The Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL), Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, in collaboration with leading national and international institutions, organised a high-level workshop titled “The Investment Facilitation Landscape: Emerging Trends and Approaches” at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The workshop brought together policymakers, global experts, industry representatives and international organisations to deliberate on evolving approaches to investment facilitation and ease of doing business in a rapidly changing global economic environment.
The event was organised in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), International Trade Centre (ITC), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the World Bank, and the World Economic Forum (WEF).
Platform for Policy Dialogue on Investment Facilitation
The workshop aimed to examine emerging global trends in investment facilitation, assess India’s reform trajectory, and explore ways to align domestic policy frameworks with global best practices. It served as a constructive platform for focused discussions on regulatory simplification, investor confidence, and international cooperation in investment governance.
Technical Sessions Covering Domestic and Global Perspectives
The programme comprised three in-depth technical sessions focusing on:
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India’s Approach to Investment Facilitation
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International Investment Facilitation Framework Landscape
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Investment Facilitation, Ease of Doing Business and Cooperation Models
The sessions explored practical mechanisms to enhance transparency, predictability and efficiency in investment-related processes, while balancing regulatory objectives.
Focus on Reforms and Ease of Doing Business
Senior government officials and national and international experts shared insights on the role of investment facilitation in improving ease of doing business. Panel discussions highlighted India’s ongoing reform initiatives, including:
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Licence rationalisation and regulatory simplification
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Decriminalisation of minor business-related offences
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Digital compliance and governance measures
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Balanced regulation of Intellectual Property and Artificial Intelligence
Speakers noted that these reforms are creating a more predictable and investor-friendly environment, supporting both domestic and foreign investment.
FDI Trends and Global Value Chain Integration
Participants observed a steady rise in foreign direct investment (FDI), particularly in the services sector, reflecting growing investor confidence in India’s economic fundamentals. Reference was also made to initiatives such as the India–EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), which positions India strategically within global value chains and enhances its attractiveness as an investment destination.
International Comparisons and WTO Perspective
The discussions examined investment facilitation from a World Trade Organization (WTO) perspective, highlighting the evolving “trinity” of:
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Investment protection agreements
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Cooperation and Facilitation Investment Agreements (CFIA)
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Trade agreements with investment-related provisions
Comparative insights were shared from countries such as Nigeria, Vietnam and Australia, demonstrating how investment climate reforms, institutional coordination and effective grievance redressal mechanisms play a critical role in attracting and retaining investment.
Interactive Engagement and Knowledge Exchange
Each technical session concluded with interactive question-and-answer segments, allowing participants to engage directly with speakers and share perspectives. The discussions were marked by diverse domestic and international viewpoints, underlining the workshop’s role as a valuable forum for policy dialogue, peer learning and knowledge exchange.
Participation of Senior Leadership
The event featured addresses by senior leaders and policymakers, including:
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Shri Amitabh Kumar, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce
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Smt. Himani Pande, Additional Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)
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Shri Manoj Joshi, Secretary, Department of Land Resources
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Shri B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, CEO, NITI Aayog
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Shri V. Anantha Nageswaran, Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India
Their participation underscored the Government’s commitment to strengthening India’s investment facilitation framework through informed, consultative and globally aligned policymaking.
Conclusion: CTIL
The CTIL-led workshop on investment facilitation reaffirmed the importance of coherent domestic reforms, international cooperation and institutional coordination in enhancing India’s investment ecosystem. By bringing together policymakers, global institutions and industry stakeholders, the event contributed meaningfully to advancing dialogue on ease of doing business, investor confidence and sustainable economic growth, positioning India as a competitive and reliable investment destination in the global economy.
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Source: PIB
