About Publication
The Publication-Journal Division of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) plays a crucial role in disseminating knowledge, promoting intellectual discourse, and fostering thought leadership in the domains of international trade, business, and management. The Division contributes significantly to the academic, policy, and business communities through its carefully curated and professionally managed publications. It manages and publishes three prestigious and flagship journals Foreign Trade Review (FTR), IIFT International Business and Management Review (IBMR), and FOCUS WTO. These journals, each with its unique identity and scope, collectively serve as vital platforms for scholars, policymakers, researchers, and industry professionals engaged in or interested in studying international trade, global business dynamics, and management practices.
The Foreign Trade Review (FTR) is one of the oldest and most respected journals in the field of international trade. Established decades ago, FTR provides a forum for original research articles, critical reviews, and empirical studies on various aspects of foreign trade, economic policy, trade agreements, and international economic relations. The journal encourages contributions that address emerging global trade issues, including the impact of digital trade, sustainability in global supply chains, geopolitical shifts, and the evolving architecture of multilateral trade agreements.
The second flagship publication, the IIFT International Business and Management Review (IBMR), focuses on the broader spectrum of international business and management. This journal addresses global marketing, international finance, cross-cultural management, supply chain management, strategic alliances, and innovation in the international business landscape. IBMR attracts submissions from management scholars, industry practitioners, and policymakers, thereby bridging the gap between theory and practice. The journal provides a comprehensive view of how businesses navigate the complexities of global operations and respond to challenges such as technological disruptions, changing consumer preferences, and regulatory environments across different countries.
The third key publication managed by the Division is FOCUS WTO. This journal is designed to provide in-depth coverage and critical analysis of developments related to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the international trading system. It offers timely insights into WTO negotiations, trade facilitation measures, International Business and the impact of WTO rules on developing and least-developed countries. FOCUS WTO is an essential resource for diplomats, trade negotiators, policymakers, and scholars who study or influence the global trade governance framework.
In addition to these journals, the Publication-Journal Division is responsible for bringing out the IIFT Newsletter. The Newsletter provides a comprehensive summary of various activities, events, achievements, and initiatives undertaken by the Institute. It serves as a communication tool that keeps stakeholders informed about conferences, seminars, training programs, research projects, collaborations, and other institutional developments. Through this publication, the Division helps strengthen the connection between IIFT and its stakeholders, including students, alumni, faculty, government bodies, and industry partners.
Publication-Journal Division of IIFT is indispensable in advancing scholarly research, informing policy debates, and supporting industry dialogue on international trade and business issues. Its publications are a testament to IIFT’s commitment to excellence, knowledge sharing, and global trade and management capacity building.
Head Message
Dr. Sheeba Kapil
IIFT is one of India’s premier B-Schools with a distinguished legacy of over five decades in advancing global trade and management education. It gives me great pride to highlight the significant contributions of the Institute’s Publication-Journal Division, which continues to serve as a cornerstone in our mission to disseminate knowledge, Research and foster intellectual dialogue, and promote thought leadership in the vital domains of international trade, business, and management.
Through our publications, Journal division strive to meaningfully impact academic, policy, and industry communities by offering high-quality platforms for sharing innovative ideas, research findings, and policy insights. At the heart of these efforts lie three prestigious and flagship journals Foreign Trade Review (FTR), IIFT International Business and Management Review (IBMR), and FOCUS WTO each reflecting IIFT’s commitment to scholarly excellence and global trade discourse.
As Professor and Head of the Finance Department at IIFT, I have been associated with the Institute for nearly 19 years Spearheading IIFT’s advancement in NIRF rankings from 27th to 15th in 2024. with an overall professional experience of 28 years, I have held several key academic and administrative leadership positions, including, Head, Department of Finance, Ex-Head, International Collaborations and Capacity Development (ICCD), Ex-Head, Graduate Studies in Management Division (GSMD). I continue to serve/have served as a Member of IIFT-Borad, Finance Committee, Academic Council, and Board of Studies etc at IIFT. My contributions have focused on institutional transformation and global outreach. Key milestones include Developing collaborative MoUs with globally renowned, triple-crown accredited institutions, Strengthening student exchange programs and international academic partnerships, Revamping existing journals and launching the IIFT-IBMR journal, Leading critical divisions across academics, accreditation, and strategic initiatives, Driving major accreditation processes (AACSB, NAAC, NBA, AIU), Chairing MBA programs (International Business, Business Analytics), executive education, and international programs, Authoring 5 books, publishing 75+ international research papers, 10+ business cases, and guiding 15+ PhD scholars
Over the course of my association with IIFT, I have actively led and participated in numerous prestigious international academic engagements. Notable highlights include:
- Conducting a Faculty Development Program for professors at Audencia Business School, France.
- Serving as an official AACSB-appointed mentor
- Delivering keynote addresses, participating and chairing sessions at global conferences (recent ones) such as, EUMASS, Dubai, AACSB Asia-Pacific Conference, Osaka, Japan (attended by 225+ deans, associate deans, and faculty), AACSB Conference, Bangkok, Thailand, International Conference on Management, Economics, and Accounting, Tanjungpura University, Indonesia, Academic exchange with VIISAS, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, Hanoi, GSEM Round Table on “Internationalization of Research in a Business School,” Ural Federal University, Russia.
- Teaching international cohorts at the Institute of Finance Management, Tanzania (2007–2022)
- Conducting specialized programs for CLMV countries (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam) under IIFT’s executive programs
- Participating in the AACSB Business Accreditation Seminar at Singapore Management University (June 2022)
- Resource faculty at the APEC School on Shipping & Logistics, Antwerp, Belgium
- Participating in the UKIERI Europe Program, involving academic exchange with City College Norwich, London Business School, LSE, East Anglia University, and major UK financial institutions, ETC
Additionally, I serve on several academic bodies:
- Member, UGC NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council)
- Member NBA (National Board of Accreditation-AICTE)
- Member, and mentor AACSB International, USA
- Member, AIU Equivalence Committee for FPM programs
- Member of multiple AICTE panels on higher education
My commitment to academic and research excellence has been recognized through several honors, including: Global Emerald Literati Award (2019) for outstanding research, Global Top Cited Paper Award (2023) by Wiley Journals, Best Teacher Award at IIFT, New Delhi ETC
Under my leadership, the Publication-Journal Division has been revived, restructured, and strategically repositioned to meet global academic standards. All IIFT journals have been converted into double-blind peer-reviewed platforms, ensuring enhanced academic rigor, transparency, and quality. Significant progress/achievement has also been made in the indexing of IIFT’s journals, thereby expanding their global reach, scholarly impact, and credibility within the academic and research communities.
The Publication-Journal Division at IIFT remains integral to our academic and research mission anchored in integrity, quality, and global relevance. We welcome and encourage greater engagement from scholars, policymakers, and industry professionals to join us in advancing the global discourse on international business management, trade, Finance and policy.
Dr. Sheeba Kapil
