MUMBAI, INDIA - India has moved with a great sense of priority and speed to turn India’s “Look East Policy” into an “Act East Policy”. ASEAN is at the core of India’s Act East Policy and at the center of our dream of an Asian century. These observations were made by Shri Anil Wadhwa, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India while addressing the Run Up event on ASEAN India Cooperation in Food Security, Agriculture Technology & Food Engineering for Delhi Dialogue VII, at WTC Mumbai on 12th February 2015.

Referring to ASEAN India cooperation in agriculture and forestry, Mr. Wadhwa said that the sector forms an important part of the collaborative agenda between ASEAN and India. The Visions Statement adopted during the 2012 Commemorative Summit recognized the need to ensure long-term food security in the region and Mr. Wadhwa welcomed the efforts to strengthen cooperation in the agriculture sector between ASEAN and India. Highlighting the importance of agriculture for ASEAN, Mr. Wadhwa mentioned that majority of ASEAN countries are agrarian economy and rely heavily on the agro food sector for economic growth, trade and investments. A number of ASEAN countries are among the top exporters globally for products like rise, fruits, vegetables and coffee and the region is also the global leader in industrial crop such as palm oil, rubber, cashew nuts and pepper. Further ASEAN and India face similar challenges in agriculture such as shrinking land base, dwindling water resource, shortage of labor and increasing cost and uncertainties associated with volatility in international markets.

Mr. Wadhwa stressed that diversification towards higher value crops and livestock remains the best way not only to improve farm incomes and accelerate growth, but also to reduce stress on natural resources, which form the farmer’s production base. The challenges are common to the region and their impact often cuts national borders. This calls for close cooperation between our countries to tackle such issues effectively. Earlier in his welcome address Mr. Vijay Kalantri, President All India Association of Industries and Vice Chairman World Trade Centre Mumbai said that over two decades of India and ASEAN Dialogue Relations have intensified our mutual relations and understating and contributed to enhanced regional development, peace, stability and security in the region. Mr. Kalantri said that ASEAN and India must work together to ensure food security in the region and ensure active trading and easy accessibility of Asia’s main staple-rice. Further, ASEAN and India can successfully co-operate in many areas of agriculture. Both need to promote and intensify cooperation by exchange of information and technology, research and development projects and strengthening human resources development.

Other speakers who spoke at the event include Dr Asmi Raza, Professor of Economics, University of Delhi, Prashant Kumar Satapathy, Deputy General Manager, Institute of Food Security, Food Corporation of India (FCI), Dr Ashok K. Vishandass, Chairman of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices, Dr JP Singh, Joint Director at the Regional Plant Quarantine Station, Mumbai, Prof. Ms Rekha Singhal, Head of Food Engineering and Technology Department, Institute of Chemical Technology, Dr TR Sharma, Project Director at National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, Dr SP Kale, Associate Director and Head of Food Technology Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mr Eldeen Husaini Mohd Hashim, Consul-General, Consulate General of Malaysia in Mumbai, Mr S Bhattacharjee, Executive Director, North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Ltd (NERAMAC), Guwahati and Mr SK Patra Chairman & Managing Director – India CSR Group. 

(PHOTO, L-R: Ms. Pooja Kapur, Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India Mr. Vijay Kalantri, President, All India Association of Industries and Vice Chairman, World Trade Centre Mumbai and Mr. Anil Wadhwa Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India)

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