Panel set up to push exports, create jobs

New Delhi: The Centre on Wednesday constituted an expert task force on employment and exports led by Niti Aayog vice-chairperson Rajiv Kumar, which would help provide a major thrust to job creation by enhancing India’s exports.

The main aim behind forming the 15-member panel was driven by the need to address India’s unemployment and under-employment issue, official sources said, adding that India needs to create an environment in which globally competitive exporters can emerge and flourish.

In this context, the task force which will submit its report by November this year, will propose a comprehensive plan of action to generate employment and alleviate under-employment in both goods and services sectors and low wages by boosting India’s exports in key labour-intensive industries, sources informed.

It would recommend sector-specific policy interventions in key employment sectors, and also suggest ways to enhance trade in services with high employment potential.

The panel will help identify key macroeconomic factors constraining exports and suggesting methods to address these constraints. It will also assess the effectiveness of existing schemes to promote exports, sources added.

It will help the Centre in thrashing out ways to enhance the availability of data on trade such that it is reliable, globally comparable and timely, particularly with respect to trade in services.

The 15-member panel, apart from Mr Kumar, includes CEO of Niti Aayog Amitabh Kant, commerce secretary, secretary in the department of industrial policy and Promotion, Economic Affairs Secretary, and Textiles Secretary as members, apart from several experts and economists.