Legally binding commitments on professional services within Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) are set to be a game-changer for India's skilled workforce, unlocking vast global opportunities. This was the central message from Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal while inaugurating a strategic 'Chintan Shivir' focused on the sector.
Boosting Services Trade for Economic Growth
The event, organized by the Department of Commerce on December 23, 2025 at Vanijya Bhawan, centered on expanding global horizons for Indian professionals. Agrawal emphasized the critical role of services trade in India's economic growth, noting that services contribute significantly more to domestic value addition compared to merchandise exports.
He highlighted India's demographic advantage, stating the country's large youth population is perfectly positioned to meet the rising international demand for professional services. However, to fully realize this potential, Agrawal stressed the need to adopt global best practices and systematically enhance the skill sets of professionals.
Aligning Skills with Global Market Demands
The Commerce Secretary explained that skill development must be directly aligned with global market requirements and keep pace with rapid technological advancements, including artificial intelligence. He asserted that greater openness in international trade through FTAs will enhance the competitiveness of the Indian economy.
Agrawal also encouraged professional bodies to actively participate in international conferences, fostering knowledge exchange and collaborative opportunities. The 'Chintan Shivir' featured dedicated sessions on preparing professionals for global mobility and leveraging mutual recognition agreements to facilitate their movement across borders.
Sectoral Insights and Action Plan
The context for the discussions was set by Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, Shri Darpan Jain. Key sectoral perspectives were provided by the President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), CA. Charanjot Singh Nanda; the President of the Indian Nursing Council (INC), T. Dileep Kumar; and the President of the Council of Architecture (CoA), Abhay Vinayak Purohit.
The Vice President of ICAI, CA. Prasanna Kumar D, and the Chairperson of the Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC), Upasana Arora, also addressed participants in the inaugural session.
Participants engaged in detailed deliberations on reforming existing regulatory frameworks and training programs. A key consensus emerged on the imperative for training curricula to evolve in sync with breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and other disruptive technologies.
Following the summit, the Department of Commerce will collaborate with various professional bodies and stakeholders to implement the action points identified. These concerted efforts are aimed at systematically empowering Indian professional services to achieve robust growth worldwide.
