Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Piyush Goyal, chaired the third meeting of the reconstituted Board of Trade in Mumbai today. He emphasized the government’s focus on fostering economic growth through partnerships with state governments, promoting a transparent and efficient trade environment.

Goyal launched the Department of Commerce’s ‘Jan Sunwai Portal’, aimed at improving communication between stakeholders and authorities. The portal offers video conferencing services and direct channels for addressing trade-related concerns, accessible across various government bodies including DGFT, Coffee Board, Tea Board, and more.

Goyal inaugurated ECGC’s new online service portal and an upgraded SMILE-ERP system, both of which focus on automating processes, reducing paperwork, and improving service delivery. These innovations are expected to boost efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint, benefiting exporters and banks alike.

Discussions during the meeting highlighted employment initiatives and state-level economic growth efforts. Presentations from states like Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Madhya Pradesh showcased their progress in export promotion and ease of doing business.

Furthermore, it was announced that from now on, exports made through couriers will receive benefits such as RoDTEP, RoSCTL, and Drawback, with plans to extend these benefits to postal exports.

The Board of Trade, comprising industry representatives, state governments, and trade organizations, aims to enhance India’s international trade and create a supportive environment for exporters.

Senior officials, including Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal and DGFT Director General Santosh Sarangi, were also in attendance.