Trade

International Trade

Activities undertaken by the Department during 2003-04

• In order to review the progress of the bilateral trade and identify bottlenecks in the sub-Saharan African region and also to ascertain measures to improve the same, Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy, the then Minister of State (Commerce & Industry) chaired a Conference of Heads of Missions/Commercial Representatives for Western Region in Lagos, Nigeria from 22-23 May 2003. Shri S B Mookherjee, the then Minister of State (Commerce & Industry) chaired a Conference of CRs of Indian Missions of Southern Africa Region in Cape Town, South Africa from 12-13 June, 2003. A Commercial Representatives Conference for the Eastern Africa Region was also held under the chairmanship of Shri S B Mookherjee, the then Minister of State (Commerce & Industry) on 28th June, 2003 in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.

• Department of Commerce, Govt. of India in association with Ministry of External Affairs, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Federation of Indian Export Organization (FIEO) and Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry (ASSOCHAM) organised a Conference of Heads of Missions/Commercial Representatives of 11 Indian Missions in Sub Saharan Region during 10-15, November,2003 in Mumbai, Bangalore and New Delhi. The meetings at all these places were attended by members of Trade Chambers, EPCs and exporter community. A report on the said Conference has been prepared and circulated.

• The Trade Agreement is one of the tools to promote trade with countries in sub Saharan Africa. Trade Agreement exists with 23 countries in the region. A Trade Agreement with Zambia was signed on 20th April 2003 during the visit of Mr. Levy P Mwanseasa, President of the Republic of Zambia during 20-27 April 2003.

• Joint Trade Committee is an institutional arrangement under a forum created by Trade Agreement, which provides for discussions on various issues relating to trade & cooperation in specific sectors. Shri S B Mookherjee, the then Hon'ble MOS(C&I) led a delegation to Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania in July 2003 in connection with the 1st JTC Meeting between India and Tanzania and participation in Dar-es-Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF) 2003.

• The 3rd Board Meeting of India South Africa Commercial Alliance (ISACA) was held in New Delhi in Aug. 2003 under the co-chairmanship of Commerce Secretary and Director General, Department of Trade & Industry, South Africa.

• A Focus: Africa seminar was held in Hotel Inter-Continental, New Delhi on 22nd September, 2003. Shri Arun Jaitley, the then Hon'ble Minister for Commerce & Industry inaugurated the seminar and released a booklet on the Focus: Africa Programme for the year 2003-04. Shri S B Mookherjee, the then Hon'ble MOS(C&I) was also present in the Seminar. The seminar was attended by African Diplomats posted here in Delhi, Apex Chambers, EPCs and some of the exporters associated with these councils.

• The fourth Session of the Nigeria-India Joint Commission was held in New Delhi, India on 30th October, 2003. The Indian delegation was led by H.E. Mr. Yashwant Sinha, the then Honourable Minister of External Affairs of the Republic of India while the Nigerian delegation was led by H.E. Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniji, Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

• Shri K C Rout, Director (RMTR) attended the 5th Session of Indo-South Africa Joint Commission Meeting held in Pretoria, South Africa from 3-5, July 2003 under the co-chairmanship of Hon'ble Minister of External Affairs.

• Shri K V Eapen, Director represented Department of Commerce in the 4th Session of Indo-Kenya Joint Commission Meeting held in Nairobi from 20-22 July 2003. The Meeting was held under the co-chairmanship of the Hon'ble MOS, External Affairs.

Activities undertaken in WANA region during 2003-04

1. CAPEXIL organized an African Buyer-Seller Meet in Mumbai in February 2004.

2. CAPEXIL participated in the Cairo International Trade Fair in March 2004

3. Indian Silk Export Promotion Council organized a Buyer Seller Meet in Casablanca (Morocco) in January 2004

4. PLEXCONCIL participated in the Khartoum International Trade Fair in January 2004.

5. Conference of Commercial Representatives of India in the WANA region held in Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and New Delhi in June 2003. CRs from Algeria, Egypt and Sudan in the North Africa region also were present.

6. 4th Session of India-Algeria Joint Commission was held in New Delhi in December 2003.