FTAs will open overseas opportunities for Indians professionals: Official
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New Delhi: Legally binding commitments on professional services such as chartered accountants, doctors and architects under various Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) signed by India will help open up overseas opportunities for these professionals, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal has said.
He has stated that India's demographic dividend offers immense potential to meet the rising global demand for professional services.
To tap into this potential, Agrawal said, it is critical to adopt global best practices and equip professionals with upgraded skills aligned with evolving global market needs and technological developments. He also encouraged professional bodies like the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) to organise and participate in international conferences to enable knowledge sharing and provide platforms for enhanced collaboration.
The secretary said this while addressing a brainstorming session on 'Expanding Global Horizons: Opportunities for Indian Professionals' on December 23 here.
Agrawal, it said "emphasised the importance of enhanced stakeholder coordination, reforms in the domestic ecosystem, and legally binding commitments on professional services under various FTAs to unlock global markets for Indian professional services.
India has received commitments under various free trade agreements, including the recently announced pact with New Zealand, for easier norms and visa facilitation for its professionals.
As many as 5,000 of India professionals such as yoga instructors, chefs, Ayush professionals, IT, education teachers, nurses, caregivers, will get professional visas for serving the New Zealand economy under the pact.
Four main issues were deliberated upon in the sessions - Making Globally Ready Professionals; Strengthening International Mobility through MRAs (mutual recognition agreements) and MoUs; Developing Networks, Formation and Expansion of Professional Chapters Abroad; and Leveraging FTAs for Boosting Professional Services Exports.
