Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Washington
A US-based India-centric business advocacy and strategic group has sought establishing an India Trade Representative under the Prime Minister’s Office for all international trade negotiations to be handled by one office with a focused approach.
An India Trade Representative or ITR under the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on the lines of US Trade Representative or USTR which comes under the White House would help in not only fast-track negotiations of all international trade related issues, but would also help India increase its global trade, US India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF) has said.
“(ITR) under PMO makes it more efficient. Today, the Commerce ministry has to go to every other ministry, whereas small group of people just like USTR, which is reporting directly to the US President is much more efficient and effective dealing with global trade issues. I think India should look at that,” USISPF president Mukesh Aghi told PTI.
“In today’s world that becomes very critical, because when you have one agency which coordinates with rest of the bureaucracy and reports to the Prime Minister and deals effectively externally is important,” he said, adding that it is one of the key recommendations to the new government for its first 100-day plan.
USISPF is also recommending the new government to seriously look at a Free Trade Agreement with the US which encompasses mobility, he said.
