Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020, the world’s economy has been in tatters due to the resulting health and economic shocks. To make matters even worse, many countries find themselves to be over-relying on their trading partners and struggling to meet internal customer demands. This trade imbalance and over-reliance are issues that need to be addressed. 

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision and ambition for India to become fully independent and self-reliant through the “Atma-Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan” (i.e. self-reliant India mission) is most significant. It means that India will reduce its over-dependence on other countries for trade by focusing on inward manufacturing, promote Indian products, brands and services by becoming “VOCAL FOR LOCAL”; and continue to trade with other countries but aim to eliminate trade imbalances and, where possible, adopt a mercantilist approach to international trade. Through, Atma-Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan India will not cut off itself from the rest of the world, nor will it adopt anti-trade policies or protectionism. Rather, India will identify and promote industries and sectors where it has the potential and capability to scale up and be globally competitive. 

To fully realize the vision of the Atma-Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan, India will have to implement a series of reforms, policies, projects, and key initiatives in various sectors of its economy and business to foster innovation, growth, and sustainable development. Many such initiatives and policy reforms are being planned and taken by the Indian government to revive every sphere of its liberal-market economy to reduce its dependence on global suppliers by adopting the path to self-reliance while continuing to be open to foreign direct investment (FDI). 

 In this context the Bengal Chamber of Commerce & Industry organisedan International Trade e- Conclave themed as “Globalization and Trade in a Post-Pandemic World: India’s Atma-Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan”. 

The various Business Sessions focused on Tackling Trade Finance: Strategies in New Normal World, What we consume, What we Trade: Atma-Nirbhar Bharat, Preparedness for Global Play and Ensuring the New Normal Trade Growth of India. 

Mrs. H K Joshi, CMD, The Shipping Corporation of India Ltd. graced the programme as the Guest of Honour. Other eminent speakers of the programe were Mr. N. Ramesh, Deputy Managing Director, India EXIM Bank; Mr. C N A Anbarasan, Executive Director, ECGC Ltd.; Mr. Niraj Prasad, DGM, SME, State Bank of India; Mr Viraj Shah, Director, Business Development, Drip Capital; Mr. Subhasendu Chatterjee, Wholetime Director, Haldia Petrochemicals Ltd.; Mr. Anurag Garg, VP(Logistics), TM International Logistics Limited; Mr. Alok Gupta, Managing Director, Par Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. and Mr. Pramod Kumar Srivastava, Managing Director, Allied ICD Services Ltd. 

The participants were mostly 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.