Latest news with #IIFT
The Hindu
02-08-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Forge connections
I am 22 and have a in Computer Science. I want to pursue MBA in Finance as I prefer it over coding. However, I am unable to score well in the CAT. Should I opt for an average college or take the CAT again? Onkar Dear Onkar, Evaluate retaking the CAT (and other exams) by honestly introspecting why you have not done well. Was it a lack of consistent preparation, difficulty with specific sections, test anxiety, or a combination of problems? Identifying the root cause is crucial to improve. Take the exam again if you are willing to dedicate the necessary time and effort for another year of rigorous preparation. Focus and strengthen the sections in which you struggle. Take regular mock tests under timed conditions to simulate the actual exam environment. Analyse your mock test results thoroughly to identify areas for improvement and consider joining a coaching class or a study group for structured learning and peer support. Explore other exams such as XAT, SNAP, NMAT, and IIFT. They have different formats and might suit your strengths better. Research the top colleges that accept these scores. What is your definition of an 'average college'? The factors to consider when choosing colleges are the location, the curriculum, the faculty experience, internship opportunities, placement statistics, the companies that recruit, the roles offered, and the alumni network. If you are hesitant about another year of intense preparation or if your assessment suggests only a marginal improvement in your CAT score, then go ahead and join the 'average' MBA college. I got a First Class with Distinction in in Technology and Management Consulting and a first-class in my as well. I have one year's experience in Operations and want to continue in supply chain. I am considering an MBA in Operations or an in Supply Chain Management. Which would be more suitable? Enchante Dear Enchante, An MBA in Operations will cover core business functions such as finance, marketing, strategy, and human resources, alongside topics like production, process optimisation, quality management, and supply chain elements. The focus is on leadership and strategic decision-making within the operations function. An in Supply Chain Management is a more specialised and technical. It delves into the intricacies of the entire supply chain, including procurement, logistics, warehousing, distribution, demand forecasting, and supply chain analytics. The focus is on optimising the flow of goods and information across the entire network. While an in Supply Chain Management can lead to excellent careers in logistics, procurement, and supply chain analysis, an MBA offers a broader path into senior management roles across different functions. Given your strong interest in supply chain and disinterest in research, an MBA in Operations with a strong focus on or specialisation in Supply Chain Management would probably be more suitable for you. I have completed and Botany and am in the second year of Ph.D. Forestry. I don't want to teach, and interest in research is also fading. What are my options? Kareena Dear Kareena, Is it possible for you to leverage your Botany expertise in different sectors such as environmental consulting, conservation and natural resource management, or horticulture? You could also use your scientific background to write articles, create content, or work with media outlets, museums or botanical gardens to explain complex concepts and create educational programmes. Policy and advocacy related to plant conservation, biodiversity protection, and sustainable development or Intellectual Property with a further specialisation (potentially a law degree or certification) could help you work as a patent agent specialising in plant-related inventions and biotechnology. Data analysis and GIS, project management, business and entrepreneurship (related to Botany) in sustainable agriculture or natural product development is another option. I have done B.A. and M.A. History, Environmental Archaeology, and am currently pursuing an Integrated Ph.D., which will give me an (Research) and a Ph.D. in Earth Sciences. I am exploring career options outside academia. What are the career paths that might align with my background and skills? How can I build industry connections? Ritvik Dear Ritvik, Sustainability Consulting is a strong fit for your background. Your understanding of historical human-environment interactions combined with your Earth Sciences knowledge can help businesses and organisations develop and implement sustainable practices. You could advise on ESG strategies, climate risk assessment and adaptation, resource management and circular economy, sustainable supply chain management, environmental impact assessment (EIA), ESG analyst or specialist, climate change analyst or specialist, risk analyst with focus on climate or environment, policy analyst for sustainability or environment, and corporate sustainability. Some specific skills you could further leverage are as a data analyst with focus on environment and sustainability, geospatial analyst or GIS specialist, Science Communicator or project manager for sustainability initiatives. To build industry connections, attend industry-specific conferences, seminars, and workshops organised by local chapters of environmental and sustainability professional organisations, and TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs). LinkedIn can also help identify and connect with professionals working in sustainability consulting firms and relevant industries. Engage and share relevant thoughts with leaders in the space and build your credentials. Reach out to people whose career paths you find interesting and request for brief interviews on their work, company, and how they got there. Explore opportunities and alumni networks of your B.A., M.A., and current Ph.D. programmes and of your institutions. Participate in online forums and communities related to sustainability and environmental consulting to learn from practitioners and make meaningful connections. Also consider pursuing short-term internships or pro-bono projects with sustainability consulting firms or relevant companies to gain practical experience.
