Traders ask for setting up of 'trade board' in Gujarat

A Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) delegation has met Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in Gandhinagar and demanded for setting up of a state-level "trade board" in Gujarat on the lines of those in Madhya Pradesh and New Delhi.
"We discussed many issues with Modi (yesterday) which were related to the trading community. The delegation included CAIT national president Mahendra Shah, its general secretary Pravinbhai Khandelwal and other CAIT office bearers.
"Modi has also accepted our invitation to inaugurate CAIT's national convention to be held in Delhi on February 27 and February 28," CAIT's Gujarat chapter President Pramod Bhagat told PTI here today.

The delegation also brought several provisions in the Food Security Act to Modi's notice, which has been creating problems for traders, he said, adding that the body also pleaded with Modi to amend the value added tax (VAT).
During the meeting, Modi underlined the need for a trade policy to ensure all-round development of small traders and availability of bank loans to them at cheaper rates, he said.
Modi talked about simplifying the taxation structure which is a hurdle for the trading community, he said.
Modi quoted the report of an RBI committee which said that about 50 per cent of small trading communities across the country had no current account banking facility.

The RBI committee report also said that 90 per cent of people from weaker sections of society are without access to banking facility, he said.