India’s insistence on incorporating offers on liberalisation of services — along with market opening commitments on the contentious agriculture and industrial goods — in the proposed 'July 2008 package’ of the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Doha Round talks for a global trade deal, seems to have paid off. Indian professionals can look forward to easily offering their services in the developed world, with the US - during the Services Signalling conference held on Saturday — showing willingness to discuss temporary entry of foreign professionals. Also, the European Union (EU) expressed readiness to make commitments on free movement of skilled personnel across borders.In return, India has offered to discuss commitments on relaxing foreign equity caps in sectors like distribution, courier, telecom, financial services, maritime transport, energy and environment, but offered nothing in the controversial retail sector. India pushed for market access for its services in the developed world, especially on free movement of service suppliers across borders and outsourcing.
