National Consultations on ASEAN-India Vision 2020

As per the mandate of the ASEAN-India Summit, RIS has been nominated by the Ministry of External, Government of India, to coordinate the network of think-tanks from India and ASEAN countries as well as preparation of the ASEAN-India Vision 2020 Paper. The paper will be finalized in consultation with the think-tanks from the ASEAN countries before adoption at the third ASEAN-India Summit in Laos in 2004.

As mandated, RIS has prepared a Draft Concept Paper from Indian side. In order to finalize the paper, RIS organized National Consultations on ASEAN-India Vision 2020 in New Delhi on December 26, 2003 involving different stakeholders and experts to receive their views and comments the Draft Paper prepared by it. Shri Rajiv Sikri, Special Secretary (ER), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India chaired the consultations which were divided in five broad working groups to facilitate thematic discussion on the contents of the paper. These five working groups dealt with issues related to the future of ASEAN-India partnership; economic cooperation in trade, investment, monetary and finance; science and technology, HRD, pharma, agriculture, and SMES; and tourism and culture, people-to-people contacts and academic networks. More than 80 participants, including senior officials from different ministries/departments of Government of India; representatives from business and industry circles, research institutes, etc. and diplomats, took part in the intensive discussions on various aspects of the issues raised in the RIS paper.