Indian Commerce Minister Anand Sharma and his counterparts
from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
sealed the agreement in Bangkok Thursday.
They met on the sidelines
of the annual ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting.
The agreement creates one of Asia's biggest trading areas
and integrates India's fast growing economy
with 10 of its neighbors.
Trade between India and ASEAN amounts to
$40 billion each year.
Under the pact, India and ASEAN will eliminate
tariffs on various goods by 2016.