Ficci is actively working in the direction of setting up world class clinical testing labs and developing necessary infrastructure for R&D to tackle any SARS-like outbreak. ‘‘We will soon meet the health minister on the issue of setting up clinical testing labs once we bring together the entire range of public and private stakeholders,’’ Ficci secretary general, Amit Mitra said. He said Ficci was looking for tie-ups with international companies for the labs and delivery process.Meanwhile, Ficci also said that although the SARS outbreak had a moderate effect on trade and investment flows between India and Asean countries, domestic industry could expect a spur in business in tourism, HRD, consultancy and food processing. While releasing a survey conducted to gauge the impact of SARS on trade and investments between India and Asean, Mitra said ‘‘The survey reveals there has not been any catastrophic effect.’’Of the total 108 companies surveyed, 46 per cent were not at all affected by SARS. Among the 54 per cent affected, 62 per cent had only a less than 10 per cent decline in revenue realisation, and 69 per cent had less than 10 per cent decline in profit margins compared to the corresponding period last year.
