Date:01/10/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/01/stories/2006100102311900.htm

Business

G. K. Pillai new Commerce Secretary

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: G. K. Pillai has taken over as Commerce Secretary here on Saturday.

He succeeds S. N. Menon, who superannuated as the Secretary in the Commerce and Industry Ministry, according to an official release.

Mr. Pillai is a 1972 batch officer of the Kerala cadre. Prior to his appointment as Commerce Secretary, he was the Special Secretary in the same Ministry. He is India's chief negotiator at the World Trade Organization (WTO) and is also the chairman of the Board of Approval for Special Economic Zones in the Ministry. In addition, he is chairman of the Grievances Redressal Committee on matters relating to foreign trade and regional trade arrangements (RTAs)/free trade agreements (FTAs)/preferential trade arrangements (PTAs).

The release says, Mr. Pillai has worked in diverse fields in the State Government of Kerala and in the Central Government.