India demands liberalisation of export control regime

New Delhi, July 5 (UNI) India today stressed that developed nations should liberalise their export control regime for an equitable balance of trade.

''Existing denial regimes must be done away with and a genuine transfer of technology on the information highway should be facilitated for compliance regimes to be successful,'' Union Minister for Science and Technology and Ocean Development Kapil Sibal said at a workshop on developing a first line of defence against proliferation of dual use technology organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry.

Though India has not been a signatory to most regimes, it has a better record of non-proliferation than 'the' signatory nations.

So, mechanisms of 'self regulation' have to be evolved as being a signatory per se does not necessarily stop proliferation'' he added.

Director Export Control Programme Centre for International Trade and Security Dr Scott Jones said the loss of revenue which leads to reduced expenditure on research and development prevent maintenance of competitive edge of the technology.

''Countries like US are paranoid about proliferation as back office of big companies is increasingly being outsourced specially to countries like India inevitably leading to foreigners working on sensitive technology. This has prompted the US to formulate 'deemed exports' policies,'' Mr Jones added.

The workshop was attended by the Director General Foreign Trade K T Chacko, Joint Secretary Ministery of External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar among other people.

UNI MQA ARB KP1902