IIFT launches MDP for IAS officers

The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) is organising a Management Development Programme (MDP) for officers in the Indian Administrative and Allied Services. The course will provide these officers an overview of the World Trade Organisation, the New Trade Regime and its institutional structure.

“Currently, 17 people are attending the MDP and studying the global political economy and trade patterns apart from issues related to patents and Intellectual Property Rights. This programme is a rigorous one conducted by the Department of Personnel and Training,” said RM Joshi, chairperson, management development programme, IIFT.

The five-day in-service training programme will comprise new issues, framework on Foreign and Preferential Trade Agreements like South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) and North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA); the importance of non-tariff barriers and the impact of WTO on agriculture. Quality issues related to food problems, anti-dumping measures and trade policy review mechanisms are also being taught in the MDP.

The faculty for this programme has been drawn from IIFT and its WTO centre. Experts from trade, industry and government organisations will also be invited.

This is only one of the three programmes for IAS officers. After this basic programme, IIFT will conduct an advanced programme, especially for people with basic knowledge about the World Trade Organisation followed by a project management programme next month. The project management programme will have courses on project appraisals and management of dams and roads, among others.

So, is the IIFT planning to increase the duration of these programmes. Joshi answered: “These officials are very busy and there are more advanced programmes to substantiate the current programmes.”