Deeper participation in global value chains to help India add $1.2 trillion to foreign trade by 2030: GTRI report

26 Sep 2023 Evaluate

The Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) in its latest report has stated that steps like streamlining port and customs operations, and setting up of national trade network will help Indian firms integrate with global value chains and add $1.2 trillion in the country’s foreign trade by 2030. It said that currently, India’s limited participation in global value chains (GVCs) hampers its export potential, despite possessing substantial manufacturing capabilities across various GVC-relevant product categories. The integration of Indian companies in the GVCs is fundamental as about 70% of global trade operates within these chains, encompassing a wide range of products, from electronics and machinery to pharmaceuticals and apparel.

GTRi Co-Founder Ajay Srivastava said ‘India’s weak GVC integration can be attributed to poor trade infrastructure, causing delays at ports and customs, which are detrimental to the timely flow of goods in these intricate value chains’. Countries like China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and Malaysia have excelled in GVCs due to investments in quality trade infrastructure. The GTRI report has recommended six action points to the government which can help boost the participation of domestic firms in GVCs. The suggestions include automating port and customs procedures, and implementation of green channel clearances for 99 per cent of shipments; analysing the top 10,000 exporters responsible for 85 per cent of India’s exports; matching global best practices for ship turnaround times, reducing queues, speeding up transactions, and optimizing infrastructure use; and enhance communication between traders and shipping companies, port operators, and Container Freight Stations (CFS).

The report asked for creation of an online platform for all export-import compliance processes. Srivastava said ‘National Trade Network (NTN) would enable exporters to submit all required information and documents in one place, eliminating the need to interact separately with customs, DGFT (directorate general of foreign trade), shipping companies, ports, and banks’. The other steps include focus on high-value segments of GVCs, product conceptualization, design, prototype development, and after-sales services. Countries like the US, Germany, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea excel in R&D expertise at the high end, while China specializes in final assembly at the lower end. Further, it suggested inviting top global firms to become anchor manufacturers in priority sectors. 

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