India and 13 Countries Launch Supply Chain Bodies to Boost Indo-Pacific Prosperity
India, along with 13 other Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) partners, has launched three key supply chain bodies to enhance resilience and competitiveness in the region. The Supply Chain Council, Crisis Response Network, and Labor Rights Advisory Board aim to strengthen critical supply chains, provide emergency responses, and improve labor rights.
The IPEF Supply Chain Resilience Agreement, signed in November 2023, has been in force since February 2024. The first in-person meetings are scheduled for September 2024 in Washington D.C.
Key Bodies and Their Roles
The Supply Chain Council will focus on actions to strengthen supply chains related to national security, public health, and economic well-being. The Crisis Response Network will provide a platform for emergency responses to disruptions. The Labor Rights Advisory Board will work on enhancing labor rights and workforce development.
Leadership and Future Plans
Each body has elected a Chair and Vice Chair for a two-year term:
| Body | Chair | Vice Chair |
|---|---|---|
| Supply Chain Council | USA | India |
| Crisis Response Network | Republic of Korea | Japan |
| Labor Rights Advisory Board | USA | Fiji |
The Supply Chain Council will set its priorities at its first in-person meeting in Washington D.C. in September 2024, coinciding with the Supply Chain Summit. The Crisis Response Network will also meet alongside the Summit to discuss priorities and conduct a tabletop exercise. The Labor Rights Advisory Board will review labor provisions in the IPEF Clean Economy and Fair Economy Agreements.
About IPEF
The IPEF, launched on May 23, 2022, in Tokyo, Japan, includes 14 countries: Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the USA. It aims to enhance economic engagement and cooperation to promote growth, stability, and prosperity in the region. The framework comprises four pillars: Trade, Supply Chain Resilience, Clean Economy, and Fair Economy. India is involved in the latter three pillars and maintains observer status in the Trade pillar.
Doubts Revealed
Supply Chain -: A supply chain is a system of organizations, people, activities, information, and resources involved in moving a product or service from supplier to customer.
Indo-Pacific -: The Indo-Pacific is a region that includes the Indian Ocean and the western and central Pacific Ocean, including the South China Sea.
IPEF -: IPEF stands for Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, which is a group of countries working together to improve economic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
Supply Chain Council -: The Supply Chain Council is a group formed to help make supply chains stronger and more efficient.
Crisis Response Network -: The Crisis Response Network is a group that helps countries respond quickly to emergencies that affect supply chains.
Labor Rights Advisory Board -: The Labor Rights Advisory Board is a group that works to ensure that workers’ rights are protected and improved.
Supply Chain Resilience Agreement -: The Supply Chain Resilience Agreement is a deal made to make supply chains stronger and able to recover quickly from problems.
Washington D.C. -: Washington D.C. is the capital city of the United States of America, where important government buildings and meetings are located.