More ASEAN-South Asia trade urged.

• Author: Yi, Loh Chen

Major opportunities for trade expansion between ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) and South Asia lie untapped as only about 4% of combined trade takes place between the two regions, said a senior adviser with a United Nations body.

That was the message from Mr. Hendrik Roelofsen of the Geneva-based ITC in a speech to senior representatives of trade associations and business chambers of 11 countries attending a three-day seminar on trade promotion here yesterday (Singapore, 23 May 2001).

"While the potential is there, low levels of trade prevail and that is largely a result of lack of awareness of business opportunities, lack of information on those opportunities and the absence of a suitable trade promotion infrastructure."

Representatives from China, ASEAN members -- Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar and the Philippines -- as well as South Asian countries such as Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and India attended the seminar.

ASEAN was "pretty well-developed" in terms of intra-regional trade, with about 22% of total trade taking place among the ten member countries, he said.

However, trade between South Asian and ASEAN countries was at a nascent stage. Trade among the countries of South Asia such as India...