Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, has advocated for India to reconsider joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
This, Kao believes, would open up greater market access for India, given the longstanding collaboration between India and ASEAN across diverse sectors such as space, investment, tourism, and defense.
The RCEP, a free trade agreement signed in November 2020, includes 10 ASEAN members and five of the bloc's dialogue partners, making up around 30 per cent of the global GDP and representing 30 per cent of the world's population.
Although India had previously opted out of the RCEP due to concerns about potential negative impacts on its economy, Kao suggests, given India's maritime nature, collaboration with ASEAN in the maritime sector is a viable option. Additionally, he envisions potential partnerships in the digital economy, sustainability, renewable energy, people-to-people exchanges, and connectivity.
Kao also advocates for a liberal aviation pact to facilitate increased direct flights between India and ASEAN nations, aiming to bolster the ties between the two regions.
