India Needs Political Will To Adapt To Open Sky Policy

NEW DELHI, Aug 8 (Bernama) -- Asia's third largest economy, India, needs the political will to adapt to the open sky policy with Asean to further boost connectivity.

The Institute of Strategic and International Studies Chief Executive, Datuk Dr Mahani Zainal Abidin said 2.7 million Indian tourists entered Asean in 2011, a 50 per cent increase from five years ago.

"Thus, by adopting an open sky policy, India can benefit more in terms of tourist arrivals from Asean, as well as hasten its industrialisation efforts.

"Therefore, there needs to be political will, while moving away from the mindset of protectionism," she told Bernama.

She was responding to a question on India's protectionism approach in the industry on the sidelines of the Round Table on the Asean-India Network of Think Tanks here today.

Asean, a 10-member country economic bloc and India, have agreed to work towards concluding an agreement based on the Open Skies principles, covering both airfreight and passenger services.

In line with the ASEAN multilateral air services agreements, the ASEAN-India Air Services Agreement may include the elements of multiple airline designation, open route schedule, full exercise of third, fourth and fifth freedom traffic rights, any frequencies, capacities and aircraft types and change of gauge and an intermodal transport arrangement.

Earlier this year, Tourism Ministers from India and Asean encouraged their transportation counterparts to bring about an early conclusion of the ASEAN-India Air Transport Agreement.

This is given its significance for enhancing connectivity that could increase the number of travels and strengthen people-to-people contact between ASEAN and India.

Asean's open sky policy will come into effect in 2015.

Mahani said better connectivity between India and Asean, with a combined population of 1.8 billion people, could be achieved by focusing on air, sea and people-to-people links.

"Land connectivity, such as road and rail links need a huge investment, and challenges remain in terms of standardisation and planning.

"Air and sea links are the fastest, as most of the infrastructure needed, such as seaports and airports are already available.

"Besides, even if new seaports and airports are needed, it is much faster to build them as compared with road and rail links," she added.

She said new bold initiatives and the necessary reforms need to be taken as otherwise it could limit prospects of future cooperation.

Sourced: bernama