The Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) is an Indian research group and think tank focused on trade, technology, and climate change. It is an institution, not an act or a scheme, that aims to produce high-quality, jargon-free analysis for governments and industry, with a focus on development and poverty reduction.
GTRI was founded in March 2022 by Mr. Ajay Srivastava, a former Indian Trade Service officer who took voluntary retirement from the Government of India. The initiative was created to address the need for data and practice-driven insights into the rapidly changing global trade scenario.
The mechanism of GTRI primarily involves conducting research and offering training. Its research provides insights on critical areas such as Trade Agreements, Foreign Trade Policy, WTO issues, and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). For instance, GTRI analyzes India's strategic stance and likely outcomes at major events like the WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14). It also focuses on domestic issues like Taxation (Tariffs and Taxes, GST) and Ease of Doing Business. The group also offers short, result-oriented training, both online and offline, to trade professionals and on request by governments and industry associations.
GTRI is closely connected to India's engagement with the World Trade Organization (WTO), its negotiation of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), and the implementation of its Foreign Trade Policy. Since its founding in 2022, the institution's core function as a research and training provider has remained consistent, with its output continuously addressing new and evolving global trade challenges.