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ASEAN 2025: WHY SUMMIT MATTERS FOR INDIA

Vijay Gupta. Dated: 10/27/2025 11:31:53 AM

EDITOR IN CHIEF YOUNG BITES VIJAY GUPTA WHILE TALKING TO SENIOR JOURNALIST MANISH CHAND

Senior journalist Manish Chand highlighted how deepening trade, technology, and tourism ties with ASEAN’s 11 nations are shaping India’s Act East Policy. VIJAY GUPTA KUALA LUMPUR, OCT 26 The ASEAN Summit 2025, held in Kuala Lumpur, has once again underscored the strategic and economic significance of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for India. Despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s absence due to domestic commitments, India’s engagement with the regional bloc continues to deepen, spanning trade, technology, tourism, and people-to-people ties. While talking to Young Bites, senior journalist Manish Chand highlighted that ASEAN remains one of India’s most vital economic partners, with bilateral trade and investment exceeding USD 130 billion. “ASEAN’s collective GDP now stands at over USD 1 trillion, and with the inclusion of Timor-Leste as the 11th member, the region’s economic and geopolitical importance has grown further,” Chand observed. “For India, a USD 3 trillion economy, ASEAN represents both a vast market and a gateway to the Indo-Pacific.” India and ASEAN are bound by Goods and Services Trade Agreements, which have provided a strong foundation for regional economic integration. Chand points out that the “Tiger Economies” of Southeast Asia, such as Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, offer immense potential for investment, infrastructure collaboration, and digital partnerships. This year’s summit placed a special emphasis on emerging and critical technologies, especially Artificial Intelligence (AI). “Countries like Singapore have advanced AI infrastructure and robust digital ecosystems,” Chand noted. “India, stands to benefit immensely from AI collaboration with ASEAN states. Joint innovation and partnerships could redefine the digital landscape.” Hosting the summit, Malaysia showcased its world-class infrastructure and growing importance as a tourism and investment hub. “Malaysia is a city of soaring skyscrapers and vibrant multiculturalism,. “For Indian tourists, it feels like home, from Little India in Kuala Lumpur to the sacred Batu Caves, linked to Lord Shiva.” He added that Malaysia’s Tamil community, which makes up around 25 percent of the population, plays a significant role in strengthening India- Malaysia ties. “The cultural and emotional bond between India and Malaysia is special. Prime Minister Modi’s tourism outreach could very well focus on Malaysia in the coming months,” Chand suggested. Malaysian investors, according to Chand, are “highly optimistic” about India’s economic reforms and infrastructure push.. As the ASEAN 2025 Summit is progressing, the message is clear: India’s partnership with ASEAN is not just about trade, it’s about shared prosperity, cultural affinity, and a common Indo-Pacific vision. ASEAN is central to India’s ‘Act East’ policy and Indo-Pacific outreach. While the Prime Minister could not attend this year, India’s commitment to ASEAN’s growth story remains unwavering. The future lies in closer collaboration— on technology, trade, and trust.