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Indian
Ocean bridge between ASEAN & India: Salman Khurshid
Salman Khurshid, Union Minister for
Minority Affairs & Water Resources, has termed the Indian Ocean as
the bridge between ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations)
and India. It is the medium of water through which trade between the
10 countries of
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New Delhi: On the second day of the
three-day International Conference on “Indo-ASEAN Trade and
Investment” here on Saturday experts, scholars and delegates
deliberated in the four business sessions the nitty-gritty of the
issues while applying their minds to the solution of the problems.
The conference has been organized here under the aegis of
Institute of Objective Studies, (IOS), in collaboration with the
Indo-Arab Economic Cooperation Forum at the India International
Centre.
The first business session on Saturday was presided over by Dr.
Naushad Ali Azad, Former Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Jamia
Millia Islamia, New Delhi. The theme was “Importance of Indo-ASEAN
Relationship and Ocean Aspects of Linkages in Changing Global
Scenario”. The second business session, which was chaired by Ravi Kishore, Secretary General (Hony.), IAECF and Advocate,
Supreme Court of India, New Delhi, the theme was “Peace and
Development – I Infrastructure – Real Estate, Roadways, Telecom”.
The third business session was presided over by Dr. Ausaf Ahmad,
Finance Secretary IOS. It was on the theme “Peace and Development
– II Finance, Banking and Insurance”. While the fourth business
session was chaired by Prof. Qamar Ahsan, former VC, Maulana
Mazhar-ul-Haq Arabic and Persian University, Patna. It was on the
theme “Peace, Development and Economic Cooperation”.
Meanwhile, a book entitled “Hanuman Gurhie Ayodhya” based on an
incident of 28th July, 1855 which is said to be the root cause of
Babari Masjid dispute was released by Ms Hendra Henny Andries,
Minister Counsellor, Embassy of Indonesia in India, in the second
business session of the conference.
The book which was hanging fire for the last 15 years due to
impediments created by the West Bengal Government has been now
published by the Institute of Objective Studies, IOS), New Delhi.
It has been penned by Sher Singh, a retired IAS officer of 1974
batch of West Bengal cadre. Sher Singh had to pay with his
bureaucratic career when he was suspended in the year 1994 and
then dismissed from service in 2000 by the left Front ruled West
Bengal Government for publishing the book “The Secular Emperor
Babar”. He took up research work on Emperor Babar in 1986 after
the unlocking of Babri Masjid. His another treatise on Emperor
Babar is “Archaeology of Babri Masjid, Ayodhya”.
Dr. Uma Shankar, Associate Professor of political, University of
Delhi, speaking in the first business session on the theme
“Importance of Indo-ASEAN Relationship and Ocean Aspects of
Linkages in Changing Global Scenario” said the fast growing
India’s economic interaction with East Asia since 1991 is a
commentary on the mature and timely initiative of the then Indian
leadership in its foreign policy. In the post-Soviet world
continuing with its anti-imperial past, India’s Look East Policy
was quite logical. Economic liberlisation and globalization has
released India’s growth potential without falling into the Western
umbrella. The East Asia with ASEAN countries China, Japan,
Australia, South Korea and New Zealand provide India a peaceful
environment for its growth. Myanmar is a land bridge which India
is trying to cultivate in a friendly partnership without
interfering in its domestic politics. Pragmatic national interests
guide India’s foreign policy. The economic growth of the North
East region by opening this region to East Asia would be
accelerated. The geographical handicap of the North East region
can be compensated by increased linkages with ASEAN countries, he
added.
Dr. Shankar said India’s growing stake in East Asia is a win-win
situation for all. India has no territorial or other disputes with
ASEAN countries. Good and closely integrated relations with East
Asia will have moderating influence on China also without military
or strategic pact. India’s increasing stake in East Asia will
facilitate peaceful rise of India and China. Without being in a
competitive relationship with China, what is India’s disadvantage
in unstable and disturb South Asia environment the East Asia will
give India a breathing space.
In the same session Mohammad Shahnawaz Abdin, Assistant
Professor, Department of Management, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi,
making a Power Point presentation concluded: (i) Growth prospects
for Indo–ASEAN relation are quite positive, and trade can play a
central role; (ii) Regionalism and trade facilitation should be
very high priorities for the region; (iii) Asian trade can
increase in nearly all directions including Indo – ASEAN which is
getting one of the highest growth rates; (iv) Modest progress
towards improving regional trade efficiency will have great
implication on overall trade and (v) ASEAN will contribute to
Asian regional convergence.
Shahnawaz Abdin observed that the road ahead for Indo–ASEAN
relation includes: (a) Institutional development and policy
reforms to attract the investment (domestic and FDI); (b)
Cooperation on trade related infrastructure development; (c) Human
resources development especially labor productivity enhancement;
(d) Capacity building programs in the area of risk assessment; (e)
Preparation of action plans that focus on regional and global
trade facilitation; (f) Emphasis on micro and macro level economy;
(g) Public, private sector partnership (PPP) for community
development and (h) Regular research on trade and its impact on
local communities.
Ms Rouble Sharma, Assistant Professor of Political Science,
University of Delhi, also presenting her paper in the first
session said that during the last decade (2002-2010), India’s
relations with the ASEAN have been cemented and strengthened.
