Jakarta Hosts 5th AITIGA Joint Committee Meeting

The 5th AITIGA Joint Committee meeting, marking a significant milestone in ASEAN-India economic cooperation, took place in Jakarta from July 29 to August 1, 2024. The discussions aimed at reviewing and enhancing the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) were co-chaired by Shri Rajesh Agrawal, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, India, and Ms. Mastura Ahmad Mustafa, Deputy Secretary General (Trade), Ministry of Investment, Trade & Industry, Malaysia. Delegates from all 10 ASEAN countries and India participated in the meeting.

Key Developments

Previous Discussions and Negotiations

The review process for AITIGA began in May 2023, with Terms of Reference and Negotiating Structure finalized before negotiations commenced in February 2024. The first two rounds of negotiations were held in New Delhi and Putrajaya, Malaysia, respectively. The 3rd round in Jakarta saw substantive discussions across all 8 Sub-Committees.

Sub-Committee Meetings

The Sub-Committees focused on National Treatment and Market Access, Rules of Origin, Standards and Technical Regulations, Sanitary and Phytosanitary issues, Legal and Institutional Issues, Customs Procedures and Trade Facilitation, Trade Remedies, and Economic and Technical Cooperation.

Bilateral and High-Level Meetings

During the meeting, the Indian delegation held bilateral discussions with Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam to align on key issues. Meetings were also held with ASEAN Secretary General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn and ASEAN Deputy Secretary General Mr. Satvinder Singh to explore further economic cooperation opportunities.

Industry Interaction

On July 31, 2024, the Indian delegation engaged with Indian businesses in Jakarta during a dinner hosted by the Embassy of India, gathering insights and expectations regarding the AITIGA review.

Future Outlook

ASEAN remains a crucial trade partner for India, with a trade share of about 11% in India’s global trade. The review of AITIGA, which was initially signed in 2009, aims to bolster trade opportunities and enhance economic engagement. The next AITIGA Joint Committee meeting is scheduled to be held in India from November 19-22, 2024.

Piyush Shukla

Recent Posts

Easter Sunday 2026: Meaning, History & Why This Festival Symbolizes Hope and New Beginnings

The Easter Sunday 2026 will be celebrated on the 5th of April. It marks one…

19 hours ago

Weekly Current Affairs One Liners (30th March to 05th of April 2026)

Weekly Current Affairs One-Liners Current Affairs 2026 plays a very important role in competitive examinations…

20 hours ago

ECINet KYC Feature Explained: How Voters Can Check Candidate Details in 2026 Elections

The Election Commission of India has launched the powerful digital initiative which is the 'Know…

2 days ago

BIRAC-BioNEST Incubation Centre Inaugurated at CFTRI by Dr. Jitendra Singh

Honorable Union Minister of Science and Technology the Dr. Jitendra Singh has recently inaugurated the…

2 days ago

Newcastle Disease Spread in Europe 2026: All You Need To Know Here

Recently the Newcastle Disease have spread rapidly the across several European countries and it created…

2 days ago

International Day for Mine Awareness 2026: History, Significance and Objectives

International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action observed every year on April…

2 days ago