India has scored 90.32% in United Nation’s Economic and Social Commission for Asia Pacific’s (UNESCAP) latest Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation. The survey has evaluated 143 economies in terms of trade facilitation reforms covering five indicators — transparency, formalities, institutional arrangement and cooperation, paperless trade and cross-border paperless trade.
The survey noted that India is the best performing country when compared to South and South-West Asia region (63.12 per cent) and Asia-Pacific region (65.85 per cent). The overall score of India has also been found to be greater than many OECD countries including France, UK, Canada, Norway, Finland, etc and the overall score is greater than the average score of EU. India has achieved a 100 per cent score for the transparency index and 66 per cent in the “Women in trade” component.
The statement mentioned Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) introduced reforms under the umbrella of ‘Turant’ Customs to usher in a faceless, paperless and contactless Customs. This has had a direct impact in terms of the improvement in the UNESCAP rankings on digital and sustainable trade facilitation.
About the Survey: The Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation is conducted every two years by UNESCAP. The 2021 Survey includes an assessment of 58 trade facilitation measures covered by the WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement. The Survey is keenly awaited globally as it evidences whether or not the trade facilitation measures being taken have the desired impact and helps draw comparison amongst countries. A higher score for a country also helps businesses in their investment decisions.
