India’s Trade Digitalization: From Domestic to Cross-Border Integration
11 June 2026 from 09:30 AM to 10:50 AM (Bangkok Time)

Organized in collaboration with RIS, ESCAP, and ADB as part of the Asia-Pacific Trade Facilitation Forum x Paperless Trade Week (APTFF x PTW) 2026, and co-organized by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

The global trade landscape today is marked by volatility with rising geopolitical tensions, persistent tariff threats, and escalating logistics costs. Countries are searching for innovative tools to secure their supply chains, reduce transaction costs, and boost economic competitiveness. For India, a nation undergoing a massive digital transformation, the answer lies in solidifying its commitment to the Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific (CPTA) to reduce transaction costs. India’s current trade digitalization is regarded as WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) plus. The outcomes of the domestic trade digitalization measures have positive results, providing a strong platform for India’s next phase of global paperless trade integration. Cross-border paperless trade is a key component National Trade Facilitation Action Plan 3.0 (2024-2027), and India is discussing and/or implementing it with select trade partners. Against this backdrop, the purpose of this session is to discuss the benefits of India in signing the CPTA and how the country can lead regional dialogue on digital trade facilitation and paperless trade under the CPTA treaty.

This event is part of the APTFF x PTW 2026, co-organized by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), in collaboration with the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) and the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS).

Agenda

09.30 – 09.40 : Welcome Remarks
• Mr. Sachin Kumar Sharma, Director General, Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) (joining online).

Special Remarks
• Ms. Paulomi Tripathi, Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) at the Embassy of India in Bangkok, Thailand (tbc)
• Ms. Rupa Chanda, Director – Trade, Investment and Innovation Division, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP)

09.40 – 09.50 : Presentation on “India’s Trade Digitalization: From Domestic to Cross-Border Integration” by Mr. Prabir De, Professor, Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS).

09.50 – 10.45 : Panel Discussion on “India’s Trade Digitalization: Promoting exports from MSMEs”

Moderator
• Ms. Arpita Mukherjee, Professor, ICRIER.

Release of the ICRIER-RIS-Centre for WTO Studies (CWS) Policy Brief “India’s Drive Towards Paperless Trade: Recent Developments and the Way Forward”

Panellists

• Mr. Manoj Kumar Meena, Deputy Director, Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce, Government of India.
(Topic: Initiative Taken by India or DGFT on Paperless Trade)

• Ms. Khanit Phatong, Acting Director of Supervisory Policy and Standard Center, Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA), Bangkok, Thailand.
(Topic: Thailand’s Efforts Towards Cross Border Paperless Trade)

• Ms. Yogita Hatangadi, General Manager – MSME Group, India Exim Bank. (joining online)
(Topic: EXIM Bank’s Financing Initiatives to Help SMEs Export Through E-Commerce Platform)

• Mr. Srinidhi Kalvapudi, Head – India Global Selling, Amazon India
(Topic: Benefits of Paperless Trade to MSMEs: Enhancing Public Private Partnership to Reduce Trade Cost)

• Mr. Vasudevan Rajagopalan, Head Regulatory Affairs – India, DHL Express. (joining online)
(Topic: Policy Reforms to Reduce Compliance Cost)

Q&A

10.45 – 10.50 : Closing Remarks
Ms. Arpita Mukherjee, Professor, ICRIER