Hon'ble Shri Kamal Nath, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry launched the new Post Qualification Course on International Trade Laws & WTO introduced by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) at the second day of the Conference on "New Challenges New Solutions in IT & WTO Era", at New Delhi today. Welcoming the significant step taken by the ICAI in introducing the course, he stated that the course will upgrade the skills of the Indian Chartered Accountants and attune them to the rapidly changing business environment in the WTO Era. Government is now working towards employment generating trade rather than forex generating trade, he said. He stated that India is the only country which has incremental human skills reservoir and the ICAI has been very ably unleashing India's intellect in the services sector worldwide. He assured a supportive framework of rules for the services sector

He stated that he was aware that ICAI has been facing several limitations in the domestic regulatory arena which limits the competitiveness of Indian Chartered Accountants. These are required to be removed for giving a level playing field to the Indian Chartered Accountants. He stressed that these limitations needed to be addressed for improving conditions through various methods of certification, standard setting and certification of service quality, as well as removal of limitations which impede the growth of accounting firms in India. As the responsible agency for Accountancy services in India, the ICAI has to play a pro-active role in this regard. He also stated that the Institute should initiate a study on Non-tariff barriers being imposed by different countries.

Mr. Sunil Goyal, President, ICAI stated that the launch of the Course was a historic moment for the Institute as it takes on yet another challenge. The opening of the economy in the WTO regime would offer several opportunities for export of accounting services from India. He asserted that the Indian Chartered Accountants were technically and practically competent to convert the challenges into opportunities. He stated that this course would further hone their skills. While stating that the Indian Chartered Accountancy professionals do not need any protection, he requested for a level playing field for them both in India and abroad as most of the countries have not given full commitment in the services sector and have imposed non-tariff barriers like visa requirement, residency requirement.

Mr. Harinderjit Singh, Chairman, Committee on Trade Laws and WTO, highlighting the objectives of the Course, stated that the course would equip members of the Institute with specialized knowledge in the ever-evolving WTO Regime and orient them towards developing the necessary and desirable capabilities to adapt to - and respond to - the dynamic and challenging international economic environment.