**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer to Unstarred Question No. 306 in Lok Sabha, answered on 02/12/2025, regarding Agri based products under the India-ASEAN Trade Framework. It addresses trade with ASEAN countries, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Bhutan. The document contains data for the last five years and actions to strengthen cross-border trade from Assam.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **India-ASEAN Trade Framework:**
* Assam tea and Agri-based products are exported to ASEAN countries.
* Export data is available on the Ministry's website.
* **Bilateral Trade:**
* Bilateral trade data for Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Bhutan for the last five years is included in an annexure.
* **Trade Challenges:**
* Technical and logistical challenges are resolved through regular exchanges during established bilateral institutional mechanisms.
* **Cross-Border Trade Strengthening (Assam):**
* Regular coordination meetings with border agencies (Customs, DGFT, State authorities, transport departments, and trade bodies).
* Continuous engagement with Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) and State Governments for infrastructure and logistics improvements at Land Customs Stations.
* Monitoring of trade flow and addressing delays through local facilitation committees.
* Strengthening risk-based assessment and clearance processes.
* Periodic outreach and stakeholder consultations to address trade issues and support market-linked facilitation measures.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Assam Tea and Agri-based Product Exporters**
* **Impact:** These exporters can leverage the India-ASEAN Trade Framework to access new markets and improve existing trade relationships.
* **Action Required:** Review the data available on the Ministry's website and participate in stakeholder consultations.
**Stakeholder: Government Agencies (Customs, DGFT, State Authorities, Transport Departments)**
* **Impact:** These agencies are responsible for facilitating cross-border trade from Assam.
* **Action Required:** Participate in regular coordination meetings and implement measures to resolve operational bottlenecks and improve infrastructure.
**Stakeholder: Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) and State Governments**
* **Impact:** These entities are crucial for the improvement of infrastructure and logistics at Land Customs Stations.
* **Action Required:** Engage in continuous engagement for infrastructure and logistics improvements at Land Customs Stations.
**Stakeholder: Traders involved in trade with Bangladesh, Myanmar and Bhutan**
* **Impact:** They are affected by the trade statistics of the last 5 years.
* **Action Required:** Assess the data provided in the Annexure.
Key Entities Referenced
India-ASEAN Trade Framework: A trade framework under which Assam tea and agri-based products are exported to ASEAN countries.
Ministry of Commerce and Industry: The ministry responsible for addressing the parliamentary question on agri-based products under the India-ASEAN trade framework.
Assam: The Indian state for which cross-border trade strengthening measures are being discussed.
Bangladesh: A country with which India has bilateral trade relations, and trade data is provided.
Bhutan: A country with which India has bilateral trade relations, and trade data is provided.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 306
ANSWERED ON 02/12/2025
AGRI BASED PRODUCTS UNDER INDIA-ASEAN TRADE FRAMEWORK
306. MD. RAKIBUL HUSSAIN:
Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री) be pleased
to state:
(a) whether the Government has identified new markets for Assam tea and agri-based
Products under the India-ASEAN trade framework;
(b) whether bilateral trade with Bangladesh, Myanmar and Bhutan has increased
during the last two years;
(c) whether any trade barriers or logistical challenges persist and if so, the details
thereof; and
(d) the steps being taken to strengthen cross-border trade from Assam?
ANSWER
वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्यमंत्री (श्री णिणिन प्रसाद)
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
(SHRI JITIN PRASADA)
(a) Under India-ASEAN Trade Framework, Assam Tea as well as other Tea related
products and Agri based products are exported to ASEAN countries. The data relating to
export of Tea and Agri based products are available on the website of Ministry at
https://www.commerce.gov.in/trade-statistics/
(b) The bilateral trade data for Bangladesh, Myanmar & Bhutan for the last five years are
enclosed as Annexure.
(c) The issues and challenges relating to trade including technical and logistical challenges
are resolved through regular exchanges during established bilateral institutional
mechanisms.
(d) The following steps are taken to strengthen and facilitate cross-border trade from
Assam:
• Regular coordination meetings with corresponding border agencies, including
Customs, Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), State authorities, transport
departments and trade bodies, to promptly resolve operational bottlenecks;• Continuous engagement with Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) and State
Governments for improvement of infrastructure and logistics at Land Customs
Stations;
• Monitoring of trade flow and addressing delays through the local facilitation
committees;
• Strengthening of the risk-based assessment and clearance processes to ensure
quicker cargo movement;
• Periodic outreach and stakeholder consultations to address trade issues, promote
compliance and support market-linked facilitation measures.Annexure
Annexure to in reply to part (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 306 for
02.12.2025
Bilateral Trade Data of last 5 years:
(Values in US $ Million)
Bangladesh
Year India’s Export India’s Import Total Trade
2020-21 9,691.56 1,091.66 10,783.22
2021-22 16,156.37 1,977.93 18,134.30
2022-23 12,215.85 2,021.24 14,237.09
2023-24 11,065.87 1,844.76 12,910.63
2024-25 11,485.26 2,005.04 13,490.30
Bhutan
Year India’s Export India’s Import Total Trade
2020-21 701.02 433.00 1,134.02
2021-22 885.81 545.04 1,430.84
2022-23 1,079.09 535.61 1,614.70
2023-24 963.73 339.11 1,302.84
2024-25 1,263.83 641.71 1,905.54
Myanmar
Year India's Export India's Import Total Trade
2020-21 772.56 526.79 1,299.35
2021-22 893.03 1,001.87 1,894.90
2022-23 807.00 954.74 1,761.74
2023-24 670.37 1,075.65 1,746.02
2024-25 614.30 1,533.95 2,148.26
Source: DGCIS
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