Technology is making trade more trendy

In past decades, global trade grew with consistent investment in infrastructure such as ports, shipping lines and cargo facilities. Now, global trade will be driven by high-tech and digitization

Login to the ICEGATE portal of the Indian Customs department and a chatbot named Vaani pops up to support the user — a new-age support for a centuries-old business. Indian Customs Electronic Data Interchange Gateway (ICEGATE) is the national portal of India’s Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), which provides e-filing services to the trade, cargo carriers and other trading partners electronically.

CBIC says that ICEGATE serves as an interface between trade users and the Customs department, and acts as a hub for exchanging information with external trading partners involved in international trading. According to the government, ICEGATE