Revival of National Advisory Committee on International Trade and Interstate Trade Council


MINISTRY OF : COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

DEPARTMENT OF : COMMERCE

RAJYA SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 2327TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.12.2011

Revival of National Advisory Committee on International Trade and Inter state Trade Council

2327. SHRI E.M. SUDARSANA NATCHIAPPAN

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state:-

b) if so, what is the criteria fixed for nomination in those bodies and composition of it; and

c) whether some meetings were earlier held and what were the agenda and follow up made through such bodies?

Answer

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

(SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA)

(a) to (c) There are three Advisory Bodies in Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry. These are Export Promotion Board, Inter State Trade Council and Board of Trade. Export Promotion Board functions under the Chairmanship of the Cabinet Secretary to provide policy and infrastructural support through greater coordination amongst concerned Ministries for boosting exports. All Ministries directly connected with facilitating foreign trade are represented on the Board by their Secretaries. Inter State Trade Council was constituted to ensure a continuous dialogue between Union and State Governments / Union Territories. The Council is chaired by Commerce & Industry Minister and the Chief Ministers of the States or State Cabinet Ministers nominated by Chief Ministers, Lt. Governors or Administrators of Union Territories or their nominees, Secretaries of various departments and Chairperson of some trade/industry bodies are its Members. The Board of Trade, inter-alia, advises the Government on policy measures connected with the Foreign Trade Policy in order to achieve the objectives of boosting India?s exports. The Board is chaired by Commerce & Industry Minister.

(b) As per present constitution, the Board of Trade has 17 Non Official Members, 15 Ex-Officio Members and 14 Official Members. The last meeting of Board of Trade was held on 11.10.2011. Inputs received in the meeting were taken into consideration in the announcements made by Commerce and Industry Minister on 13.10.2011 on policy initiatives to further encourage foreign trade.