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Payment woes, compliance burden hampering export potential of MSME e-commerce: Experts
India's e-commerce exports are witnessing remarkable growth, offering immense opportunities for small businesses in the country. However, challenges such as payment reconciliation , regulatory compliance , and foreign exchange settlements continue to impede the sector's full potential. With the nation's e-commerce exports expected to reach $200 billion by 2030, experts emphasised that tackling these regulatory and operational issues has become a pressing necessity. Industry players often have cautioned that India could lose its recent progress unless regulators take swift action. To deliberate on practical solutions, think tank Empower India partnered with the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) to host a webinar on July 2, bringing together academia, government-affiliated bodies, and industry leaders. Moderated by Nirupam Soundararajan, Co-founder of the Policy Consensus Centre, the session featured three panellists: Deepankar Sinha, professor at IIFT; Atul Bansal, Head of Marketing & Partnerships, Amazon Global Selling; and Naveen Sharma, Co-founder of the All India Ecommerce Exporters Association (AIEEA). All industry stakeholders concurred: automation, simplification, and streamlining are necessary. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like How a solar project revealed one of Spain's greatest archaeological finds Acciona Undo 'All the data for e-commerce exports already exists across EDPMS (Export Data Processing and Monitoring System), DPMS (Department of Payment and Settlement Systems), and the RBI. It's time these systems talk to each other. Exporters shouldn't be burdened with manual reconciliation when technology can automate it. A one-time declaration should suffice—especially under LUT when exporters are already legally accountable. In the short term, we need a tiered, trust-based approach: small exporters under Rs 10 lakh could be exempted from manual reconciliation, while larger entities submit a CA certificate,' said Sharma. Bansal outlined Amazon's efforts to 'democratise e-commerce exports for MSMEs' through its Export Navigator tool, which is open to all sellers and provides guidance on documentation, compliance and regulations. 'We have pinpointed launch readiness, logistics and payments as the three biggest challenges,' he observed. 'While Amazon has addressed the first two, payments and reconciliation require broader ecosystem collaboration. We remain optimistic, but it will take coordinated action across platforms, banks and regulators.' Live Events Prof. Sinha talked about the problem in terms of cost and efficiency, cautioning that 'hidden fees in gateway charges, platform commissions, bank deductions and compliance expenses are eroding exporters' margins. 'Many chase bulk orders or switch platforms to chase better terms. This simply isn't sustainable. Once payment is received and the shipping bill filed, RBI and DGFT should have that data in real time. India is a global technology powerhouse; manual processes should be obsolete,' he said. Panelists agreed on a three-pronged road map: System integration: Automate reconciliation by linking the EDPMS, DPMS, RBI and DGFT platforms and creating a single-window interface for exporters. Trust-based thresholds: Exempt exporters with annual shipments under Rs 10 lakh from manual reconciliation, while larger exporters furnish independent certification. Flexible mismatch tolerance: Temporarily raise the permissible gap between invoiced value and payment received from 25% to 50% to accommodate currency fluctuations and platform deductions. Beyond these core reforms, the panel recommended developing a dedicated e-commerce export declaration format, standardising invoice structures across marketplaces, and launching a user-friendly technical portal for document uploads and real-time tracking. Such measures, they argued, would yield immediate relief while laying the groundwork for long-term system integration. Regulatory experts in the audience noted that recent policy initiatives, such as the introduction of the LUT framework for zero-duty exports and streamlined foreign trade policy guidelines, provide a favourable backdrop for these recommendations. However, without targeted amendments to the existing reconciliation rules, MSMEs risk facing protracted delays, higher working capital requirements, and lost market opportunities. Speakers further urged the government to treat e-commerce exports as a strategic national asset. 'If India truly wants to be a global digital trading hub, we must reduce friction at every touchpoint,' Sinha said, stressing the road map ahead will entail revisiting cost structures, cutting red tape and harnessing technology to eliminate manual bottlenecks.
