Inter-Ministerial Group in constant touch with exporters, says Piyush Goyal
New Delhi, March 6
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said that the recently-created Inter-Ministerial Group has been in regular touch with exporters, amidst tensions in West Asia that invariably disrupted trade and shipping lines.
"Even this morning, they must have had an engagement. They take feedback. And we will not be found wanting and supporting our exporters in any way. We should continue to meet all the commitments that we have made to our buyers, whether in goods or services," Piyush Goyal told reporters.
He said the government will use every policy tool and the export promotion mission to support our exporters.
"I have already given some instructions in the last two days also. (today), we'll be formalizing some ways to give comfort to our exporters," he said.
He added that his ministry is in dialogue with the Ministry of Shipping and with all the shipping companies. "I do hope we will find resolution to this issue also."
"We are working with them to see how that burden our exporters can be supported with. But I can assure you this government stands with our industry and will continue to ensure that all our international commitments are met because that is what defines India. Even during COVID, India met all its international commitments, which earned us the acronym of a trusted partner. And we will continue to be the trusted partner of the world," he further said.
Earlier this week, an Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) for Supply Chain Resilience' was created, comprising members from Department of Financial Services, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Shipping, Ports and Waterways, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, to facilitate effective coordination, monitoring and follow-up.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Coordination between ministries is key. Often in India, the left hand doesn't know what the right is doing. An Inter-Ministerial Group sounds good on paper, but its success will depend on its speed and authority to cut through red tape. The proof will be in the pudding.
"Trusted partner" – that phrase really matters. During COVID, our pharma industry delivered. Now with shipping lines disrupted, buyers in Europe and US will watch if we keep our promises. This proactive approach by Mr. Goyal is crucial to maintain that hard-earned reputation. Jai Hind!
Good to see the government acting swiftly. But I hope this group doesn't just become another committee for meetings. They need to work directly with port authorities and logistics companies to clear bottlenecks. The focus should be on ground-level execution, not just policy.
Including the Ministry of Petroleum is smart. Fuel costs and availability for ships will be a major factor in this crisis. Hope they can negotiate better rates or provide some subsidy to Indian-flagged vessels. This is a complex problem needing a 360-degree solution.
As someone who sources textiles from India, this communication is reassuring. The geopolitical tensions are beyond anyone's control, but a responsive government makes a huge difference. It builds confidence in the supply chain. Keep the dialogue open with international buyers too.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.