In a remarkable jump from 78.49 per cent in 2019, India has scored 90.32 per cent in the latest Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation by United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia Pacific (UNESCAP).
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.
The Survey notes that India is the best-performing country compared to the South and South-West Asia region (63.12 per cent) and the 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 European Union (EU),” the Ministry of Finance said.
India has achieved a 100 per cent score for the Transparency index, up from 93.33 per cent in 2019 and 66 per cent in the ‘Women in trade’ component.