India’s ASEAN Ambition: Unlocking a $80-100 Billion Trade Frontier India’s trade with ASEAN, a $3.6 trillion economic juggernaut, has surged over two decades, yet its full potential remains untapped. From $10.4 billion in 2005, India’s merchandise exports to ASEAN hit $46.5 billion in 2024, driven by chemicals, base metals, and machinery, but a $43.7 billion trade deficit persists due to $90.2 billion in imports. Service exports, led by IT, reached $11.5 billion but lag globally. High logistics costs, limited global value chain (GVC) integration, and non-tariff barriers hinder competitiveness, while service exports face regulatory constraints. Over the next 5–7 years, pharmaceuticals, electronics, base metals, halal food, and IT services could drive exports to $80–100 billion, leveraging ASEAN’s healthcare, digital, and infrastructure booms. Strategic reforms—PLI schemes, infrastructure like the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, and deeper AIFTA integration—are vital to tran...