India’s entry into ASEAN is really an opportunity to prove itself
as a responsible and responsive good neighbour interested in
regional cooperation. The new status enabled India to play a
responsible role in promoting regional peace and stability in the
region.
Ms Sharma said this was justified by the common stand India and
ASEAN adopted on various regional and international issues
including terrorism, integration with global economy and
functional cooperation in diverse fields including science and
technology, human resources development, trade and investment and
transport and communication. India and ASEAN are truly partners in
progress. India is privileged to be part of a process that is
contributing to ever widening circles of prosperity.
“Our relationship with the ASEAN countries is the pillar of our
‘‘Look East Policy’’. The best aspect of India-ASEAN renewed
engagements is that both of them recognise now that they have
something to offer one another”, she pointed out.
Prof. Veena Sikri, a Visiting Professor in the Academy of Third
World Studies, Jamia Millia, New Delhi and Prof. N. Chandra Mohan,
Economist and Commentator, also put forth their views in the first
session. Prof. Sikri said the prospects of relations between India
and ASEAN and maritime communications are very bright. Prof.
Chandra Mohan said to change the global scenario it is necessary
to further strengthen the ties and maritime communications between
India and ASEAN. He said to bring about a revolutionary change in
the world these two points cannot be ignored.
Ms Hendra Henny Andries, Minister Counsellor, Embassy of Indonesia
in India, while presenting her paper in the second session on
theme “Peace and Development – I Infrastructure – Real Estate,
Roadways, Telecom” invited Indians to tour Indonesia saying
natural beauties and many things of common interests are awaiting
them. She said culturally also there are many things of common
interests between Indonesia and India. The biggest thing common is
the religion of Islam between the two countries where Muslims are
found in large numbers. It may be noted that Indonesia has the
largest Muslim population in the world and India stands second in
this context.
Ms Andries said Indonesia has the largest economy in South East
Asia and third fastest growing economy in Asia. She invited Indian
investors to extend their business in Indonesia.
Dr. Arshi Khan, Associate Professor of Political Science in
Aligarh Muslim University, expressing his views in the second
session said ASEAN is in its dialectical advance towards
development through peace, security and regional stability. As a
geo-political and economic organisation it is still in transition,
towards reaching the goal of Vision 2020 for creating a unified
legal entity, consolidated ASEAN identity, a single market and a
socio-cultural community.
Dr. Khan, moreover, said ASEAN believes in promoting trade and
commerce through improving political principles, security and
strategic considerations. In this pursuit, ASEAN leaders have
expressed commitment to build relations among themselves and to
build partnership with other potential countries of the East Asia.
On the other hand, there are multiple challenges from within and
outside the ASEAN such as Thailand-Cambodia rift, violence in some
areas, democracy deficit in Myanmar etc. However, there are
several positive indicators for ASEAN to move ahead, he added.
Dr. Faisal Ahmed, Associate Director, Centre for International
Trade, Economics & Environment, CUTS International spoke on the
geo-economics of region building in Asia with reference to India’s
engagements with ASEAN in the second session.
Dr. Ahmed said India has always played a significant role in the
evolution of international trading systems and its geo-economic
diplomacy and region building efforts have been influencing trade
policies at all levels – bilateral, regional and multilateral.
There is huge variation in resource endowments across Asia, which
has formed the basis of economic complementarities. Thus, there is
an inherent need to integrate the sub-regional identities, which
can make regional cooperation more comprehensive and sustainable,
he added.
“I strongly hold that the formation of an Asian Economic Community
(AEC) is imminent and India can play an instrumental role in its
formation. The whole of Asia is well-knit through the Indian Ocean
which brings all sub-regional identities in close geographical
proximities, thereby providing a natural base for trade and
mobility of people. The focus of contemporary geopolitics has
shifted from power equations to co-existence of nations through
their mutual economic interdependence, and this is clearly evident
in the Asian region”, he remarked.
The recommendations of Dr. Ahmed included: 1. Bilateral
investments should aim for development within the existing country
systems; 2. There is a need to promote the sharing of best
practices in trade and development-related institutional support
system within Asia; 3. Public diplomacy and people-to-people
contact should be strengthened through a comprehensive
institutional framework, and not merely through Diaspora; 4. It is
high time to come out of sub-regional identities and work toward
the fulfillment of an Asian identity which could, in itself, be
capable of managing critical issues like food security, energy
security, and developmental outreach and 5. Asia also need to
address the MDGs by the year 2015, and it can be done smoothly
only by focusing on south-south cooperation, knowledge sharing and
intra-regional capacity building initiatives.
Meanwhile, Prof. M. H. Qureshi, Professor A.M. Khwaja Chair Jamia
Millia Islamia, New Delhi; Syed Mohamed Beary, Chairman & Managing
Director Bearys Group, Bangalore; Prof. M. Ishtiyaq, Professor of
Geography Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi; Prof. Ishtiyaque
Danish, Professor of Islamic Studies Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi;
Adv. Mushtaq Ahmad, Advocate, Supreme Court of India; Parwaaz
Rahmani, Editor-in-Chief, Dawat (Sehroza) were felicitated on the
occasion with IOS awards which included a shawl, a memento and a
Certificate of Appreciation for their achievements in their field
of activities.
(pervezbari@eth.net)
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