Divisions
Foreign Trade (North East Asia)
Functions of the Division

Mandate of FT (NEA) division is to deal with all territorial matters relating to India’s trade
and economic cooperation with China PR, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Republic of Korea,
Korea DP RP, Macao and Mongolia i.e. the North East Asia region.

Duties include engagement with these countries on trade & economic co-operation through
institutional mechanisms such as Joint Group on Economic Relations, Trade, Science and
Technology (JEG)/ Joint Working Group (JWG) with China, Joint Committees and Sub-
Committees under India-Japan CEPA and India-Korea CEPA, Working Group on Trade
(WGT) with Taiwan and by arranging informal meetings, dialogues and consultations with
these countries.

Mandate further includes collection, compilation and analysis of trade statistics in respect of
these countries & regions from time to time and interaction with Indian Missions in these
countries on trade & economic cooperation.

Officers in the Division
Shri Anant Swarup, Additional Secretary
  • Room No: 327, Vanijya Bhawan
  • Tel: 23039458, 23039459
  • Email : anant[dot]swarup[at]nic[dot]in
Shri Anup Singh, Deputy Secretary
  • Room No: 432, Vanijya Bhawan
  • Tel: 011-23039528
  • Email : anup[dot]singh73[at]nic[dot]in
Shri Jai Prakash Singh, Under Secretary
  • Room No: 341, Vanijya Bhawan
  • Tel : 011-23039836
  • Email : usnea1-doc[at]gov[dot]in
Trade Statistics of the Territory (NEA region)

North East Asia region accounted for trade of USD 202.78 billion in 2022-23 which was 17.38% of India’s total trade. Exports to NEA countries were USD 40 billion (8.87% of India’s exports) and imports from NEA countries were USD 162.78 billion (22.74% of India’s imports).

China accounted for 56.13% of NEA’s total trade, while Hong Kong, Japan and Korea contribute 13.89%, 10.83 % and 13.75 % respectively. Taiwan, Mongolia, Macao & DPR Korea make up the balance 5.40 %.

Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong are leading economies with high growth rate; they are significant investment partners for India. Engagement with NEA is also integral to India’s ‘Act East Policy’ which seeks to expand India’s economic engagement beyond the traditional spheres of North America and Europe. Trade with North East Asian countries from 2010-11 to 2022-23 is given in Table as under;

Trade statistics with NEA region
(Value in USD million)
Year Exports Imports Total Trade Trade Balance
2010-11 37,315.76 76,109.73 113,425.50 (-) 38,793.97
2011-12 45,349.59 94,883.00 140,232.59 (-) 49,533.41
2012-13 39,437.08 89,907.33 129,344.40 (-) 50,470.25
2013-14 40,816.49 84,372.93 1,25,189.41 (-) 43,556.44
2014-15 37,788.22 93,812.80 1,31,601.02 (-) 56,024.58
2015-16 30,835.10 94,110.44 1,24,945.54 (-) 63,275.34
2016-17 34,546.05 95,068.59 1,29,614.64 (-)60,522.54
2017-18 39,467.59 1,18,353.14 1,57,820.73 (-) 78,885.55
2018-19 41,979.05 1,22,425.84 1,64,404.89 (-) 80,446.79
2019-20 38,645.02 1,14,345.10 1,52,990.12 (-) 75,700.08
2020-21 42,119.58 108,145.89 1,50,265.47 (-) 66,026.31
2021-22 49,301.34 151,804.55 2,01,105.89 (-) 1,02,503.21
India’s Major Trading Partners in NEA Region:
(Value in USD million)
NEA Region EXPORTS (in USD Bn) IMPORTS (In USD Bn.) TOTAL TRADE (in USD Bn.)
Country 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22
China 16.61 21.18 21.26 15.31 65.26 65.21 94.57 98.51 81.26 86.39 115.83 113.81
Japan 4.52 4.43 6.18 5.46 12.43 10.92 14.40 16.49 16.95 15.35 20.58 21.96
Korea RP 4.84 4.68 8.08 6.65 15.65 12.77 17.48 21.23 20.49 17.45 25.56 27.88
Hong kong 10.96 10.16 10.98 9.89 16.93 15.17 19.10 18.27 27.89 25.33 30.08 28.17
Taiwan 1.67 1.62 2.76 2.64 4.04 4.03 6.23 8.26 5.71 5.65 8.99 10.90
Korea DPR 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.00
Macau 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.004 0.00 0.53 0.02 0.01 0.00 0.53 0.03 0.01
Mongolia 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.03
NEA 38.65 42.11 49.29 40 114.34 108.14 151.8 162.78 152.99 150.25 201.09 202.78
World 313.36 291.81 422.00 451.07 474.71 394.44 613.05 715.97 788.07 686.24 1035.05 1167.03
% Share 12.33 14.43 11.6 8.87 24.08 27.41 24.7 22.74 19.41 21.89 19.4 17.38
Trade Agreements & Negotiations
i) India – Korea CEPA

A Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and Republic of Korea was signed on 7 August 2009 and it came into force on 1 January, 2010.  Since 2016, negotiations are going on for its upgradation and 10 rounds of negotiations have been held so far.  The 10 th round of negotiations was held in New Delhi from 30-31 January 2024.

ii) India – Japan CEPA

A Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and Japan was signed on 16 February, 2011. This Agreement came into force on 1 August, 2011. India has requested Japan for review of CEPA.

Trade Promotion Activities

Trade Promotion Activities include participation by Trade Chambers/Export Promotion Councils along with industry in trade fairs and exhibitions held abroad in NEA countries and holding of bilateral meetings at different levels from time to time to promote and facilitate
trade.

Mandatory disclosures under RTI Act
Name and Address of First Appellate Authority
Shri Anant Swarup, Additional Secretary
  • Room No: 327, Vanijya Bhawan
  • Tel: 23039458, 23039459
  • Email : anant[dot]swarup[at]nic[dot]in
Name and Address of CPIO
Shri Anup Singh, Deputy Secretary
  • Room No: 432, Vanijya Bhawan
  • Tel: 011-23039528
  • Email : anup[dot]singh73[at]nic[dot]in

Trade Agreements signed with Japan and South Korea are available on the website of the Department of Commerce on the following links:

India-Japan CEPA:

16 March 2020 | Size: 354kb, Format: pdf

India-Korea CEPA

16 March 2020 | Size: 354kb, Format: pdf