NEW DELHI: Asean and India agreed to intensify maritime cooperation and security in efforts to better conserve the environment and curb crime activities.
Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the decision was important as the potential of the maritime and sea resources were huge and should be used for all the nations’ common interest.
“The Asean-India Commemorative Summit began earlier this evening with a dialogue session themed, maritime cooperation and security. This strategic cooperation shows potential that we can obtain through established maritime resources
“The Asean leaders welcomes India’s intention to increase the cooperation in this matter. The leaders have decided that this as a priority in Asean-India strategic cooperation.
“I have stressed that Asean and India should continue this efforts, especially in terms of capacity building and information sharing and exchanges to curb and fight maritime crimes, including non conventional threat such as terrorism, extremism and piracy,” he said in a press conference after a dialogue session with all the 10 Asean leaders and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today.
The Prime Minister is in New Delhi at the invitation of Modi to attend the Asean-India Commemorative Summit being held in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of Asean-India Dialogue.
Meanwhile, Najib said Asean’s trade with India last year hit US$72 billion, which was an increase compared to the US$58 billion trade in 2016.
He said the trade increase of 2.6 per cent from the total amount of trade from ASEAN with other countries had made India as the sixth largest trading partner after China, United States, Japan, European Union and South Korea.
During the press conference, Najib and International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed also witnessed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) exchange between SME Corporation Malaysia and National Small Industries Corporation India to increase cooperation in the development of Small and Medium Enterprises in both the countries for better competitiveness in international market.
Malamega Ltd Malaysia and Puspathy Enclave Pvt Ltd India also exchanged an MOU to explore on prospecting and supplying fossil fuels, renewable energy development and joint venture efforts for coal trade worth US$ 20million.
Meanwhile, the MOU exchange between JS Rezeki Bumi Maju Sdn Bhd dan GA Software Technology Pvt Ltd worth US$5 million was made to provide automation services based on artificial intelligence for the Immigration Department.
The final MOU exchange between Orchid Life Sdn Bhd and Vimta Labs Ltd worth US$960,000 was made for pre-clinical and clinical researches on Kacip Fatimah extracts for anti-obesity usage.