A convoy of 60 vehicles participating
in the first ever India-ASEAN car rally arrived here on
Friday.The rally which passed through Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam,
Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia has covered over 7,000 km and is
expected to cover 1,000 more km before ending on December 11th
at Batam Island, Indonesia. More than 200 participants from 10
countries are taking part in the rally.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogai said that the overwhelming
response of the rally showed its success."The response has been
very enthusiastic.
Not only in Guwahati but in other places of
the ASEAN countries. The response has been very overwhelming.
This rally has made India closer to other ASEAN countries," said
Gogoi.
The participants started their journey, which is aimed at
promoting friendship and trade, from Guwahati in northeastern
India on November 23. An entourage of around 10 support vehicles
including vehicle recovery, medical support and media equipped
with satellite connectivity is also accompanying the rally.
Last year, India signed an agreement with the 10-member ASEAN
(Association for South Asian Nations), leading to the creation of
a free trade pact within a decade. ASEAN groups Malaysia,
Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar,
Vietnam and the Philippines.
The regional grouping aimed to increase its trade with India from
the current annual level of US$10 billion to US$30 billion by
2007.(ANI)