Rajesh Agrawal takes charge as commerce secretary from October 1

Rajesh Agrawal, a 1994-batch IAS officer from the Manipur cadre, takes over as commerce secretary from October 1, succeeding Sunil Barthwal as India advances major trade negotiations

Rajesh Agrawal, who took over as commerce secretary on October 1, has his work cut out as India pushes ahead to wrap up the crucial trade deal with the United States.

 

Agrawal, a Manipur cadre IAS officer of 1994-batch, has been with the department of commerce since December 2022, initially joining as an additional secretary. Since then, he has taken on several critical roles, shaping India’s trade policies. 

 

Agrawal has been the chief negotiator since the commencement of talks with Washington in March. With prior experience as India’s chief negotiator for the US-initiated Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) for prosperity under the Biden administration, Agrawal has been able to bring a deep understanding of the US trade landscape to the table.

 

His new role comes with challenges, especially due to the protectionist policies being adopted by the US since the beginning of the year. These measures are expected to put pressure on India’s export growth, considering that America is India’s largest trade partner and export destination.

 

As commerce secretary, Agrawal will lead a team of bureaucrats, making key decisions to implement support measures for exporters, amid the geopolitical uncertainties, while overseeing several trade deals. These include ongoing negotiations with countries and blocs such as the European Union (EU), Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Peru, Oman, Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

 

He also headed negotiations for the India-ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) as well as proposed comprehensive trade deals with Australia and Peru. He has also been in charge of export promotion for the agriculture and allied sectors.

 

Colleagues who have worked closely with Agrawal, praise him for his intellect and skill in tackling complex trade issues. With extensive experience in the department of commerce and a key role in complex trade negotiations, he is seen as a key official shaping India’s trade policy landscape.

 

Agrawal graduated in Statistics and completed his master’s in Operations and Research from Delhi University. He has also pursued Executive Post Graduate Diploma in International Business from Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), New Delhi. 

With three decades of experience in governance and policy making, he has held various administrative positions across sectors such as skill development, agriculture, apprenticeship, micro, small and medium industries (MSMEs), India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) as well the state-level postings such as chief electoral officer, principal secretary at power and home ministries in Manipur.