New Delhi, Sept 10 (KNN) This year India is likely to be ranked "better" in the World Bank's 'Ease of Doing Business' report, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said adding that the government has taken several steps to improve business environment in the country.

"Last year there was a debate as to why India was poorly fared in that (ranking). With the slew of steps, this year we hope India would be ranked better," Sitharaman said at an event here today.

She also said that the World Bank together with a professional agency could release the ranking of Indian states on 'ease of doing business' this week. 

Stating that the states can no longer be red-tape ridden states, Sitharaman said most of the states have taken a series of steps to remove red-tapism and improve business environment. 

She said that the government is ensuring greater market access for Indian industry in the trade agreements which it is negotiating. "We as exporters should get best of market access," she said.

"You have to take risks, you have to invest. You have to choose your destiny. You have to capitalize on Indian domestic market and its demographic dividend," she urged the businesses. 

Sitharaman said huge opportunities exist in sectors such as health care, energy, automobile and defence for investments in northern states which have shown growth of about 7.7 per cent during 2004 to 2014. (KNN Bureau)