Looking to speed up talks to review Asean trade pact

India is looking forward to expediting the ongoing talks to review the decade-old trade pact with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to ensure fair trade practices and a balanced growth, with focus on the existing challenges, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday.

- SHREYA NANDI

The discussion took place during a meeting between Goyal and his Malaysian counterpart T Zafrul Aziz. Malaysia is also India's permanent coordinator from Asean on economic matters.

The Asean block comprises Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Both ministers also discussed the need to fast-track discussions to ensure "fair trade" practices and further discussions on advancing a comprehensive trade pact between India and individual Asean nations.