Khurshid noted that India and ASEAN have put in place the

Free Trade Agreement on trade in goods in 2009 and have now concluded negotiations on the FTA on Services and Investment, "which will help create greater synergy between our people, our industry and capacities". "As we look to the future, we must empower our youth with higher education, practical skills and vocational training, oriented to trade and technological advancement," he said. Khurshid said ASEAN-India engagement is proceeding well in the East Asia Summit, ASEAN Regional Forum, ADMM+ and the Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum, which are important initiatives for evolving an open and inclusive regional architecture. "We continue to support ASEAN's central role in this regional architecture," he added.