“The collaboration between India and the ASEAN countries took off modestly about two-and-a-half decades ago, grew from strength-to-strength, and finally touched the high water mark of the engagementwhen the Heads of States of all 10ASEAN countries gracedIndia’s 69th Republic Day Parade, whichreflected the importance India places on relations with South East Asia”, said Gurjit Singh, IFS (Retd.), former Indian Ambassador to Germany, Indonesia & ASEAN in the valedictory function of the training program on “e-Payments, Financial Inclusion, and Social Security for ASEAN Civil Servants”,sponsored by ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta, and conducted by Dr MCR HRD Institute.
“India’s focus on a strengthened and multi-faceted relationship with ASEAN is an outcome of its march towards economic liberalisation and subsequent ‘Look East Policy’, which has today matured into a dynamic and action-oriented ‘Act East Policy”, stated Gurjit Singh.
The Gurjit Singh said that whileIndia-ASEAN trade relations have been growing steadily, with ASEAN being India’s fourth largest trading partner, India’s trade with Indonesia stood at a whopping about USD 20 billion.
The Gurjit Singh called upon ASEAN countries to replicateIndia’s success story in IT in giving a big boost to their development trajectory.He cited the example of counting and declaration of election results in India, involving a mind-boggling 700 million voters, in a single day.
The Gurjit Singh said that economic engagement will require improved connectivity between India and ASEAN than what exists today. “Betterrailway links, road transport, maritime and port facilities,and air connectivity are critical to India-ASEAN relations”, opined Sri Gurjit Singh.
The Gurjit Singh said that the steps taken by India and ASEAN countries aimed at financial inclusion of the poorest of the poor sections of society, in terms of their access to the fruits of economic development, have resulted in a sense of belonging on their part and a desire to contribute to nation building activities, including their increasing participation in the elections at all levels.
Sri Gurjit Singh concluded by saying that ASEAN countries scored better ranking in the range of 34 and 112 on the World Happiness Index 2018, however, India, with a rank of 133, is far behind them. “India should learn the mantra of happiness from the ASEAN countries and improve its global ranking”, he stated.
The Ravi Shankar Aisola, IFS (Retd.), former Indian Ambassador to Lao People’s Democratic Republic said that India has created a fund of USD 100 million aimed at improving digital and physical connectivity in the ASEAN countries and advised the ASEAN Civil Servants to contact the Indian Embassies in their respective countries to take the benefit of this fund.
The B P Acharya, IAS, Spl Chief Secretary & DG of Dr MCR HRD Institute said, with a sense of pride that the training program for the ASEAN civil servants was a first-of-its’s-kind initiative in India. “The Institute is looking forward to organizing a number of training programs in its multiple areas of expertise, including IT, Rural Development, Social Welfare, etc.”, he added.