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Payment woes, compliance burdens hampering export potential of MSME e-commerce: Experts
India's e-commerce exports are witnessing remarkable growth, offering immense opportunities for small businesses in the country. However, challenges such as payment reconciliation , regulatory compliance , and foreign exchange settlements continue to impede the sector's full potential. With the nation's e-commerce exports expected to reach $200 billion by 2030, experts emphasised that tackling these regulatory and operational issues has become a pressing necessity. Industry players often have cautioned that India could lose its recent progress unless regulators take swift action. To deliberate on practical solutions, think tank Empower India partnered with the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) to host a webinar on July 2, bringing together academia, government-affiliated bodies, and industry leaders. Moderated by Nirupam Soundararajan, Co-founder of the Policy Consensus Centre, the session featured three panellists: Deepankar Sinha, professor at IIFT; Atul Bansal, Head of Marketing & Partnerships, Amazon Global Selling; and Naveen Sharma, Co-founder of the All India Ecommerce Exporters Association (AIEEA). All industry stakeholders concurred: automation, simplification, and streamlining are necessary. 'All the data for e-commerce exports already exists across EDPMS (Export Data Processing and Monitoring System), DPMS (Department of Payment and Settlement Systems), and the RBI. It's time these systems talk to each other. Exporters shouldn't be burdened with manual reconciliation when technology can automate it. A one-time declaration should suffice—especially under LUT when exporters are already legally accountable. In the short term, we need a tiered, trust-based approach: small exporters under Rs 10 lakh could be exempted from manual reconciliation, while larger entities submit a CA certificate,' said Sharma. Bansal outlined Amazon's efforts to 'democratise e-commerce exports for MSMEs' through its Export Navigator tool, which is open to all sellers and provides guidance on documentation, compliance and regulations. 'We have pinpointed launch readiness, logistics and payments as the three biggest challenges,' he observed. 'While Amazon has addressed the first two, payments and reconciliation require broader ecosystem collaboration. We remain optimistic, but it will take coordinated action across platforms, banks and regulators.' Live Events Prof. Sinha talked about the problem in terms of cost and efficiency, cautioning that 'hidden fees in gateway charges, platform commissions, bank deductions and compliance expenses are eroding exporters' margins. 'Many chase bulk orders or switch platforms to chase better terms. This simply isn't sustainable. Once payment is received and the shipping bill filed, RBI and DGFT should have that data in real time. India is a global technology powerhouse; manual processes should be obsolete,' he said. Panelists agreed on a three-pronged road map: System integration: Automate reconciliation by linking the EDPMS, DPMS, RBI and DGFT platforms and creating a single-window interface for exporters. Trust-based thresholds: Exempt exporters with annual shipments under Rs 10 lakh from manual reconciliation, while larger exporters furnish independent certification. Flexible mismatch tolerance: Temporarily raise the permissible gap between invoiced value and payment received from 25% to 50% to accommodate currency fluctuations and platform deductions. Beyond these core reforms, the panel recommended developing a dedicated e-commerce export declaration format, standardising invoice structures across marketplaces, and launching a user-friendly technical portal for document uploads and real-time tracking. Such measures, they argued, would yield immediate relief while laying the groundwork for long-term system integration. Regulatory experts in the audience noted that recent policy initiatives, such as the introduction of the LUT framework for zero-duty exports and streamlined foreign trade policy guidelines, provide a favourable backdrop for these recommendations. However, without targeted amendments to the existing reconciliation rules, MSMEs risk facing protracted delays, higher working capital requirements, and lost market opportunities. Speakers further urged the government to treat e-commerce exports as a strategic national asset. 'If India truly wants to be a global digital trading hub, we must reduce friction at every touchpoint,' Sinha said, stressing the road map ahead will entail revisiting cost structures, cutting red tape and harnessing technology to eliminate manual bottlenecks.
