While the Central Government can play the role of a facilitator through formulation of policies, the real action lies in the states, said Ms Rita A Teaotia, Commerce Secretary, Ministry of Commerce & Industry. She further added that Central Government and State Governments need to work together in a manner which promotes growth & development with equity. She was speaking at the session on ‘Indian States – Working towards a Streamlined Services Ecosystem’ at the Global Exhibition on Services, organised by the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, SEPC and CII at the India Expo Centre and Mart in Greater Noida today. 

She urged the states to build on their policy & export strategies for services sector with a focus on standards i.e. quality assurance, timely delivery etc. Lauding the efforts of Government of Kerala she said that focusing on education & skill development is key to development of services sector particularly in the health care sector. She summed up her expectations from the states on development of services sector by quoting honourable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi that Co-operative Competitive Federalism is a necessary step towards developing Indian economy as a whole.

Speaking at the seminar, Mr Sudhanshu Pandey, Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce emphasized that in a federal structure like that of India it is important for Central Government and State Governments to move in tandem. He urged each and every state Government to focus on issues which are hindering the growth of services sector in their respective areas and called for better co-ordination amongst states to deal with cross-cutting issues. Explaining the prevailing scenario he said that the states need to focus on evolving investor friendly regulations which are currently either absent or not facilitative thus creating an obstacle in the growth of services sector. “Adoption or emulation of Global Best Practices is the key to success & growth of services sector in India”, he said.

Highlighting the various initiatives undertaken by the Government of Kerala to develop the services sector in the state, Mr J Harikrishnan, Chief Operating Officer, Kerala Academy for Skills Excellence, Government of Kerala, stated that skill development and education is the engine of economic growth. In his presentation, he also emphasized the importance of entering into partnerships with global companies which allows them to access the best practices for effective development of services sector.

Mr Vivek Kr Dewangan, Commissioner and Secretary, Department of Commerce & Industries, Government of Manipur, highlighted the capabilities and strengths of the State of Manipur and described it as the Gateway to South-East Asia. He also invited members to visit the state and explore investment opportunities in the services sector.

Dr Karan Avtar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary - Revenue & Rehabilitation Information & Public Relation and Investment Promotion, Government of Punjab focused on the importance of having a friendly regulatory structure for development of services sector. 

Earlier in the session, Mr Sudhanshu Vats, Chairman, CII National Committee on Media & Entertainment and Group CEO, Viacom18 Media Private Limited, said that the services sector in India has remained the most vibrant sector in terms of contribution to national and state incomes, trade flows, FDI inflows, and employment. 

21 April 2016
Greater Noida