India names its first-ever envoy to ASEAN

India has named its first-ever envoy to ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations), local media reported Thursday. Suresh Reddy will be in charge of India's relations with the East Asia Summit and the 10-nation grouping, 'The Times of India' newspaper reported. ASEAN and India have entered into a regional economic comprehensive partnership resulting in trade worth 80 billion U.S. dollars. The northeastern Indian states have been billed as the gateway to ASEAN as the government believes it is imperative to establish connectivity between the northeast and the rest of India to create connectivity between India and ASEAN countries, the report said.