PHDCCI concerned over MEA structure reports

New Delhi, Jul 17: Business chamber PHDCCI today expressed concern about media reports that MEA permission would be required for private organisations to invite any foreign business delegation to India, accepting invitations from abroad for Indian delegations and for taking part in exhibitions abroad.

While such guidelines as applicable for government officials and government institutions are understandable, the move to extend it to private organisations, if the media reports are to be believed, is an extremely regressive move according to PHDCCI.

With the Indian economy becoming increasingly globalised, booming merchandise and services exports, enhanced inflows of FDI and FII, remittances and other invisibles, more than 50 per cent of India's GDP now has an external dimension.

Indian companies are also stepping up significantly their investments abroad. In such a scenario, asking private organisations to seek Ministry of External Affair's prior approval before sending delegations abroad or inviting them to India would act as a major road block.

This would lead to severe procedural delays as requests from private organisations would inundate MEA. The consequential delays would send wrong signals internationally in today's world of rapid communication and decision-making.

According to PHDCCI, the government should clarify that these guidelines are not meant for private organisations and the intent of the government in this regard is to avoid protocol problems, security and sensitive concerns by enforcing these guidelines for only government officials and agencies.

UNI