Page 81 - CII-ARTHA

MARCH 2026

• Single window clearances that are time-bound, require Way Forward
limited information and rely on simply, easy to
understand forms will help reduce friction and improve Traditionally, India’s FTAs have focused on merchandise
predictability. exports. These trade deals have not secured sufficient
reciprocal market access for its competitive service
sectors, including IT, finance, and professional services.
• Improving compliance and governance: While various While the measures under the Australia and EU
government initiatives and digital reforms have helped agreements appear to be a step in the right direction,
reduce friction, the business environment continues to ensuring that operationalisation enables market access
be hampered by a high number of applicable laws and and talent mobility without the imposition of non-tariff
regulations, overlapping approval requirements, and a barriers will require careful monitoring and remediation
drawn-out dispute resolution process. Interventions mechanisms on a real-time basis. A Services Trade
focused on EoDB will help reduce the compliance Implementation Monitoring Cell that tracks visa
burden on businesses and reduce administrative costs processing times, licensing requirements and
for the government. professional recognition procedures in real-time can help
ensure that the practices followed by partner countries
are consistent with FTA commitments.
• Develop a digital platform to report market access
issues, similar to the EU's Trade Barriers Reporting Building a dedicated FTA realisation agency that operates
mechanism. Supplementation through a dedicated in a mission mode and brings together all government,
legal aid fund for collective industry-association filings compliance and industry stakeholders can help drive
can further strengthen access to remediation. these changes in a time-bound, accountable manner.
Investment in digital and physical infrastructure,
institutional reform and EoDB can help boost India’s FTA
• Establishing MSME export facilitation centers in all utilisation and overall export competitiveness.
major industrial clusters with FTA-specific advisory
services, supplemented with a digital platform
connecting MSMEs with potential buyers in FTA
partner countries (extending the ONDC to global value
chains) can help improve access.

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