Cooperation & commitment will guide India, ASEAN partnership: Piyush Goyal

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said, Cooperation, Collaboration and Commitment, will guide the strategic partnership between India and ASEAN countries. 

Addressing the ASEAN-India Business Council virtual meet yesterday, Mr Goyal said the COVID-19 pandemic period provided a unique opportunity to India to demonstrate itself as the trusted partner to the world, particularly in times of stress. The Minister also extended a hand of friendship to the ASEAN region, which he described as deep and valuable partners and partners in the progress.

Mr Goyal said that Aatamnirbhar Bharat connotes a self-reliant country which is ready to engage with the world from the position of strength and confidence, and



on equal and fair terms.  He said India and ASEAN have not been able to harness the full trade potential, for various reasons, but now is the time to open matrix to expand trade, address concerns of all nations and businesses, and resolve the differences. He extended India’s friendship and partnership to ASEAN through businesses, so that both the partners are able to succeed and achieve a target of 300 billion dollar trade.

Mr Goyal said, during the pandemic, India supplied medicines to over 150 countries of the world particularly to the less developed nations. He said that the country developed adequate capacity to manufacture PPE, masks, and ramped up the testing capabilities.