INDIA NEWS ISSUE 169 | JANUARY 2013 MICAP 074/04/2012 ASEAN-India Heads of State adopt Vision statement elevating India-ASEAN relations to a strategic partnership India hosted the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit on December 20-21, 2012 to mark the 20th anniversary of dialogue-level partnership and the 10th anniversary of Summit-level partnership with ASEAN. The theme of the Summit was ‘ASEAN-India Partnership for Peace and Shared Prosperity’. ASEAN-India relations have grown rapidly over the past two decades, capped off by an intensive year of engagement to mark the 20th anniversary of the relationship. Ministerial level meetings have been held on Tourism, Environment, Agriculture, Renewable Energy and Trade & Economic matters. The Heads Heads of State / Government at the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit, 2012 in New Delhi Significant The 2012 Obituary to The Red Taj bilateral visits ASEAN-India Pandit Ravi Mahal Car Rally in Shankar 05 06 Pictures 09 11 A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER BY THE INDIA N H IGH COMMISSION, S INGA PORE India News Jan Issue - FINAL - 21Jan2013.indd 1 22/01/2013 9:52:40 AM of Space Agencies of ASEAN and India met in June this year. There has been engagement between experts at multiple workshops relating to climate change, mitigation and adaptation technologies in agriculture and potential cooperation in renewable energy. An Agri-Expo has been held for the first time with ASEAN countries. India has intensified its people-to-people engagement programmes for the ASEAN. Commemorative events include a 6 month long ASEAN Expedition by the INS Sudarshini and the 2012 ASEAN- India Car Rally, which was flagged down in New Delhi on 20th December, 2012. The Summit concluded with the adoption of a Vision Statement for the ASEAN- Heads of State / Government, their spouses and other dignitaries at the Ceremonial India grouping. Flag-Down of the 2012 ASEAN-India Car Rally The ASEAN-India Partnership stands elevated to a strategic partnership, with many nations of the region. resource development and scholarly all regional heads of state committing On the economic front, delegates exchanges. to effective and timely implementation committed to achieving a target of USD of the ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations 100 billion for ASEAN-India trade by Civilisational links between India in multiple areas. In the near term, 2015, and also to reduce tariffs further and ASEAN will be better studied countries will cooperate to effectively over time. More importantly, the group and documented, and efforts to implement the Plan of Action to will work towards realising an ASEAN- preserve, protect and restore symbols implement the ASEAN-India Partnership India Free Trade Area and structures for Peace, Progress and Shared (FTA) with a combined focus on political, representing Prosperity (2010-2015). On its part, market of almost 1.8 security, economic such bonds will India will support and cooperate closely billion people and a be intensified. with ASEAN to realise the ASEAN combined GDP of USD and socio-cultural Such structures Community in 2015, comprising three 3.8 trillion. In relation integration include Angkor pillars, namely, the ASEAN Political to this, ASEAN-India Wat (Cambodia), Security Community, the ASEAN Trade in Services and Investment Borobudur and Prambanan temples Economic Community and the ASEAN Agreements were successfully (Indonesia), Wat Phu (Lao PDR), Bagan Socio-Cultural Community. negotiated. (Myanmar), Sukhothai (Thailand), and My Son (Viet Nam). On the subject of political and security Other focus areas included business- cooperation, delegates reaffirmed their to-business relations, Public-Private Governments will also strive to bridge vision of a peaceful, prosperous and Partnerships (PPP), agriculture and development gaps among ASEAN resurgent Asia, which contributes to and energy sectors as well as cooperation Member States and overcome promotes global peace and security. between ASEAN and India in support of challenges such as climate change, They committed to increasing security sub-regional developments. energy security, rapid urbanisation, cooperation and information sharing natural disasters, food security and in the form of regular and high-level In the area of socio-cultural integration, drug abuse by oarticipating in relevant security dialogues to further address governments agreed to promote greater regional and global initiatives. India, in traditional and non-traditional security people- to-people interaction through particular, will focus on human resource challenges, including transnational increasing exchanges in culture, development and capacity building crimes and terrorism. education, youth, sports, creative e-initiatives, particularly in the fields industries, science and technology, of information technology, science They also agreed to cooperate on information and communication and technology and English language maritime security, a key concern for technology and software, human training. 