GTU sets up trade facilitation centre for East Asian nations

In a bid to enhance international linkages for its students, the Gujarat Technological University (GTU) is setting up a study and trade facilitation centre for East Asian nations such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam, among others.

The study and trade facilitation centre has been set up by the Centre for Global Business Studies, Gujarat Technological University. According to GTU, the 'Indo - East Asian Study Centre' will fulfill the need for an authentic center of study and information about East Asia in India.

The centre would host visiting Professors, Writers, Creative Artists, Media Personalities, Diplomats, Statesmen and delegations from Universities and Industries. Moreover, it would also help businesses in East Asia to establish mutually beneficial interactions with businesses in Gujarat/ India, even as Jagat Shah of Global Network will support the centre with their networking contacts in East Asia.

"To begin with, initially activities at the trade facilitation centre will include benchmark study in solar and wind between India and Indonesia, hosting Indonesian delegation of 22 companies during Vibrant Gujarat, taking delegation to Indonesia in May 2015, and research in food processing sector between India and Indonesia, among other things," said Shah. The Center will maintain an active liaison with the officers at the embassies, who work for development of cultural relations between India and East Asian countries.

According to GTU, the centre's objectives include creating a platform to encourage business community to actively participate and deliberate in bilateral trade related issues, developing a directory of contacts (sector/industry wise) , developing quarterly whitepapers and research papers, exchange of faculty members, research scholars and students, and collaboration with business studies department to conduct joint research activities and publications.

The centre will also engage in inviting trade delegations to Gujarat to show Indian industry's best practices, taking trade delegations to East Asian countries to see East Asian best practices, arranging technology transfer & buyer seller meets, and arranging conferences & match making for joint ventures & investments.

Moreover, it would be able to organize public events and lectures bringing scholars, diplomats and politicians from all over the world to the campus.

The centre will establish relationships with other similar centres in the world and it hopes to become a magnet for visiting scholars from East Asia and to encourage mobility of faculty, researchers and students. With more than 4,50,000 students, the Gujarat Technological University (GTU) is the largest Technological University in Gujarat.