Monica Gupta: The temporary 'consul' of foreign trade

BACKSTAGE

Gopal K Pillai, additional secretary in the commerce ministry, is a relieved man these days "" literally and metaphorically.

Having worked round the clock for the last two months in his capacity as officiating Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), he reverted last week to his no less challenging and wide-ranging portfolio covering, among other things, infrastructure, export-oriented units, export processing zones and the north-east.

But his role in formulating the maiden "foreign trade policy" announced on August 31 will be remembered in bureaucratic circles, not least for the circumspect manner in which he handled conflicting demands.

The term foreign trade policy was Commerce Minister Kamal Nath's effort "" and stated objective "" to differentiate the annual exercise from the earlier Exim policies.

Things were made more difficult by the minister's keenness to ensure that at least one demand of each export council was accepted in the policy.

Given the usual tussle between the commerce department and the revenue department over continuing export concessions, Pillai had to do the balancing act. Not surprisingly, the policy underwent several revisions including last-minute changes. Issues like continuing the Duty Entitlement Passbook (DEPB) Scheme hung fire until a day before the policy was announced.

Nath was keen to continue with the benefit until a new scheme was formulated, North Block was against the scheme being continued, particularly in case of textiles, because of the revenue loss it would entail. The matter finally had to be taken to the Prime Minister's Office.

Junior officers in the DGFT describe Pillai as hard working, cool and approachable. A stickler for rules, Pillai begins his day at 9.00 a m sharp.

In the run-up to the policy Pillai would divide his time between the DGFT's office and his own in Udyog Bhavan. Despite his seniority, he not only proof-read the policy but did not mind drafting an entire note himself.

An officer recounts an anecdote narrated by Pillai at a senior officer's meeting where he put his colleagues to a test that has been gaining currency in corporate HR circles.

He asked them what they would do if they were traveling in a car on a rainy night and came across three people "" one a best friend who has helped you in the past, a man who is dying and needs to be urgently rushed to the hospital and a man or a woman who fits your bill of a perfect date.

Most officers replied that they would help the dying person and rush him to hospital while a few said they would help the best friend. One officer said he would ask his best friend to drive the dying man to the hospital and then go out with his dream date. To which Pillai said, "I quite like your response. One must think beyond the usual. Think out of the box."

Pillai's popularity does not stop at his juniors. The officer is extremely popular among his batchmates as well. Pillai is married to Sudha Pillai, also an IAS officer currently holding charge as additional secretary in the ministry of panchayati raj.

One of his areas of special interest is the north-east. Pillai has had a close association with the region since it was his patch during his stint in the home ministry.

Officers say Pillai had mastered the region so well that he had at his fingertips details of all political parties and politicians. In fact, Pillai was so knowledgeable that senior functionaries of the region including chief ministers, would prefer to meet him rather than other senior officials in the ministry.

His charge in the commerce ministry includes an export cell of the north-east. Not only does Pillai take a special interest in its activities but he is also trying to organise an event in Europe to exploit the region's export potential in such areas as bamboo.

Having gone back to the original work allocated to him, Pillai can now devote more time to his preferred region and lead a low-profile life, a more comfortable state of affairs for him.