PR: Leading global players join FICCI CASCADE in addressing the global threat of illicit trade

Leading international institutions like World Customs Organization (WCO), INTERPOL, United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Organization for Economic Corporation and Development (OECD) and US Homeland Security will represent at FICCI CASCADE’s [Committee against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Destroying the Economy] 4th edition of its flagship annual international event titled under the title: MASCRADE 2017–Movement Against Smuggling and Counterfeit Trade scheduled on 12-13 October 2017 in New Delhi. This year, the theme of the conference is ‘Protect Your Brand Globally: Fight Counterfeiting, Smuggling and Piracy’.

The market for contraband, smuggled and counterfeit goods is thriving in India and is today one of the biggest challenges faced by Indian industry. India today has the potential to become a global manufacturing hub. However, widespread smuggling, counterfeiting and piracy, can act as a dampener in achieving this goal. CASCADE study reveals that the supply of illicit goods have increased by 44.4 per cent in just two years (between 2012 and 2014) in sectors such as tobacco, alcoholic beverages, auto components, computer hardware, FMCG packaged goods, FMCG personal goods and mobile phones. The genuine goods collectively suffered an annual sales loss of Rs. 32,412 crore, while the government’s loss in tax revenue went up by Rs. 13,049 crore. According to estimates by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), the extent of smuggling in India is maximum for cigarettes, gold, machinery parts, electronic items along with fabric and silk yarn.

Illicit trade in terms of counterfeiting, smuggling and piracy are highly pervasive across countries and sectors, representing a multi-billion-dollar industry that continues to grow and impact commerce and industry, governments, economies and the society at large. There is also no doubt that the illegal money generated through illicit trade is a major source to finance such dangerous activities as terrorism, insurgency and other organized crimes.

MASCRADE 2017 is structured to ensure that national and international stakeholders can dialogue and deliberate to identify opportunities for joint action between governments, private sector, and enforcement machinery to combat illegal trade with the objective to:

• Look at the economic consequences of mass counterfeiting, smuggling & piracy and the policies needed to deter this activity;

• Contribute to an integrated vision of security and public safety;

• Deepen understanding of 'grey markets' for smuggled, counterfeit and related pirated commercial goods, to assess their impact, and to promote practical recommendations effective, strategies by the public and private sectors to dismantle them;

• Develop a better enforcement ecosystem and to protect the interest of brand owners in India.

Apart from senior functionaries from international institutions the conference will also see participation from leading international brand owners such as Louis Vuitton, Beiersdorf, PUMA, Unilever, Microsoft, HELLA among others.