I am therefore happy that the inaugural meeting of the ASEAN India Business Council was held in May 2005 in this very beautiful city. The Council must be active to exert pressure on Governments to move faster than they are wont to do. It must reach out to all stakeholders in India and ASEAN member countries to mobilise opinion in favour of greater regional interaction. I look forward to working with leaders in this region for the future success of India- ASEAN cooperation and that of the East Asian community. On behalf of the Government of India, I pledge myself to work with all like-minded countries and like-minded friends to make the future happening”.