India commits to ASEAN integration, connectivity agenda
Indian Minister of State for External Affairs V.Muraleedharan affirmed India’s commitment to the ASEAN integration and connectivity agenda at the 6th India-CLMV Business Conclave held online on December 3-4.
Indian Minister of State for External Affairs V.Muraleedharan (Photo: VNA)
New Delhi (VNA) - Indian Minister of State for External AffairsV.Muraleedharan affirmed India’s commitment to the ASEAN integration andconnectivity agenda at the 6th India-CLMV Business Conclave held onlineon December 3-4.
He said Indian looks forward to the ASEAN countries for the utilisation of 1billion USD credit line for enhancement of physical and digital connectivity.
He took the occasion to invite CLMV countries to join the International SolarAlliance and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, and participatein activities of seven pillars of Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, which hassynergies with ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific.
He highlighted it is India's firm belief thatpromotion of businesses and private investments is essential for growth in the CLMV(Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam) region.
Towards this end, aproject development fund titled PDF-CLMV with total capital of 5 billion INR(some 68 million USD) has been created by the Indian government in order tocatalyse investments from Indian private sector to the CLMV countries bysetting up manufacturing hubs in the nations.
Currently, two projects in Myanmar, one in Vietnam and one in Cambodia areidentified for collaboration with the Indian private sector.
Along with discussions on infrastructure, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, energy,IT, agriculture, an online international fair was held in the framework of theforum. The Vietnamese Embassy in India’s trade office organised a booth tosupport Vietnamese firms to popularise their products and services at the event.
In addition, the trade office joined hands with the Confederation of IndianIndustry to organise an online trade conference themed “establishingpartnership to improve competitive capacity in automobile industry, garment andtextile, machine and equipment”.
Representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development,Ministry of Planning and Investment, Ministry of Information and Communications,Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Vietnamese business community took the occasion to hold discussions with Indian partners on business opportunities and shared business experience in agriculture,food, materials for seafood, supporting industry, garment and textile, cleanenergy, infrastructure, and transport, among others./.
ASEAN and India have reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen and deepen their cooperation at the 20th ASEAN-India Joint Cooperation Committee Meeting held via video conference recently.
Economic ministers of 10 ASEAN member states and India discussed measures to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and maintain macro-economic stability at the 17th AEM-India Consultations held within the framework of the 52nd ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting (AEM-52) on August 29.
The second ASEAN-India Track 1.5 Dialogue on Cyber Issues was held virtually in New Delhi, India on October 13, focusing on cooperation and security in the digital and cyber domain in the context of COVID-19 pandemic.
ASEAN and Indian leaders reaffirmed commitment to orienting bilateral ties in the 21st century during the 17th ASEAN-India Summit held in Hanoi on November 12 under the chair of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
Total trade between Indonesia and New Zealand in the first half of 2025 reached 963.23 million USD, an increase of 21.56% compared to 792.39 million USD in the same period last year. Of this amount, Indonesia's exports to New Zealand totaled 374.89 million USD, while imports 588.35 million USD
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Indian Minister of State for External Affairs V.Muraleedharan (Photo: VNA) 
