Indian chartered accountants are in good demand in the West Asian countries, Australia and Singapore, according to K. Raghu, vice-president of Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI).

Speaking to presspersons on the sidelines of a sub-regional conference of the Southern Indian Regional Council of ICAI in Mangalore on Thursday, he said that West Asia, Australia and Singapore are the three main happening locations for Indian CAs. In fact, Dubai has around 1500 Indian CAs and Abu Dhabi around 600.

ICAI is playing a proactive role at the international front. It has drawn up a strategy with the aim to export professional services in a big way to enable Indian professionals take lead in international affairs and come at par with those from developed countries, he said.

ICAI has signed agreements with several countries, including the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia and CPA (Certified Practising Accountants) Australia. These agreements facilitate the mobility of members across the borders and further strengthen the tie between India and the counterpart in the other country, he said.

The memoranda of understanding for cooperation with the accounting institutes of Bhutan and Saudi Arabia have been cleared by the Ministry, and will be signed soon. Talks are on to sign MoU with accounting bodies of South Africa and Japan, he said. (The Hindu)