ASEAN's interest in India arises from two considerations. First, ASEAN has traditionally engaged all the major powers of the world. India's rising economic and technological capacities have the potential to provide considerable opportunities for ASEAN countries. Second, ASEAN and India are working towards a free trade agreement, which leaders hope to make operational in a decade. This requires a considerably enhanced understanding of each other's economic structures, institutions, and political systems.

It is therefore essential that the evolving ASEAN-India relations be guided by rigorous policy-relevant research, and by development of a network of researchers and policymakers. It is with this objective that ISEAS established an ASEAN-India Study Programme in July 2003. The programme consists of a core steering group that represents government officials, academics and the business community. It aims to be a focal point for policy-oriented research on economic, political and security issues concerning ASEAN and India. It also aims to create an effective network of those interested in ASEAN-India relations involving all interested parties from around the world. Prof. Mukul Asher, who is a Professor at the Lee Kuan Yew Institute of Public Policy at NUS and a leading expert on ASEAN-India economic relations, provides his advise to the programme as an Academic Consultant.

 
Major areas of Research

The programme aims to be multidisciplinary, but will focus on the key aspects of ASEAN-India relations. Key areas of research focus are as follows:

  1. Current trends in economic relations between ASEAN and India: Opportunities and Challenges

  2. ASEAN-India FTA : Opportunities for ASEAN and future prospects

  3.  Analysis of manpower flow issues between ASEAN and India, focusing on Singapore as a first case study.

  4. Institutional framework for cooperation between ASEAN and India.

  5. China-India bilateral economic relations: Implications for ASEAN

  6. Security cooperation between India and ASEAN

  7. Indian Ocean region issues of relevance to ASEAN and India

  8. Issues of shared interest in the transit of shipping in the Straits of Malacca

  9. Geopolitical and strategic implications of China for India and ASEAN

  10. Sub-regional cooperation between ASEAN and India, e.g  BIMSTEC

The programme however, is open to undertaking Research projects in additional areas, if opportunities arise.


Major Conferences and workshops

The Study Programme held the first ASEAN-India Forum entitled "ASEAN-India Economic Relations: The Road Ahead" at the Grand Copthrone Waterfont Hotel, Singapore on February 9-10, 2004. This event was supported by Singapore Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). It involved academics, business community and government officials from both sides in analyzing the opportunities for expanding ASEAN-India economic relations in merchandise trade, services trade and investment flows. The revised papers based on this forum are expected to be published by ISEAS as a book in 2005.

Seminars

  • India under Dr Manmohan Singh: Implications for the economy, the ASEAN region and foreign policy (ISEAS-India Club Joint Seminar) 10, June 2004.
    by Mr P K Basu Managing Director, Robust Economic Analysis Pte Ltd (REAL); and Secretary, India Club, Singapore (Click here to download the power-point presentation)
    Ms Dominique Dwor-Frecaut Economic Analyst, Barclay's Capital, Singapore (Click here to download the power-point presentation)
    Mr Sudhir Devare Visiting Senior Research Fellow, ISEAS
  • Economic Growth, Governance and Voting Behaviour: An Application To Indian Elections, 2 September 2004
    by Dr. Arvind Virmani,  Director and Chief Executive,  Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER),  New Delhi, India,(Click here to download the power-point presentation)

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ASEAN-India Study Programme