Govt proposes mechanisms to address exporters issues

The government has proposed two institutional mechanisms to address issues facing exporters and engage in regular communication with stakeholders, Parliament was informed today.
The first mechanism is 'Board of Trade', which will have an advisory role and would offer a platform for discussions and consultations and the other being the 'Council for Trade Development and Promotion'.
"The council will be a body with representatives of the central government and various states and UTs," Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
Besides these two mechanism, "product or sector specific export promotion councils and various industry and trade bodies will continue to be specialised institutions available for consultation from time to time," she said.

In a separate reply, she said that there is shortage of funds for setting up of new expo centres and testing labs for export due to transfer of funds to states.
"In 2014-15, Rs 674.84 crore were allocated under ASIDE scheme. In the budget 2014-15, this scheme has been delinked from support of the centre and thus no funds are allocated under state component of ASIDE scheme in 2015-16 where as Rs 110 crore were allocated under central component of ASIDE in 2014-15," she said.
ASIDE is Assistance to States for Developing Export Infrastructure and Allied Activities.
Till now, she said, a total of 1,674 projects were funded with assistance of Rs 6,393.97 crore under the state component of ASIDE and 474 projects were funded with assistance of Rs 1,862.19 crore under the central component.