Specialists in different countries of the world under the Area Study Centres sponsored by the UGC will evaluate the role of their organisations, in the context of liberalisation and globalisation in the marketplace. The directors of the Area Study Centres who are attached to various varsities at present will also draft a proposal for autonomy in their functioning.

Prof V Shiv Kumar, director of the Centre for Latin American Studies attached to Goa University, hosting the conference told The Indian Express that the Area Study Centres provide trade-related data to organisations like the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT). ``Except for Indian missions in the US, UK and some important countries,most of the embassies do not have trade centres,'' Prof Shiv Kumar said. In such a situation, the Area Study Centres can provide market assistance to companies, he said.

However interaction between industry and academia in this regard has been quite limited. ``We want to be a consultancy body to the industry, but it has not worked out,'' he said. However, the limited encounters between this department and the industry has delivered encouraging results. ``Following a conference organised by us along with the Ministry of Commerce, direct shipping links were established between India and Brazil,'' Prof Shiv Kumar said.

He also added that the Area Study Centres would be able to establish a more profitable relationship with the industry if the red tape governing the functioning of educational institutions is removed.