Supply Chain Resilience Initiative

Why in news?

• India, Japan and Australia have begun discussions on launching a trilateral Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI) to reduce dependency on China.

About SCRI:

• SCRI is a direct response to individual companies and economies concerned about Chinese political behaviour and the disruption that could lead to supply chains
• The initiative was first proposed by Japan with the two-fold objective of attracting foreign direct investment to turn the Indo-Pacific into an “economic powerhouse” and to build a mutually complementary relationship among partner countries
• To take the proposal forward it has been decided to hold the first meeting of the commerce and trade ministers of the three countries soon.
• The initiative is likely to be open to the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) after India-Japan-Australia understanding on the matter.
• To begin with, the aim is to work out a plan to build on the existing bilateral supply chain networks. India and Japan, for instance, have an Indo-Japan Industrial Competitiveness partnership, which deals with locating Japanese companies in India.
• Those aware with the details of initial deliberations told ET that the purpose eventually is to improve supply chain resilience across the Indo-Pacific, which through such an effort can develop a sound economic profile to its security logic.

PRELIMS QUESTION

Consider the following statements regarding “Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI)”:
1.It is being created by USA and Japan.
2.The main objective is to reduce supply chain dependencies on China.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to prelims question