ASEAN wants to firm up open skies regime with India

Chennai: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is keen on firming up an “open skies regime” with India, ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General S. Pushpanathan said here on Saturday.
An open skies regime with India would enhance air connectivity, which was key to integration of regional markets, he said participating in a plenary session on “From Regional Integration to Global Partnerships” at the Partnership Summit of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
The ASEAN-India Aviation Cooperation Framework sets a preface for moving to an India-ASEAN open skies regime.
While ASEAN expected to firm up the open skies regime with India in “the next few years,” it expected to finalise a similar pact with China by year-end, Mr. Pushpanathan said.
Pointing out that one of the key trends was an increasing volume of trade within the region, the official said ASEAN was also looking at a wider Free Trade Agreement (FTA) involving India, Japan, China, Australia and New Zealand.
A “mutual recognition arrangement” was being mooted to ensure freer movement of labour within ASEAN, he said.
24/01/10 M Dinesh Varma/The Hindu

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Categories: Foreign Jan 2010, Indian Aviation- In General Jan 2010