7th ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting

Context

Recently, the 7th ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting (AIMMAF) on Agriculture and Forestry was held virtually.

• The 7th ASEAN-India Ministerial meeting also welcomed the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-India relations.

Key-Highlights of the Meeting

• India reiterated its vision of keeping the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the center of India’s Act East Policy.
• It also emphasized mutually close regional cooperation with ASEAN to ensure sustainable and inclusive growth for agricultural development in the region.
• India also urged the ASEAN member countries to support its efforts in increasing the production, processing, value addition and consumption of millets.
• This was highlighted while referring to the importance of millet (nutritional-cereals) as a nutritious food and the international nutritional-cereal year 2023.
• Nutritious cereals help in the creation of nutritious, with low resource requirements and more efficient agri-food systems.
• The progress in implementation of various programs and activities under the Medium Term Action Plan of ASEAN-India Cooperation (Year 2021-2025) was reviewed.
• In the meeting, the commitment to ASEAN-India cooperation in agriculture and forestry was reaffirmed.
• It was also agreed to take continuous measures under ASEAN-India cooperation for the implementation of post-pandemic recovery.
• Seamless flow of safe and nutritious agricultural products to ASEAN and India in order to mitigate the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• India said it is committed to enhance its cooperation with ASEAN in food security, nutrition, climate change adaptation, digital farming, nature-friendly agriculture, food processing, value chain, agricultural marketing and capacity building.

India-ASEAN Economic Cooperation

• ASEAN is India’s fourth largest trading partner.
• The ASEAN-India Free Trade Area has been completed.
• ASEAN India-Business Council (AIBC) was set up in 2003 to bring key private sector players from India and the ASEAN countries on a single platform.
• Financial assistance has been provided to ASEAN countries from the following Funds:
• ASEAN-India Cooperation Fund
• ASEAN-India S&T Development Fund
• ASEAN-India Green Fund
• Delhi Declaration identifies cooperation in the Maritime Domain.
• Delhi Dialogue: Annual dialogue for discussing politico-security and economic issues between ASEAN and India.
• ASEAN-India Centre (AIC): To undertake policy research, advocacy and networking activities with organizations and think-tanks in India and ASEAN.
• Political Security Cooperation: India places ASEAN at the centre of its Indo-Pacific vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region.