INDIA AND ASEAN: TRENDS IN FOREIGN TRADE
The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a geo-political and economic organization of ten countries located in Southeast Asia, which was a formed on 8th August, 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Since then, membership has expanded to include Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Its aims include the acceleration of economic growth, social progress, cultural development among its members, the protection of the peace and stability of the region, and to provide opportunities for member countries to discuss differences peacefully. ASEAN covers an area of 4.46 million km2 , 3% of the total land area of Earth, with a population of approximately 600 million people, and 8.8% of the world population. India’s relation with the ASEAN region lies at the heart of her look east policy unveiled in 1992 in a post cold war global scenario. India’s look east policy is the result of the conscious change in its economic policy after its Macroeconomic crisis in 1991. Since 1991, India emphasized on outward looking policy and tried to strengthen its economic relationship with other countries, especially South East Asian and East Asians countries.