Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Commerce & Industry

19-March-2012 17:01 IST

Co-Operation in Services Sector with Asean Countries

India has signed an Agreement on Trade in Goods with ASEAN on 13th August, 2009. Negotiations concerning Agreement on Trade in Services are at the stage of exchange of offers and both India and ASEAN have last exchanged revised offers on 18th November, 2011.

Negotiations on the services that are likely to be considered for extension of co-operation between India and ASEAN are under way.

The extent of benefits likely to accrue to India as a result of this Agreement in services sectors could be assessed only when negotiations are completed.

This information was given by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia in a written reply to a question raised in Lok Sabha today.

DS/GK

Trade in services negotiations: reciprocal offers exchanged with ASEAN; benefits to India contingent on finalised agreement. Negotiations between India and ASEAN on a Trade in Services Agreement are at the stage of reciprocal offers, with the most recent exchange in November 2011. Specific service sectors for cooperation are being negotiated, and the Government stated that the extent of benefits to India will be assessable only after negotiations are completed. The parliamentary disclosure emphasised procedural status and did not announce sectoral commitments or implementation timelines.