Big Deal

Updated on: Wednesday, November 09, 2011

The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) along with Federation of Indian Export Organisation (FIEO) organised a national level trade symposium at Swissotel in Kolkata, recently. The theme of the event was Realizing India’s Trade Potential.

The eminent speakers and distinguished guests suggested ways to implement the ambitious National Manufacturing Policy with required policy reforms with the objective to make India the most preferred manufacturing and trading destination worldwide.

The event started with the welcome address by Dr Vijaya Katti, chairperson, GSD, IIFT. Dr Manas Bhunia, minister for MSSE said, “No study has been conducted on the health of MSME sector. Indian statistical institute has been given responsibility by us to conduct a thorough research of SSI in West Bengal.”

The symposium comprised of three sessions with topics such as Suggested Policy Reforms to facilitate India’s Trade, Improving India’s Business Infrastructure and Improving Supply Chain Management to make India Trade Competitive.

In the inaugural session, the speakers laid down the necessary policy reforms to facilitate the operations of trading and manufacturing firms operating in our country and ways to attract investments in the sector to become the most preferred destination for manufacturing and trading worldwide.

Dr J J Irani, chairman (outgoing) Tata Sons said, “In the last 20 years India has improved in the business sector by a large scale.” In the second session, the speakers discussed about the underlying parameters, which affect the business environment of India and benchmarked these parameters with the best global practices.

They also discussed infrastructural improvements that would give India a direction to implement its ambitious National Manufacturing Policy. Dr Siraj Chaudhury, chairman, Cargill India added, “India is a land of opportunities, land of paradoxes. It has always attracted business and trade from past 1000 years.”

In the third session, the speakers discussed the benchmarking of SCM activities in India with the manufacturing and trading hubs in the world. The program saw the presence of renowned dignitaries from the government and corporate world in the manufacturing and trading sectors.

They were Sanjeev Nandwani, zonal DC SEZ (E and NE), Utpal Chatterjee, sheriff, City of Kolkata, Satyaki Nath, director, Rail Movement, Indian Railways, Mukul Toolsidas, MD, Venkatesh Logistics and others.

Big Deal

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