India's Chief Trade Negotiator Briefs Bengaluru Tech Firms on FTA Benefits
Darpan Jain, Additional Secretary in India's Department of Commerce and chief negotiator for free trade agreements, held meetings with IT firms, Global Capability Centers, and MSMEs in Bengaluru to explain FTA provisions and export opportunities. India has concluded nine FTAs with 38 countries over the past five years, with services identified as a key pillar offering significant export potential. The briefings aim to help businesses leverage approximately $3 trillion in market opportunities across partner countries through reduced tariffs on sectors like textiles, gems and jewellery, and engineering exports.
Darpan Jain, Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce and chief negotiator for US and European FTAs, conducted closed-door meetings in Bengaluru on Tuesday to educate domestic technology firms, Global Capability Centers, and small-to-medium enterprises on free trade agreement provisions. India has established nine FTAs with 38 countries in the past five years, with services identified as the most important pillar in these agreements. Jain emphasized that the real benefits of these agreements can only be realized if business entrepreneurs and exporters understand how to leverage export and import opportunities. The Department of Commerce is establishing ongoing dialogue mechanisms with industry and has launched the Trade Connect platform—a one-stop resource for exporters seeking information, facilitation, and market intelligence. Through these FTAs, approximately $3 trillion in market opportunities are becoming accessible, with zero-duty structures now applying to sectors such as textiles ($359 billion market) and gems and jewellery ($442 billion market).
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Chief negotiator Darpan Jain briefs Bengaluru’s IT firms, GCCs, MSMEs on FTA opportunities
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