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USD 25 billion trade target with Russia easily achievable with a supportive ecosystem: FIEO

Updated: Oct 06, 2018 11:24:51am
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USD 25 billion trade target with Russia easily achievable with a supportive ecosystem: FIEO

New Delhi, Oct 6 (KNN) Appreciating the decision to increase bilateral trade between India and Russia to USD 25 Billion by 2025, Federation of Indian Export Organization (FIEO), President, Ganesh Gupta said that such target is achievable, as this only requires a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 12.9%, provided some of the key challenges are addressed.

He said that payment mechanism is crucial to trade which further aggravated with US sanction on Russia resulting in banks eagerness to give up the Russian business rather than invest time and resources in understanding the sanctions.

Gupta pushed for trade in local currencies between India and Russia with a third country currency as a reference point so that market driven exchange rate play a pivotal role in trade transactions.

“This should be accompanied by extending all benefits of exports to such trade in local currency at par with trade transacted in free foreign exchange,” he added.

He further added that India should conclude early FTA with Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) which includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia so that the tariff preference  provide our exporters the level playing field with China, which signed similar FTA in May 2018 with EEU, for greater penetration in Russia and CIS market.

He said “Use of International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) should be encouraged as it reduces voyage time and freight for exporting/ importing goods to/from Afghanistan, Russia and Central Asia. The trial runs on the route have been successful.”

President FIEO urged the Indian exporters and importers to use this route as significant volumes will further reduce the freight and add to better services.

Gupta said that RBI should clarify the position in respect of consignment transited through Bandar Abbas (Iran) though destined for Russia & Central Asian economies as many banks are not negotiating such documents since goods are moving through Iran.

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