ASEAN – major hub for India's global economic engagement: Minister

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is one of the major hubs for India's global economic engagement, Indian Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar said on October 7.

Indian Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar (Photo: timesofindia)
Indian Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar (Photo: timesofindia)

Speaking at the Indo-ASEAN Business Summit, Jaishankar noted that India's ties with ASEAN are rooted in history, geography and culture.

What has energised them in recent years is a growing awareness of the potential they hold for mutual interests and development, he stated.

“From the prolonged crisis of the last two years, four areas have come into sharp focus for international business cooperation: resilient and reliable supply chains, health security, digital for development, and green and sustainable recovery,” he said.

The minister said India's economic resurgence is driven by reformations in several sectors including manufacturing, labour, agriculture, education, skills, and of course, improving the ease of doing business.

Ties between India and ASEAN have intensified during the past few years with attention to ramping up cooperation in the areas of trade and investment as well as security and defence, he added.