Lok Sabha Question No. 306 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-02
Subject: Agri based Products under India-ASEAN Trade Framework
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Md. Rakibul Hussain

## 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:

Bangladesh

| Year      | India's Export   | India's Import   | Total Trade   |
|-----------|------------------|------------------|---------------|
| 9,691.56  | 1,091.66         | 10,783.22        | 2020-21       |
| 16,156.37 | 1,977.93         | 18,134.30        | 2021-22       |
| 12,215.85 | 2,021.24         | 14,237.09        | 2022-23       |
| 11,065.87 | 1,844.76         | 12,910.63        | 2023-24       |
| 11,485.26 | 2,005.04         | 13,490.30        | 2024-25       |

Bhutan

| Year     |   India's Export | India's Import   | Total Trade   |
|----------|------------------|------------------|---------------|
| 701.02   |           433    | 1,134.02         | 2020-21       |
| 885.81   |           545.04 | 1,430.84         | 2021-22       |
| 1,079.09 |           535.61 | 1,614.70         | 2022-23       |
| 963.73   |           339.11 | 1,302.84         | 2023-24       |
| 1,263.83 |           641.71 | 1,905.54         | 2024-25       |

Myanmar

|   Year | India's Export   | India's Import   | Total Trade   |
|--------|------------------|------------------|---------------|
| 772.56 | 526.79           | 1,299.35         | 2020-21       |
| 893.03 | 1,001.87         | 1,894.90         | 2021-22       |
| 807    | 954.74           | 1,761.74         | 2022-23       |
| 670.37 | 1,075.65         | 1,746.02         | 2023-24       |
| 614.3  | 1,533.95         | 2,148.26         | 2024-25       |

Source: DGCIS

( Values in US $ Million )