New Delhi : The International Trade Conclave, organised by The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and technology experts to deliberate on India’s evolving role in global trade, exports, and technology leadership.
Dr. Tamanna Chaturvedi, Vice President, Invest India, set the tone by focusing on Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). She highlighted that while the Government of India has created multiple FTA opportunities, India has not fully leveraged them. She urged industry—especially MSMEs—to view FTAs as strategic business tools and posed a critical question: What has industry done to actually benefit from FTAs?
Addressing ground realities, Mr. Subir Kumar Das, Executive Director, ECGC, spoke about challenges faced by exporters due to geopolitical disruptions, rising logistics costs, and higher transaction expenses. He underlined the crucial role of MSMEs, contributing nearly ₹16–17 lakh crore in exports, and strongly advocated for Trade Tech to improve transparency, efficiency, and cost competitiveness. He cautioned that India’s TradeTech adoption remains far behind global leaders like China.
Adding a strategic mindset perspective, Mr. Arnab Chakraborty, Director, BCC&I, called for a mass movement to promote exports through a relatable campaign titled “Exports Sahi Hai Yaar.” He stressed the need to create a pro-export culture, adopt professional export practices, and expand focus beyond manufacturing to include **service exports*, where India holds a natural advantage.
Highlighting India’s digital ascent, Mr. Gaurav Ranade, Critical Infrastructure Architect and PhD Scholar (AI & Cybersecurity), spoke on India’s transition from a technology test bed to a global exporter of advanced digital and cybersecurity solutions. He cited Indian startups and platforms like Unified Payments Interface as global benchmarks.
Together, the speakers underscored a clear message: India’s trade future lies in FTA utilisation, MSME empowerment, TradeTech adoption, service exports, and digital innovation, supported by strong industry–government collaboration.