2 INDIA NEWS JANUARY 2013 INDIA NEWS JANUARY 2013 India News Jan Issue - FINAL - 21Jan2013.indd 2 22/01/2013 9:52:42 AM India draws closer to ASEAN TRADE, MARITIME COOPERATION AND PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE LINKAGES FORM THEME OF PM DR. MANMOHAN SINGH’S ADDRESS AT INDIA-ASEAN COMMEMORATIVE SUMMIT Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, flows in investments have also grown the second track that would run from presented the opening statement rapidly to reach 43 billion U.S. dollars India through Myanmar, Lao PDR and at the Plenary Session of the India- over the past decade. As ASEAN Cambodia to Vietnam. ASEAN Commemorative Summit in investments into India have multiplied, New Delhi on December 20th, 2012. ASEAN countries too have emerged - The Indian Naval Ship INS Excerpts from his speech are below. as major destinations for Indian Sudarshini, which is on a six-month companies. expedition to nine ASEAN countries, - It is a historic moment for us and not only draws attention to our our region. We are commemorating - As maritime nations, India and maritime links, but to the economic not only twenty years of Dialogue ASEAN nations should intensify their potential of sea-based connectivity. Partnership and ten years of annual engagement for maritime security summits between India and ASEAN; and safety, for freedom of navigation - We should also build on we are also celebrating something and for peaceful settlement of commendable initiatives like the more enduring and precious. maritime disputes in accordance annual India-ASEAN Business Fair with international law. We should and Conclave and energize our - Given that together we constitute also foster regional cooperation to Business Council. Linkages between a community of 1.8 billion people, counter piracy and respond to natural small and medium enterprises, which representing one-fourth of humanity, disasters. are central to our economies, should with a combined GDP of 3.8 trillion be promoted. U.S. dollars, it is only natural that India - The flagging down of the India- should attach the highest priority to its ASEAN Car Rally will not only - I would like to state that, drawing relationship with ASEAN. celebrate a remarkable journey by on the experience of the India- brave men and women, but also ASEAN Plan of Action and the - This engagement has flourished symbolize how connectivity can link recommendations of the India-ASEAN particularly in the area of trade. people, stimulate trade and generate Eminent Persons’ Group, we will India-ASEAN trade has grown over prosperity across the region. We expand our support for innovative ten times in the ten years since should, therefore, attach high priority mechanisms like the ASEAN-India we launched the annual summits. to a quick implementation of the India- Fund, the ASEAN-India Green Fund Following the implementation of our Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and the ASEAN-India S&T Fund FTA in Goods, trade grew by 41% in and its extension to Lao PDR and to take our cooperation forward in Indian fiscal year of 2011-12. Two-way Cambodia. We should also launch diverse fields. INDIA NEWS JANUARY 2013 INDIA NEWS JANUARY 2013 3 India News Jan Issue - FINAL - 21Jan2013.indd 3 22/01/2013 9:52:44 AM FM Optimistic on Indian Economy Outlook for the Indian Economy CITES STRONG FUNDAMENTALS AS DRIVERS OF GROWTH INTERACTIVE PANEL DISCUSSION HELD IN SINGAPORE The Union Finance Minister Shri P. The High Commission of India in opportunities and challenges faced by Chidambaram has expressed optimism association with Forum of Indian Banks the Indian economy, and specifically that the Indian economy will continue Singapore and WB Singapore Urban the Indian Industry, as well as the to grow at a healthy rate even as global Hub organized an interactive panel huge potential for the banking sector economies face recession. This, he said, discussion on 13th Dec 2012. in India, given that more than half the is because of strong fundamentals such households in the country are yet to be as a high savings rate, growing services Ms Usha Thorat, Director, CAFRAL, connected to the formal financial sector. sector, a large middle class which and Mr. Kamran Khan, Program continues to create demand, and a large Director, WB Singapore Urban Hub The event was attended by a pool of qualified manpower. The FM was spoke on the Indian Economy; delegation of 23 senior officers of speaking at the National Development Mr.B.K.Batra, DMD, IDBI Bank, spoke Indian Public Sector Banks at the level Council meeting in New Delhi. about Indian Industry and Mr.Rakesh of Executive Director and General Sethi, ED, Punjab National Bank, spoke Manager, who were in Singapore as However, he said it was imperative to about the Banking sector. Mr Vikram part of a leadership training programme contain the fiscal deficit by augmenting Khanna, Associate Editor, Business conducted by the Centre for Advanced resources and controlling expenditure. Times, moderated the session. The Financial Research and Learning He said that some measures may cause presentation was followed by a Q&A (CAFRAL). Also in attendance were immediate pain but they were necessary session.