IEEMA has welcomed Government of India’s move of restricting bidders from the country’s immediate neighbours. The industry apex body has also assured full support, on behalf of its members, to meet the country’s requirements.
Relaxation will be provided for procurement of Covid medical supplies till December 31, 2020.
The government recently amended the General Financial Rules 2017 to impose restrictions on bidders from countries sharing a land border with India. The curbs have been imposed on procurement of public projects on the grounds of matters directly or indirectly related to “national security”.
The Department of Expenditure order states that any bidder from seven countries that share a land border with India can participate in Indian projects, only if the bidder is registered with a newly-formed competent authority.
India shares a land border with seven countries—China, Pakistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Nepal and Bangladesh. As per the order, issued by the Department of Expenditure, any bidder from such countries sharing a land border with India will be eligible to bid in any procurement whether of goods, services (including consultancy services and non-consultancy services) or works (including turnkey projects) only if they are registered with the Competent Authority, which will be the Registration Committee constituted by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). Political and security clearance from the Ministries of External and Home Affairs respectively will be mandatory.
Indian electrical equipment industry has the capacity, ability and cost-competitiveness, asserts R.K. Chugh, President, IEEMA.
With Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’ call, the government is also cutting dependence on China to encourage manufacturing in the country. Welcoming this move of the Government R.K. Chugh, President, IEEMA says, “Indian electrical equipment industry has the capacity, ability and cost competitiveness to effectively service and meet the need of not only Indian industry but also enhance its exports. And if we as a nation are to be serious about taking on China in our own home market, then all of us — manufacturers, importers, retailers, consumers and the government — need to commit to this. And more importantly, be prepared for both the consequences and costs of such a move at least in short run. From medium term onwards, we will start seeing enormous benefits out of full Make in India efforts.”
IEEMA has expressed confidence that the present challenge will be accepted with resolve and commitment.
Vipul Ray, Senior Vice President, IEEMA articulates, “National security is of paramount importance and in today’s connected world we as a nation have to be very vigilant and careful in what in install into our systems. Electrical industry is even more vulnerable considering the nature of the technology and the wide spread ramifications that it can have if something goes wrong as it has the potential to disrupt every aspect of life whether it be hospitals, telecommunications or industrial production. We wholeheartedly support and stand by the nation and the government in the interest of National Security. Indian industry is capable to deploy its own solutions and will surely rise up to the occasion and delivery when it matters the most.”
Rohit Pathak, Vice President, IEEMA is of the opinion, “This is a turning point for the Indian electrical equipment industry. We have the capability and are competitive versus the Chinese players in the global market. However, with predatory pricing the Chinese had been partially successful at weakening the Indian players in our home market strategically over the past decade while simultaneously blocking Indian exports into China. I believe that with this move, the Indian electrical industry will benefit significantly in the medium term by gaining the scale in the domestic market and leveraging it to further enhance our global competitiveness. I have full confidence that as an industry we will commit to this challenge of not just making India Aatmanirbhar but also be the global supplier of choice in this sector.”
Indian electrical industry in the past has demonstrated entrepreneurship, innovation, brilliance in manufacturing and IEEMA, in a statement, has expressed confidence that the present challenge will be accepted with resolve and commitment. IEEMA is committed to further the interest of our industry and that of the nation.
Featured photograph (source: www.learnrevise.com) shows an integrated Indo-Nepal border checkpost at Biratnagar. The checkpost is located 6km north of Jobani in Bihar. In 2005, India and Nepal agreed to build four such integrated border checkposts, two of which (Biratnagar and Birgunj) have already been constructed. The remaining two are proposed to come up at Nepalgunj and Bhairahawa.
