New Delhi: The government is committed to making India’s foreign policy and external relations more successful, especially in the area of free trade agreements (FTAs), a press release by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said Tuesday.
The commerce department under the ministry, jointly with the Centre for Trade and Investment Law, held a ‘Chintan Shivir’ 16 May and 17 May in Neemrana, Rajasthan, to discuss the future of India’s FTA strategy and trade negotiations.
The ‘Chintan Shivir’ brought together senior officials of government departments and agencies and experts from outside, and turned into a platform for brainstorming and finding solutions to some of the pressing challenges in the area of trade policy, said the ministry’s statement.
According to the statement, the government is focused on three goals — growth in the economy, development of critical minerals, and strengthening India’s position in the global economy.
By strengthening India’s position in trade, the government hopes to create more opportunities for investment and development, both at home and abroad, which makes pursuing a comprehensive approach to trade policy in the agriculture, health, and technology sectors important.
India is committed to improving the standard operating procedures for FTA negotiations and making them more efficient and transparent and is exploring the possibility of using technology and other modern methods to enhance the negotiation process, according to the statement.
The Chintan Shivir was an opportunity to chart a strategic course for future FTA negotiations and a platform for promoting public-private partnerships and strengthening the country’s position in the global economy, it added.