By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, APR 20, 2017: AT the close of the Global Exhibition on Services, the Commerce Secretary, Ms Rita Teotia, said that India's demographics coupled with its strong push for skill development can impart it global leadership in services exports.

Ms Teaotia said that India has submitted the framework document for trade facilitation of services trade with WTO. This would enable countries to plan and grow their services sectors, opening new avenues for trade beyond merchandise exports, she added.

The Commerce Secretary emphasized that India offers both breadth and depth in its services exports, with high quality services at competitive costs. The GES has emerged as a powerful platform as one of the few exhibitions showcasing services sectors in the world.

Mr. Anup Wadhawan, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, noted that GES is growing from strength to strength with increasing domestic and international stakeholders.

Mr Sudhanshu Pandey, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, observed that the 3rd edition of GES had 573 exhibitors, with 400 overseas visitors from 74 countries. Further, 24 Indian states participated in GES bringing international and domestic buyers of services to interact with State Governments and enter into MoUs.

He shared that Media & Entertainment and Tourism were key sectors with 35 MOUs signed. Mr Pandey announced the 4th GES 2018, to be held on the 17-20th April 2018 at the India Expo Mart, Greater Noida.

Ms. Shobana Kamineni, President Designate, CII, said that 62% of Indian GDP is contributed by the services sector. A recent trend is that traditional manufacturing is becoming a hybrid, adding services into its core activity. While Indian software services are leading the outsourcing markets internationally, other sectors including Media and entertainment, healthcare, tourism sectors are also key sectors of interest.