The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently organized the International Trade e-Conclave on 10th December, 2022 on an exclusive virtual platform.

India’s trade statistics have amplified exponentially in the recent years, with financial year 2021-22 (FY 2022) recording the highest ever value of merchandise exports. The government is buoyant about hitting the US$500 billion export target in FY 2023 through rupee-denominated trade and various recent bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs), such as those signed with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Australia. To make Indian exports globally more competitive, India also recently released National Logistics Policy, which provides for seamless integration of multiple modes of transportation by leveraging technology, processes, and skilled manpower. The policy, which is in line with PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, will give a massive boost to India’s US$200 billion logistics sector, thereby enabling smooth movement of goods both domestically and internationally. We are passing through a very interesting geo political phase where in one hand the dollar is appreciating and euro is depreciating, where we have continued tension with Russia Ukraine war and the entire world is pledging towards net zero, and in this juncture, it is important for us to understand how much we are prepared for global play. 

In this context the Bengal Chamber organised the International Trade e-Conclave with the theme, “Global Desi: India’s Global Position in International Trade." 

The topics discussed were:

Strategizing Trade Finance in Global Volatility

Indian Port Infrastructure: The Facilitating Pillar of International Trade

Sustainability Factor: The Edge, defining new era of capturing global markets

Aazadi ka Amrit Mahotsav: Leaving Import Dependency Behind”

Logistics Infrastructure: The Stage where all the Traders Perform

India’s Trade relations: Post Covid

India’s Decade: Evolving Global Economy and role of International Banking in Catalyzing the growth of International Trade

Eminent speakers who spoke at the programme are:

Ms. Runa Baksi, Managing Director & Country Head, Global Trade & Receivable Finance, HSBC India

Mr. T.D. Sivakumar, General Manager, India Exim Bank 

Mr. Anand Singh, General Manager, Export Credit Guarantee Corporation Limited

Mr. Asish Kumar Bose, Deputy Chairman, Paradip Port Trust

Mr. Somesh Biswas, Chief Corporate Sustainability, Tata Steel Ltd

Mr. M C Agrawal, ED (Sales & International Trade Division), SAIL & Chairman, MJunction Services Ltd. 

Mr. Vish Padmanabhan, NSW Government – Senior Trade & Investment Commissioner for India & Middle East

Mr. R Mukundan, MD & CEO, Tata Chemicals Ltd.

Dr. Deb Mukherjee, MD, Omega Seiki Mobility

Mr. Adhip Nath Palchaudhuri, Director [Service Businesses], Balmer Lawrie & Company Ltd.

Dr. Prabir De, Professor, Research, and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS)

Mr. Sanjay D Naik, Deputy Managing Director (International Banking Group), State Bank of India

Mr. Somick K Goswami, Partner- PwC India Consulting, Dr. Bibek Ray Chaudhuri, Member, International Trade Committee, BCC&I and Professor of Economics and Trade Policy, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade and Mr. Kaushik Brahma, Co-Chairperson, International Trade Committee, BCC&I and Head – Export Planning & Documentation, Tata Steel Ltd. moderated the sessions and made it very interesting and engaging for the audience. 

The programme was well attended by exporters from different industrial sectors. There were also participants who are consultants, logistics companies, banking as well as non-banking financial institutions involved with trade finance. 

The International Trade Conclave was successfully organised under the able leadership of Mr. Sourabha Dutta, Chairperson, International Trade Committee, BCC&I and Senior Vice President - Industrial Sales & Marketing, Exide Industries Limited and Mr. Kaushik Brahma, Co-Chairperson, International Trade Committee, BCC&I and Head – Export Planning & Documentation, Tata Steel Ltd.