As India's exports continue to fall, the Commerce Ministry has solicited specific suggestions from exporters which could be taken up with various ministries, including Finance, to improve ease of doing business and boost waning exports.
Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman sought specific inputs to reverse the negative trend in exports during her interaction with the representatives of 12 export promotion councils (EPCs) in New Delhi, according to an agency report.As India's exports continue to fall, the Commerce Ministry has solicited specific suggestions from exporters which could be taken up with various #
"The Commerce Ministry will follow up with environment, textiles, customs and finance for easing out of few more things related to export promotion so that there is an ease of doing business from the exporters point of view," Sitharaman said after the meeting.
She asked the EPCs to inform the ministry on "what is not happening and what should ideally happen" on the respective area. The textile industry is one of the sectors hit by the export slowdown.
The minister also asked the council members to talk with their respective members and "seek specific interventions from the Ministry based on their inputs."
The minister assured them that the issues raised by them would be sorted out through discussions with the stakeholders concerned.
Sitharaman assured that her ministry would look into all the issues raised by the EPCs and will also approach External Affairs Ministry and Finance Ministry for customs related issues.
Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia who also addressed exporters, said that the review of the India-Asean FTA has already been initiated.
During the meeting, several issues were flagged by the exporters including the impact of India-Asean FTA on the countrys exports, non-tariff barriers of other countries, currency volatility, special economic zones, problems in dealing with customs authorities and service tax.
Indias exports contracted for the 13th month in a row, dipping about 15 per cent in December to $22.2 billion due to steep decline in engineering and petroleum shipments.
India's total exports during April-December period declined by 18.06 per cent to $196.6 billion. (SH)
Fibre2Fashion News Desk - India