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Harassment of techs non-tariff barrier: Sweden
Friday, 04 April 2003, 20:30 IST
BANGALORE: Sweden has agreed with India that the harassment of IT professionals abroad is a "non-tariff barrier to trade and services".
Swedish Minister for Industry and Trade Leif Pagrotsky has also sought India's support in the World Trade Organisation negotiations for a new round of multi-lateral trade rules at Cancun in September.
Multi-lateral trade rules and GATS (General Agreement on Trade and Services) will provide work permits for six months instead of three months under rules that have not come to the fore.
"It is now being discussed again. I am optimistic but I am not sure. There is resistance from trade unions and others," Pagrotsky told a news conference here Thursday.
"But I was told that your minister, Arun Jaitely, discussed this issue with the European Commissioner a couple of weeks ago," he added.
Pagrotsky is leading a 40-member delegation of Swedish companies for Sweden in India 2003 exposition organised by the Association of Indo-Swedish companies.
Replying to a question, Pagrotsky said that Sweden was committed to trade negotiations and increased access for developing countries in markets of developed countries.
"One problem that we (India and Sweden) can address together is bureaucratic red tapism to reduce the transaction costs for businessmen in all countries," he said.
"In WTO, we have a code word called trade facilitation. This is not moving fast. India and Sweden as well as the European Union can jointly push forward," he added.
Pagrotsky met Wipro Chairman Azim Premji, and described the relationship between Wipro and Sweden as "not competitors but as partners".
But the highlight of Pagrotsky's visit was awarding the Royal Order of the
Polar Star to Ravi Uppal, vice chairman and managing director, ABB India on behalf of the King of Sweden.
Uppal is also chairman of the southern region of the Association of Indo-Swedish Companies.
The award was being given for Uppal's profound knowledge of Swedish culture and industry and "invaluable contribution to promoting Indo-Swedish relations over many years".
Source: IANS
Source: IANS