AMCHAM, in collaboration with the PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry, organized an interactive webinar on the ‘Impact of Pandemic COVID-19 on Trade & Industry: Way Forward’ on April 6th. Mr. Sanjay Chadha, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, was the expert panelist who interacted with members on various issues including operational issues, supply chain disruptions, availability of raw materials, labor problems, devaluation of the rupee, demurrage, production processes, availability of manpower, cost of logistics and procedural issues, amongst others. The panel also included H.E. Mr. Ashok K. Kantha, Former Ambassador of India to China, who shared the Chinese model of handling the pandemic and the economic crisis.

He also pointed out that sustainability of economic activity was the biggest problem currently. AMCHAM member companies Intel, Johnson Controls, Stryker, Dell, Edwards, Varian Medical Systems & Quaker Chemicals, amongst others, interacted with Mr. Chadha on issues like cyber security, lack of access to technology, baseline screening, mismatch in policy and ground reality of logistics and transportation, clarity on essentials and non-essentials items, limited courier facilities to six or seven cities, health cess in the present budget, etc. Mr. Chadha assured the full support of the Government of India for resuming economic activities and revitalizing trade and industry. He also mentioned that the government is working towards announcing an economic revival package. Around 170 participants attended the webinar. The webinar concluded with a vote of thanks by Ms. Ranjana Khanna, Director General CEO, AMCHAM India and PHD Chamber.