FIEO attends Commonwealth Conference on Professional Services

The Commonwealth Secretariat in collaboration with the Government of Malaysia and Professional Services Development Corporation (PSDC), Malaysia organized a Pan-Commonwealth Conference on Professional Services Trade in Kuala Lumpur from 19 to 21 February 2008. The Conference aimed at providing a platform for interaction between policymakers and service providers from member countries. The conference focused on how to enhance the presence of construction services, legal services, health services, education services and IT enabled services globally. Dr. Abdul Munit Bin Kasmin, Minister of Works, Govt. of Malaysia inaugurated the Conference.

FIEO’s Director (Services), Mr. Sandeep Gupta submitted a paper on "Global Services Scenario: Issues and Recommendations" to Mr. Ransford Smith, Deputy Secretary General, Common-wealth Secretariat, London on behalf of the Federation. He also briefed the participants on India’s presence in the global market in services sector, 

The conference witnessed 50 participants from 32 countries namely India, UK, Canada, Australia, Morasses, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, etc. Around 300

Mr. Sandeep Gupta, Director (Services) addressing the gathering at Pan-Commonwealth Conference on Professional Services in Malaysia.

participants of different services from Malaysia took part in the event. A large section of the international community shared the view that removal of barriers to temporary movement of natural people would benefit both developed and developing countries. The speakers held in common that there was a need of greater interaction among them to resolve bilateral as well as multilateral issues.

 

FIEO suggests

  • Each country should publish and make freely available procedures applicable for movement of personnel and various entry procedures.

  • National treatment clause extending same facility to foreign nationals as given to domestic persons.

  • Standardization/harmonization of qualification and experience with the help of agreements Mutual Recognition Accreditation (MRA).

  • Reversal of restrictions on temporary movement of professionals.

  • Salary and wage comparison should not be used as trade restrictive measures.

  • Requirements of local competency (like economic needs test or local certification cannot be used as a non-tariff barrier).

  • Data bank should be authentic and available to each as there is lack of data and information and transparency of barriers to cross-border transactions and foreign entry. The effectiveness of GATS agreement in professional services has further been reduced because of lack of comparable cross-country data.

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Federation of Indian Export Organisations
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