New Delhi, Jan 5 (KNN) Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has asked States to develop their Export Strategy aligned with the National Policy trade in order to boost country’s export. She revealed that the Centre is planning to roll out Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES) in order to strengthen Centre-States ties to boost exports.

The second meeting of the Council for Trade Development and Promotion was held in the national capital today. Ministers and senior officials from the States and other Ministries were present in the meeting.

The objective of this Council is to develop partnerships with the States with the aim of boosting international trade.

“Though, since last January we have managed to contain our trade deficit due to controls on imports, there is an immediate need to synergize our efforts and jointly take appropriate steps to boost India’s exports - which is the only sustainable way in today’s international trade environment,” Sitharaman said.

She highlighted that is a slowdown in world economy which has resulted in decrease in some of India’s traditional exports.

The Ministry has sought suggestions from the Council Members on steps required to improve the export competitiveness of the Indian products and on how can India partner in the adoption of such measures to create an environment conducive for exports.

She exhorted the Members to use this platform to articulate their perspective on the Trade Policy and work jointly with the Centre to address impediments to trade and infrastructure gaps which adversely affect India’s exports.

One such area which requires immediate intervention is that of facilities for testing, certification, trace-back, packaging and labelling.

“As some of you may have seen on the Indian trade portal, a hundred to hundred and fifty SPS notifications and a similar number of TBT notifications are being issued by WTO member countries each month. Around 50% to 60% of these measures have the potential to impact our trade,” Sitharaman said.

There Sector Specific needs can broadly be categorised into interventions required for Agri and marine products, for forest produce and for industrial products, she added.

The Commerce Minister urged the States to enhance their co-operation with Central Agencies for setting up common facilities like testing labs, training institutes as well as packaging and storage support to industry.

She also requested the States to consider higher allocation of resources for export infrastructure from their increased devolution of funds.

She added, “I expected that at least the ongoing ASIDE projects would be completed by the States from their resources. I am still awaiting an affirmative action on this from the States.

However, since almost all the states had expressed their wish for a central scheme which supports export infrastructure, we have acted on your suggestion and are trying to formulate a scheme which could provide financial support and supplement your efforts to create export infrastructure,” she said.

She is optimistic for the roll out of this scheme, which is very aptly titled as TIES or Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme. This would surely strengthen our TIES with the States

States have also been requested to develop their Export Strategy aligned with the National Policy trade.

“So far seventeen States have prepared their export strategy.  I request the balance States to kindly expedite their export strategies,” she said.

“Also Export Commissioners have been designated by twenty eight states. The remaining States may kindle expedite. I would request the States to use these export commissioners as focal points for institutionalised interactions with the Exporters from the State,” the Commerce Minister stressed.

She also asked the states to focus on services export and especially the sectors which still have a lot of untapped potential.

In her concluding remarks, she requested the States to consider organizing bimonthly meetings with the exporters in their States to sort out their infrastructure and tax related issues which would go a long way in improving our trade competitiveness.