The Institute of Company Secretaries of India has proposed setting up an international federation that will lay down common secretarial standards across the world in tune with the changes brought about by the World Trade Organisation.

"We have proposed International Federation of Institutes of Company Secretaries," ICSI President P K Vijoy told a press conference in New Delhi on Tuesday.

He also announced that the three-day 31st national convention of ICSI would be held from September 11 in Agra.

The proposed federation would seek to bring uniformity in secretarial standards and draw up common course curriculum, he said, adding that it would eventually enable a federation member to freely move to any part of the world for work.

At present, ICSI has an agreement with the United Kingdom's Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, and any member of the institute wishing to practice in the UK need to appear for additional three papers in the UK.

Since ICSA has branches in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore, ICSA-qualified professional could practice in these countries as well, Vijay said.

There are over 17,000 practicing company secretaries in India and 142 members have qualified for the ICSA standards.

Asked about the Cancun WTO meet, Vijay said the institute had made representations to the Centre for clearly identifying the services of company secretaries under central product classification in the General Agreement on Trade in Services.

About the national convention in which 800 delegates (including from overseas) are expected to participate, he said it would seek to make an in-depth analysis of corporate laws, securities laws, globalisation of professional services, business ethics and professionalism.

Elaborating on the proposed international federation, Vijay said, "A need is felt to popularise one brand and one identity for the profession of company secretaries throughout the world to bring out uniformity and to ensure knowledge sharing and management amongst professionals."

The spadework has been started and company secretary institutes in other parts of the world were being contacted to bring them on a platform to popularise one brand all over the world, he added.

On the secretarial standards, Vijay said the institute had already discussed that in its board and general meetings.

"By next month we expect to bring standards in buyback," he said, adding that another six set of standards -- investor services, directors report, corporate report and bonus issue -- were likely by December.