Representatives of central and state governments, industry and exporters will meet on June 6 to discuss ways to boost exports amid growing protectionism globally, a government official said Monday.
The meeting will be headed by commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal and will see discussion on various issues related to the industry, said Som Prakash, minister of state for commerce and industry, at Phagwara, Punjab, on Monday.
Members of the Council for Trade Development and Promotion and the Board of Trade will be meeting to deliberate upon all issues related to the country’s trade, the official cited above said.
The Board of Trade, a 70-member top advisory body on external trade, would also seek views of all stakeholders on the forthcoming foreign trade policy. The Board of Trade advises the government on policy measures related to the foreign trade policy in order to boost the country’s trade. It last met in February.
The Council for Trade Development and Promotion provides a platform to state governments and union territories for articulating their perspective on trade policy to help them develop and pursue export strategies in line with the national foreign trade policy. It was constituted in July 2015 to promote India’s overseas shipments.
The June 6 meeting assumes significance as states play a proactive role in promoting outbound shipments.
The commerce ministry has advised all the states to formulate their export policies and appoint export commissioners.
Since 2011-12, India’s exports have hovered around the $300 billion a year mark. In 2018-19, the country’s exports touched $331 billion as against $303 billion in 2017-18.
Promoting exports helps a country create jobs, boost manufacturing and earn more foreign exchange.
After taking charge of the ministry on May 31, Goyal held meetings with the officials of the department of commerce and industry on Saturday and Sunday. Junior ministers Hardeep Singh Puri and Som Prakash also attended the meetings.