cooperation, ASEAN-INDIA JOINT STATEMENT ON MARITIME COOPERATION was adopted on 07 September 2023 at the 20th India-ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Further, at the 22nd India-ASEAN Summit held on 26 October 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the year 2026 has been designated as ‘ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation’, under which, among other activities, ASEAN-India Conferece on Blue Economy, ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise, East Asia Summit Conference on Maritime Security Cooperation and East Asia Summit Maritime Heritage Festival are planned to be organised to forge partnerships with the ASEAN members.
*****