The government has launched ‘Anytime-Anywhere’ online export awareness course for capable exporters to provide training, guidance to exploit the global trading opportunities, Commerce & Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu launched the course in a Board of Trade (BOT) meeting headed by him recently, the Ministry of Commerce & Industry said in a release, the Financial Express reported.
The online course is being funded by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the ‘Niryat Bandhu’ scheme in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), the ministry stated.
The scheme will help the business persons to discover trade exports through training, counseling and information sessions available on the DGFT office network pan India, , according to details available on DGFT website, the Financial Express reported.
The participants would get an Export Import Management certificate after completing the course.
The commerce ministers also rolled out DGFT’s mobile application during the meeting to permit exporters to express their problems, apply for different licenses, view their status besides the information related to latest trade notices, circulars, Foreign Trade Policy and trade fairs, the Financial Ex reported.
Emphasizing the importance of the course, the commerce secretary Dr Anup Wadhawan told the Financial Express, “Through concerted efforts of improved logistics, trade facilitation, increased digitization to reduce human interface and increase transparency, implementation of GST, capacity building through skilling etc., the government has been able to arrest the downturn (in exports) affecting India.”
DGFT Director General Alok Chaturvedi, claiming government’s commitment for end-to-end IT enablement and paperless process, said the Department of Commerce has approved a project for the revamp of entire IT system of DGFT.
India’s exports grew marginally by 3.74 per cent in January to USD26.36 billion, compared with USD 25.41 billion in January 2018 due to subdued performance of key sectors including engineering, leather, and gems and jewellery, PTI reported quoting data from the commerce ministry.
On the other hand, trade deficit at USD 14.73 billion widened in January as compared to December 2018 when it stood at USD 13 billion. However, the deficit has lowered when compared to USD 15.67 billion in January 2018, the Financial Express reported.
(With agency inputs)
