Trade Promotion Programme -
Focus: Africa
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Other Measures aimed at boosting Trade
Further Programmes to boost trade, the
Government of India has decided to take the
following measures:
- Preferential Trade Agreement/Free Trade
Agreement:
India and Egypt are
presently examining the possibilities of concluding
a bilateral Preferential Trade Agreement. Two rounds
of talks have been held so far. The next round of
discussions is expected to be held shortly in Cairo.
Similarly, India and
SACU (Southern African Customs Union), consisting of
South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho and
Swaziland) are in the process of negotiating FTA.
Two rounds of talks have been held and a Framework
Agreement is proposed to be signed shortly.
- Enhanced Interaction:
Interaction with
important trading partners will be enhanced to act
as a catalyst for the private sector to explore and
tap full potential.
- Institutional Mechanisms:
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Joint Trade
Committees:
Institutional
arrangements already exist with the countries of
African region in the form of Joint Trade
Committees with Senegal, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Ghana,
Uganda, Ivory Coast, Namibia, Ethiopia and
Tanzania and Joint Economic Commissions with
Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Sudan and Tunisia.
These institutional mechanisms have been
activated. Steps will also be taken for formation
of Joint Trade Committees with the countries
identified under "Focus: Africa"
programme, where the same have not yet been
instituted.
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Joint Business
Councils:
FICCI plans to have
increased interaction with their counterparts and
hold meetings of the Joint Business Councils (JBCs)
at regular intervals. Similarly CII/PHD Chambers
of Commerce also propose to have regular
interaction with their counterparts in the
Sub-Saharan African region with whom they have
signed MOUs. Simultaneously, seminars and
conferences are proposed to be organized within
the country for creating awareness on emerging
markets in Africa.
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Commercial Wings
of Indian Missions
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,
Sh.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 Organisation (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 Chamabers, EPCs and exporter community. A
report on the said Conference has been prepared
and is posted at the Department's website.
- Trade Missions:
Trade/Economic
Missions result in creating necessary awareness in
the region regarding India's economic reforms,
strength of Indian Industry and its export
capabilities. These also provide impetus for
businessmen to explore new markets. High level trade
missions shall be mounted to the African region.
- Trade Promotion Measures:
The Indian Trade
Promotion Organization shall undertake various trade
promotion measures, which would include:
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Participation in
specialized and commodity specific fairs &
exhibitions in the countries of Africa.
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Special promotion
and publicity in the African countries.
-
India Promotion
in Departmental Stores in respect of consumer
products.
-
Organizing
Buyer-Seller Meets.
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Promotion by
Indian Mission by organizing catalogue/brochure
exhibitions.
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To award top
export performers to the African countries.
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