Economic Times
03-07-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
Payment woes, compliance burdens hampering export potential of MSME e-commerce: Experts
TIL Creatives Experts highlighted bottlenecks like payment reconciliation, regulatory compliance, and foreign exchange settlements remain persistent challenges, holding back the sector's full potential. India's e-commerce exports are witnessing remarkable growth, offering immense opportunities for small businesses in the country. However, challenges such as payment reconciliation, regulatory compliance, and foreign exchange settlements continue to impede the sector's full potential. With the nation's e-commerce exports expected to reach $200 billion by 2030, experts emphasised that tackling these regulatory and operational issues has become a pressing necessity. Industry players often have cautioned that India could lose its recent progress unless regulators take swift action. To deliberate on practical solutions, think tank Empower India partnered with the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) to host a webinar on July 2, bringing together academia, government-affiliated bodies, and industry leaders. Moderated by Nirupam Soundararajan, Co-founder of the Policy Consensus Centre, the session featured three panellists: Deepankar Sinha, professor at IIFT; Atul Bansal, Head of Marketing & Partnerships, Amazon Global Selling; and Naveen Sharma, Co-founder of the All India Ecommerce Exporters Association (AIEEA). All industry stakeholders concurred: automation, simplification, and streamlining are necessary.'All the data for e-commerce exports already exists across EDPMS (Export Data Processing and Monitoring System), DPMS (Department of Payment and Settlement Systems), and the RBI. It's time these systems talk to each other. Exporters shouldn't be burdened with manual reconciliation when technology can automate it. A one-time declaration should suffice—especially under LUT when exporters are already legally accountable. In the short term, we need a tiered, trust-based approach: small exporters under Rs 10 lakh could be exempted from manual reconciliation, while larger entities submit a CA certificate,' said outlined Amazon's efforts to 'democratise e-commerce exports for MSMEs' through its Export Navigator tool, which is open to all sellers and provides guidance on documentation, compliance and regulations. 'We have pinpointed launch readiness, logistics and payments as the three biggest challenges,' he observed. 'While Amazon has addressed the first two, payments and reconciliation require broader ecosystem collaboration. We remain optimistic, but it will take coordinated action across platforms, banks and regulators.' Prof. Sinha talked about the problem in terms of cost and efficiency, cautioning that 'hidden fees in gateway charges, platform commissions, bank deductions and compliance expenses are eroding exporters' margins. 'Many chase bulk orders or switch platforms to chase better terms. This simply isn't sustainable. Once payment is received and the shipping bill filed, RBI and DGFT should have that data in real time. India is a global technology powerhouse; manual processes should be obsolete,' he agreed on a three-pronged road map:System integration: Automate reconciliation by linking the EDPMS, DPMS, RBI and DGFT platforms and creating a single-window interface for thresholds: Exempt exporters with annual shipments under Rs 10 lakh from manual reconciliation, while larger exporters furnish independent mismatch tolerance: Temporarily raise the permissible gap between invoiced value and payment received from 25% to 50% to accommodate currency fluctuations and platform these core reforms, the panel recommended developing a dedicated e-commerce export declaration format, standardising invoice structures across marketplaces, and launching a user-friendly technical portal for document uploads and real-time tracking. Such measures, they argued, would yield immediate relief while laying the groundwork for long-term system experts in the audience noted that recent policy initiatives, such as the introduction of the LUT framework for zero-duty exports and streamlined foreign trade policy guidelines, provide a favourable backdrop for these recommendations. However, without targeted amendments to the existing reconciliation rules, MSMEs risk facing protracted delays, higher working capital requirements, and lost market further urged the government to treat e-commerce exports as a strategic national asset. 'If India truly wants to be a global digital trading hub, we must reduce friction at every touchpoint,' Sinha said, stressing the road map ahead will entail revisiting cost structures, cutting red tape and harnessing technology to eliminate manual bottlenecks.
India Gazette
16-05-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
IIFT expands global footprint with first overseas campus in Dubai
New Delhi [India], May 16 (ANI): The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has announced the establishment of its first overseas campus in Dubai. This marks a key step in expanding IIFT's global presence and strengthening India's engagement in international business education. A Commerce and Industry Ministry release said the step marks a proud moment in the globalisation of Indian higher education and aligns with the vision of NEP 2020, which emphasizes the internationalisation of Indian institutions and the creation of global learning hubs. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal expressed his happiness and congratulated IIFT on the landmark achievement. 'This truly reflects the spirit of the National Education Policy 2020, marking a new chapter in the internationalisation of Indian education and its growing role in shaping thought leadership globally. It is also a testament to the strengthening India-UAE partnership, and this new campus will play a pivotal role in moulding the business leaders of tomorrow,' he said. Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal congratulated IIFT on its maiden international expansion and said it's a turning point in the institute's 62-year history that it is setting up a full-fledged campus in Dubai. He said it represents India's emergence as a country that provides world-class education especially in the field of International Trade. He commended the institute for consistently aligning its academic and research endeavours in national interest, which would contribute significantly to promote exports. Rakesh Mohan Joshi, Vice Chancellor (IIFT), reiterated his commitment to transform IIFT into a world-class institute and make a mark in its newly upcoming Dubai campus by excelling in research, training and research in the area of International Trade. He reaffirmed IIFT's commitment to advancing India's academic and economic diplomacy through excellence in education and research. The release said that the upcoming Dubai campus reflects India's deepening educational collaboration with the UAE and is poised to become a strategic centre for nurturing global business leaders equipped with Indian values and an international outlook. 'It will not only serve the dynamic needs of the Indian diaspora and global learners but also strengthen India's educational footprint in the Gulf region,' the release said. 'With the launch of its Dubai campus, IIFT is poised to carry the Indian legacy of education to new frontiers--grooming leaders who will shape the future of international trade and business,' it added. (ANI)
