New Delhi, Nov 21 (KNN) Facilitating international trade is a priority area for the Government  and we will fully achieve our WTO commitments in this regard, mentioned Commerce Secretary  Rita Teotia in her opening remarks at the first meeting of the Steering Committee on Trade Facilitation, recently.

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce has constituted the Committee with private – public participation for implementation of commitments under the Trade Facilitation Agreement of WTO. FISME is representing the MSME fraternity in the Committee.

In her remarks, Commerce Secretary mentioned that the Government of India has categorised the commitments under the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement under short term and long term and India is way ahead in achieving the short term commitments.

The Trade Facilitation Agreement was signed during the Bali Ministerial Conference of WTO and objective of the agreement is to adopt a time bound action plan for ‘easing’ cross border trade in all member countries.

Some of the issues being covered by the agreement is availability of trade related information in the internet; prior notification of any enhancement in control, publication of average release time etc.  The Agreement even talk of post clearance audit where  all checks of cross border trade could be carried out after prompt release of the consignment in transit.

FISME as the leading spokesperson of the MSME sector is regularly highlighting the ordeals of both the MSME importers and exporters in the present environment in different fora and stressed on the free import and export for Indian MSMEs  to be a major player in the global value chains.

It may be mentioned here that the share of MSMEs in export from India is more than 40% per cent, however it is stagnation at that level for quite some time due to the apathy of the Government.

At the meeting of the Commerce Secretary, FISME representative raised the issue of a robust grievance redressal mechanism to address the loopholes in the International trade control system.

MSMEs suffer maximum from the maladies of our import/ export trade control as they are neither fully conversant with the intricacies of the law nor they can afford costly consultants, FISME represented.

At the above meeting of the Steering Committee four working groups were constituted to address the specific issues related to international trade facilitation one of which will focus to Outreach.

To be chaired by the Joint Secretary in the Commerce Ministry, the Group is mandated to organise sensitisation and information campaign on trade facilitation.

As sensitisation of MSMEs is crucial for enhancing growth of India’s foreign trade, the MSME sector expects that the group will consult the sectoral stakeholders in deciding and implementing its outreach plan. (KNN/ DB)