Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce organized India’s first National Conference: Strategic Trade Controls and Exports of Dual-Use Goods on January 30, 2024, in New Delhi. The conference’s objective was to increase stakeholders’ awareness regarding India’s strategic trade control system and exports of dual-use goods, software and technologies.
Key points of the conference:
- Increased Awareness: The conference increased awareness among stakeholders regarding India’s strategic trade control system and exports of dual-use goods. This led to better communication and collaboration between industry and government.
- Collection of suggestions: Many suggestions were made at the conference to strengthen India’s strategic trade control system. These suggestions will be taken up for consideration by the Government of India.
- Enhancement of International Cooperation: The conference promoted international cooperation between India and other countries. This helped India remain in line with international strategic trade control standards and practices.
Some specific outcomes of the conference:
- Increased Awareness: Industry representatives attending the conference reported that they had little prior knowledge about India’s strategic trade control system and rules for the export of dual-use goods. The conference helped them learn more about these topics and improve the export compliance of their companies.
- Collection of suggestions: Industry representatives participating in the conference made several suggestions to strengthen India’s strategic trade control system.
- Simplifying licensing processes
- strengthening enforcement mechanisms
Providing more resources for the industry
- Enhancement of International Cooperation: The conference took several initiatives to promote international cooperation between India and other countries.
- Signing of an MoU on Strategic Trade Control Cooperation between India and the United States of America
The signing of an MoU to promote cooperation between India and the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)
Some specific examples from the conference:
- 2019 deal with the US: India and the US signed an agreement in 2019 under which India gave the US greater access to its defence industry. This agreement helped India access advanced technology from the US, which India used to strengthen its defence industry.
- Cooperation between India and MTCR: India is a member of MTCR, an international organization that controls the export of missiles and delivery systems. Cooperation between India and MTCR helps India comply with international missile proliferation restrictions.
