Asean car rally to open up trade route

The Indo-Asean car rally will lead to increased trade and commerce between India and the Asean region through establishment of the road link to booming economies in south-east Asia.

The international leg of the rally, to be flagged off by the Prime minister Manmohan Singh on November 22, 2004, will coincide with series of meetings planned along the way as the rally progresses.

The car rally is being organised by government of India along with members of Asean, Confederation of Indian Industry and Federation of Motor Sports Club of India (FMSCI).

"The rally is designed to draw attention to the tremendous potential that exists for tourism, trade and investment. This will also overcome the problem caused by the fact that most of India and Asean are land locked and connected by road," C M Bhandari, additional secretary, ministry of external affairs, said in a press meet in Kolkata on Wednesday.

With the international highway planned connecting India, Myanmar and Thailand, the trade between India and Asean could grow many times from $12 billion at present.

Bhandari said a feasibility study has been commissioned for rail link between two blocks. "Even as it would take some time, the road link would be in place so that the country is ready when the free trade agreement comes into effect from 2011," he added.

Dipankar Chatterjee, chairman CII North East Council, said a business seminar has been organised in Guwahati where many CEOs of corporate India would discuss issue with chief ministers of different NE states along with representative from Asean countries.

In Myanmar, a seminar will take place on November 25 along with CEOs Forum organised by CII.

In Laos, CEOs delegation from CII will participate at the Asean-BIS meeting from November 26-28. The rally will be received by the Prime minister there on November 30 as he would be there for the 3rd Asean India summit.

The rally will end in Indonesia at Batam on December 11. The India leg of the rally will start from the four corners of the country on November 10 and culminate at November 21 at Guwahati.

There will be 33 official cars in the rally which is meant to be a non-competitive event. Tata Motors is the sponsor for the car and JK Tyre is the sponsor for tyres. Apart from that HPCL, BPCL, ONGC Videsh, GAIL are going be associate sponsors.