Shortage of CA's in country

Panaji, Aug 9 (UNI) India is facing shortage of at least half a lakh of professionals even as the apex Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has initiated steps to improve the quality of the trainees and practitioners.

Speaking to mediapersons here today, ICAI's chairman of the Committee for Members in Industry (CMII) Uttam Prakash Agarwal said organising conferences on professional excellence frequently was part of the institute's effort to provide the country with real-time professionals.

The demand for CA's had now been on rise with the economic, market and industrial boom in the country and even the multinational companies were preparing to offer salaries on par with the post-graduates in business administration.

With the introduction of special courses like the ''General management and Communication Skills for the trainees, the bridge between the MBA's and CA's had disappeared, he said.

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat will inaugurate the 3-day All India conference on ''Professional Excellence'' at Margao city in South Goa tomorrow.

The event, in which about 300 professionals were expected to participate from all over the country, was being hosted by the Goa Branch of the Western India Regional Council of the ICAI, according to chairperson of Goa unit Sushma Khandeparkar.

The conference would deliberate on financial reporting, corporate taxation, business restructuring through mergers and de-mergers, role of CA's in KPO's and BPO's, hedging and risk management through derivatives and future options, service tax, its changed dimensions and reforms.

UNI