Ahead of the India- Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Post Ministerial Conference, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on Monday said that the government was working very hard on achieving physical, digital and financial connectivity between ASEAN and India.
“I want to take forward the certain thing, a potential growth in trade and investment. We are working very hard on physical, digital and financial connectivity between ASEAN and India,” Khurshid said.
Khurshid further said that trade pact, to be signed in August, would prove to be a major stepping-stone in strengthening ties between ASEAN countries.
“The terms were difficult to negotiate, as they always are because there are a lot of interest that pull in different directions and you have to harmonise them when you negotiate, so we had tough negotiations, which came to a good and reasonable conclusion before the commemorative summit,” he said.
“Now it remains to sign and then to take forward. We certainly think that the potential for growth and trade and investment is enormous, we are working very hard on physical, digital and financial connectivity between ASEAN and India and this will be a major stepping stone in achieving that,” he added
Khurshid arrived in Brunei on Sunday to take part in the 11th India-ASEAN ministerial meeting, the third East Asia Summit ministerial meeting of foreign ministers, and the 20th meeting of the ASEAN regional forum between 1 and 2 July.
The long-awaited trade pact between India and ASEAN countries would be signed in August this year.
Talks on the free trade pact on investments and services between India and ASEAN concluded in December when members of the group met in New Delhi for the India-ASEAN commemorative summit.
ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. (ANI)