Binding FTA Commitments Key to Expanding Global Reach of Indian Professionals: Commerce Secretary.
New Delhi:
The Commerce Secretary, Rajesh Agrawal, on Tuesday underscored the need for legally binding commitments on professional services under Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to help Indian professionals access global markets, while calling for stronger stakeholder coordination and reforms in the domestic professional ecosystem.
He was speaking at a Chintan Shivir on Professional Services, organised by the Department of Commerce (DoC), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in collaboration with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and the Services Exports Promotion Council (SEPC). The event, held at Vanijya Bhawan on December 23, was themed “Expanding Global Horizons: Opportunities for Indian Professionals.”
Highlighting the growing importance of services trade, Agrawal said professional services play a critical role in India’s economic growth and contribute significantly more to domestic value addition compared to merchandise exports. He noted that India’s demographic dividend positions the country well to meet rising global demand for professional services, provided its workforce is equipped with globally relevant skills.
The Commerce Secretary stressed the need to adopt global best practices, modernise training frameworks and upgrade skills in line with rapid technological advancements, including artificial intelligence. Greater openness in international trade in professional services, he said, would enhance India’s competitiveness. He also encouraged professional bodies to actively participate in international conferences to promote collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Setting the context for the deliberations, Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, Darpan Jain, outlined the objectives of the Chintan Shivir. Sectoral perspectives were shared by the President of ICAI, CA. Charanjot Singh Nanda; President of the Indian Nursing Council, Dr. T. Dileep Kumar; and President of the Council of Architecture, Prof. Abhay Vinayak Purohit. The Vice President of ICAI, CA. Prasanna Kumar D, and SEPC Chairperson, Dr. Upasana Arora, also addressed participants.
The discussions were organised into four thematic sessions:
- Making Globally Ready Professionals
- Strengthening International Mobility through Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) and MoUs
- Developing Networks through Formation and Expansion of Professional Chapters Abroad
- Leveraging FTAs to Boost Professional Services Exports
Participants exchanged views on global best practices and identified areas where professional bodies could revisit existing regulations, training models and skill upgradation programmes to align with emerging technologies. The ICAI’s playbook for internationalisation—featuring overseas chapters, an international directorate, and technology- and AI-focused certification courses—was widely appreciated and suggested as a model for other professions.
Efforts by the Indian Nursing Council to enhance overseas opportunities for Indian nurses were also acknowledged, particularly amid regulatory challenges in advanced economies. Initiatives such as high-fidelity simulation labs, centres of excellence and language training programmes were highlighted as good practices.
A key focus of the Chintan Shivir was the role of Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs). Discussions examined challenges in negotiating MRAs, their effective utilisation, and the need for clear outcome-based metrics to assess their impact. The importance of making India’s regulatory frameworks more “recognition-ready” was emphasised, especially in the context of digitally delivered services and the growth of Global Capability Centres.
On leveraging FTAs, deliberations centred on future-proofing digital delivery of professional services, mobility provisions, qualification requirements and domestic regulatory procedures. Participants also discussed the need for a more open professional services ecosystem in India, including opportunities for foreign professionals, alongside concerns related to data privacy and the entry of foreign universities into India.
The Department of Commerce said that based on the outcomes of the Chintan Shivir, it will work closely with stakeholders to take forward identified action points, with the objective of providing a strong impetus to India’s professional services sector to expand its global footprint.
