Dip in exports: Govt sets up council for trade promotion

The Union Commerce and Industry Minister will be the chairperson, while trade/commerce ministers in states and Union Territories will be the members

Concerned over continuous decline in exports, the government has constituted a council comprising members of the Centre and states to promote India's overseas shipments.

The Union Commerce and Industry Minister will be the chairperson of 'Council for Trade Development and Promotion', while trade/commerce ministers in states and Union Territories will be the members.

Besides, 14 secretaries of the central government including commerce, revenue, shipping, civil aviation, agriculture, food processing and economic affairs will also be the members the council, according to an official.

Contracting for the seventh month in a row, India's exports dipped by 15.82 per cent in June to $22.28 billion. The move is also aimed at achieving the $900 billion exports target by 2019-20.

The council will provide a platform to state governments and UTs for articulating their perspective on trade policy to help them develop and pursue export strategies in line with national foreign trade policy.

Besides, it will help the Centre apprise states and UTs about international developments affecting India's trade potential and opportunities and prepare them to deal with evolving situation.

The Centre and state governments would also deliberate in the council on the relevant infrastructure to promote trade and identify impediments and infrastructure gaps that are adversely affecting India's exports.

The council will be "recommendatory" in nature and will meet at least once every year, the official said.

The other members of the council include Chairman Railway Board, Niti Ayog Secretary and CEO, Director General of Foreign Trade, Director General of Federation of Indian Export Organisations, representatives of CII and FICCI and concerned Joint Secretary of Department of Commerce.

The whole idea behind the council is to increase involvement of states/UTs to promote exports, the official said, adding that the Commerce Ministry has also asked them to appoint commissioners and prepare export strategies.

As many as 21 states have appointed export commissioners while 14 states including Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat have framed strategies for outward shipments.

In a meeting on July 15, the ministry had asked states to expedite infrastructure development process and to formulate a trade policy in order to boost exports.