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Press Release

Govt to reduce licencing time for sensitive, dual-use exports: Additional DGFT

Jul 17, 2019


       Dual-use nature of emerging technologies pose huge challenge: Additional Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs

 

NEW DELHI, 17 July 2019: Mr Vijay Kumar, Additional DGFT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India today said that the government is taking necessary steps to further reduce the licencing time for exporting sensitive and dual-use SCOMET items and technologies from India.


Speaking at the National Conference on Export Controls 2019 organised by FICCI, Mr Kumar said that the government has simplified many policies in the last year and strengthened its e-platform to facilitate licencing of sensitive and dual-use exports.


"We have been successful in reducing the average time for issuing an authorisation. But still we are not satisfied, and are taking necessary steps to further reduce the time to issue licences," he said.


For this, the government is adopting and adapting international best practices, he said. Further, the government is in the process of reviewing its Foreign Trade Policy and has invited suggestions from stakeholders, he added.


Mr Indra Mani Pandey, Additional Secretary (D&ISA), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India said that India has been committed to ensuring non-proliferation of sensitive and dual-use materials, equipment and technologies.


In furtherance of this objective, India has recently joined three key multilateral export control regimes Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) and Australia Group (AG). The country has also joined the Hague Code of Conduct, he said.


"The government and industry partnership is essential for implementing a strong and robust export control system. There is no doubt that industry is the first and the most critical line of defence against proliferation. I would like to urge the industry to look at export controls as an enabling obligation," he added.


Mr Pandey said that the government is keen to encourage exports of sensitive and dual-use goods and technology but wants to ensure that exports by Indian entities do not reach wrong destinations. The Ministry has been engaged in regular outreach to various segments of Indian Industry.


Further, flagging the dual-use nature of new and emerging technologies, he conveyed that India has taken a lead in focusing the global attention on developments in science and technology in the context of disarmament and non-proliferation."


Mr Matthew S. Borman, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration, Bureau of Industry and Security, US Department of Commerce said India�s membership to the multilateral export control regimes have led to liberalised treatment of controlled exports from US to India. Further, with India being designated as a Major Defence Partner (MDP) and receiving the STA-1 authorisation, it has now become a partner in High-technology commerce. "We have laid the ground-work for continued robust high-tech trade whether its biotech, chemicals, aerospace, defence or space," Mr Borman said.


Dr S.R. Rao, former Senior Advisor to DBT, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India said that biotechnology has become very challenging in terms of securing biodiversity and export controls should be better understood to deal with this challenge.


Mr Mohan Nair, Member, FICCI Defence Committee, and Head of International Business Development, L&T Defence said that the government has taken several initiatives to boost exports of defence items as part of realising the Prime Minister's vision of achieving the country�s full potential.


Dr Anupam Srivastava, Non-Resident Fellow, Henry L. Stimson Center said during a panel discussion on Regulating Trade in Advanced Technologies, that export controls are one of the vital enabling conditions for value added manufacturing and services, which in turn help realise the true potential of the 'Make in India' initiative.

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