Trade in Construction and Consultancy Services: India and the GATS

This study examines the construction and consultancy services sectors in the Indian economy in the context of the ongoing GATS negotiations. Given the strong linkages of construction and consultancy services with infrastructural development, employment creation and transfer of technology, it is important to analyse India’s potential for expanding trade in these services within the GATS framework. As of now India is a small player in the global market for construction and consultancy, but has significant potential for increasing its share in world trade. This study identifies markets of export interest to India and entry barriers in those markets. It recommends India’s possible negotiating strategies in the WTO for the removal of such barriers. It also recommends a number of regulatory, institutional and other reforms that would enhance the global competitiveness of these sectors, highlighting how domestic reforms are required to support the process of liberalisation