Lok Sabha Question No. 1286 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-03
Subject: Deployment of Indian Trade Service
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Shri Sukanta Kumar Panigrahi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1286

## ANSWERED ON 03/12/2024

## DEPLOYMENT OF INDIAN TRADE SERVICE

## 1286. SHRI SUKANTA KUMAR PANIGRAHI

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:-

(a) Whether there are plans to deploy Indian Trade Service (ITS) officers to key trade partners to facilitate trade negotiations and boost bilateral investments, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefore;

(b) the details of specific roles and responsibilities for existing officers to undertake in major trading nations, and the manner in which their continuance contributes to trade and investment;

(c) whether  the  Government  is  taking  steps  to  ensure  that  Indian  Trade  Services officers are adequately trained and equipped to represent county interests in international markets effectively, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefore;

(d) whether the Government has conducted any assessments or studies on the impact of deploying officers from disparate backgrounds in enhancing trade with India's major economics partners, if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the details of steps taken by the Government ensure ITS Officers are equipped to address trade deficits and surpluses with countries.

## ANSWER

## वाणिज्य और उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री (श्री णिणिन प्रसाद )

## THE MINSTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

(a) Indian Trade Service (ITS) officers are deployed in the bilateral, multilateral trade negotiations i.e. WTO trade negotiations and various FTA negotiations.

(b) Currently, Indian Trade Service Officers are posted in Territorial Division under Department of Commerce to work on issues related to Trade in the territory. Further, The Indian Trade Service Officers handle matters related to Foreign Trade as under:

i. Implementation of the Foreign Trade Development and Regulation Act, 1992 as amended in 2010.

ii. Formulation and implementation of Foreign Trade Policy from time to time.

iii. Administer various export promotion measures and export promotion schemes.

iv. Settlement  of  quality  complaints  and  other  trade  disputes  of  exporters  and importers.

v. Work  on  various  matters  related  to  WTO  agreements,  negotiations,  Rules  of Origin negotiations and WTO trade disputes.

vi. Work  related  to  Trade  Remedies  and  Trade  Defence  mechanisms  under  The Directorate General of Trade Remedies.

(c to e) The  Indian  Trade  Service  Officers  are  trained  professionally  at  the  Indian Institute  of  Foreign  trade  (IIFT)  for  a  period  of  9  Months.  Further,  the  Indian  Trade Service officers are also trained under various training programs of the WTO to handle trade  negotiations,  implementation  of  WTO  agreements,  and  handling  of    WTO  trade disputes. In addition, Indian Trade Officers are also trained at various training institutes like  the  centre  for  Trade  and  Investment  Law  (CTIL),  the  centre  for  WTO  Studies (CWTOS) etc. The Department of Commerce and DGFT assess from time to time the requirements of various Territorial Divisions and accordingly, post or deploy the Officers in Territorial Divisions for handling work related to the Trade Partners.

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