By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, APR 21, 2016: THE Indian President, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, has emphasized the need for liberalization and reform of the Indian services sectors to promote growth of services exports from India which has high potential. He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the Global Exhibition on Services (GES) organized by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Services Export Promotion Council at the India Expo Center and Mart in Greater Noida on 20 April 2016.

Noting that the dynamism of the Indian services sector is a reflection of the liberalization process, he said that services which had seen deeper reforms grew faster and attracted more Foreign Direct Investments (FDI). “The services sector has emerged as an agent of change and drives the economy in an inclusive and equitable manner,” stated the President.

The services sector requires infrastructure and skill development, added the President. Observing that campaigns such as Make in India, Digital India, Skill India and Startup India were transforming the country, the President exhorted businesses to seize the opportunity and become co-partners of the success story.

Mr Ram Naik, Governor of Uttar Pradesh, emphasized that Noida is a gateway to the state, which offers multiple tourist and industrial destinations. He called for greater attention to improving quality of services offered in the country. The Governor noted that UP has a population of 210 million skilled and unskilled workers and both need to be employed productively. “If UP develops, India develops,” he said.

Outlining the successes of the Indian IT industry, Mr Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister for Communications and Information Technology, said that Digital India provides platforms for digital empowerment. “In 5-6 years, Digital India will be a trillion dollar industry,” he stated. India is the world’s topmost outsourcing destination with 8 billion exports which contribute 45 per cent to India’s total exports, he noted.

Mr Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry (I/C) said that of 12 services sectors identified by the WTO, 8 were represented at the GES. She said that the Trade Facilitation Agreement of the WTO can be successful with the participation of services such as transport and logistics. “India shall emerge as services hub for the world across sectors with international quality standards”, stated the Minister.