Workshop on Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20

May 09, 2015

BHUBANESWAR, INDIA - The new foreign trade policy will enhance the ease of doing business in the country, says Dr. Ashis Kumar Das, Deputy Director General of Foreign Trade.

Dr. Ashis Kumar Das, Deputy Director General of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce& Industry, Government of India while demonstrating the various bottlenecks in infrastructural facilities like roads, ports, testing centers of international standards etc. and procedural complexities being faced by the Indian entrepreneurs, highly appreciated the emphasis given in the policy for creation of a more export friendly trade eco-system, better quality control and trade dispute mechanism, simplification of procedures and e-governance thereby enhancing the ease of doing business in the country.

Giving an overview of the global economy in some of the leading as well as developing countries like China and the European Union which are influencing international trade and business, Dr.Ashis deliberated on various changes made in the Foreign Trade Policy and its objectives. He also briefed entrepreneurs on the revised incentive schemes in the policy, which they could benefit from. He also cited how the policy is going to the support various schemes of Central Government like “Make in India” and “Digital Skill”. He delivered the keynote address at the workshop on “Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20” organized by WTC Bhubaneswar in association with Utkal Chamber of Commerce and Industry on 6th May 2015.

Mr. Ramesh President of Utkal Chamber of Commerce & Industry in his address welcomed the announcement of the new foreign trade policy and shared his views from the industry and entrepreneurs point of view bringing out the competitive advantage of other developing countries like China & Vietnam in terms of better interest rates and credit facilities by which they are able to perform better in the global markets as compared to India. He thus requested the government to consider further revisions in the incentives and interest subsidies for the entrepreneurs to get benefited.

Prof. A.N Khedkar, an expert in International Marketing, Foreign Trade Policy and International Shipping and Logistics, facilitator for the workshop while highlighting the key features and changes brought into the policy, also provided the participants with a basic understanding of the policy as a whole in a highly simplified manner.

Earlier Mr. A.O. Kuruvilla, Deputy Director, World Trade Centre Mumbai welcomed the participants mentioned that the Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20 which was unveiled by the Government of India on April 1, 2015 with an aim to position India as a significant and prominent leader in international trade. With a focus to support both manufacturing and services sectors and emphasizing on improving the ‘ease of doing business’ the policy tends to increase the global competitiveness. He also gave an overview about the activities WTC Bhubaneswar was doing since its inception and the services the WTC Bhubaneswar is providing to give access to the members to the global network.

An active Q& A session provided the additional inputs to the workshop. The delegates who attended the workshop, representing local entrepreneurs, leading companies of the State in sectors like Manufacturing, Logistics, Travel Services, Health Services, Food Processing Units, Power, Sea Food, Government Bodies and Financial Institutions highly appreciated the organizers for having organized such an important workshop at a very appropriate time.

PHOTO (L-R): Dr. Ashis Kumar Das, Deputy Director General of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce& Industry, Government of India addressing the workshop. Others on dais (L-R): Mr. A.O. Kuruvilla, Deputy Director, World Trade Centre Mumbai, Mr. Ramesh Mahapatra, President of Utkal Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Prof. A.N Khedkar, Expert in International Marketing, Foreign Trade Policy and International Shipping and Logistics.