(a) whether in the BRICS summit held recently in India a consensus has been reached to sanction proposals related to investment and industrial sector inter-se through single window system and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the BRICS countries are likely to open up many new opportunities for Indian IT companies in this regard and if so, the details thereof; and
(c) whether BRICS countries have also reached any consensus on promoting e-commerce and if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)
(SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)
(a) : The Trade Ministers of BRICS nations, in a Communique after the 6th meeting of the BRICS Trade Ministers held on 13 October, 2016 in New Delhi, endorsed the “Framework for BRICS Single Window Cooperation” and underlined the importance of closer cooperation among the BRICS countries in the development of their national single windows.
The Ministers also appreciated the work being carried out in the BRICS countries for development of national single windows. These would facilitate both exporters and importers, who would then need a single point interface for all their clearances.
(b) The BRICS Trade Ministers recognized that since the services sector is of interest for BRICS economies, it is important for the group to cooperate with the aim of promoting complementarities on services trade (which includes trade in IT services). The Ministers highlighted the importance of facilitating expansion of trade in services by addressing existing barriers. The Ministers endorsed the “Framework for Cooperation on Trade in Services”.
(c) At the abovementioned event, the Trade Ministers reiterated the importance of strengthening intra-BRICS cooperation on E-commerce and appreciated the progress achieved since the adoption of the Framework for BRICS E-commerce Cooperation in 2015. The Ministers emphasized the need for cooperation to boost e-commerce development in the BRICS countries, enhance capacity building and promote cooperation on infrastructure.
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