Centre to build logistic hubs near ports to boost exports: Nirmala Sitharaman

The government is establishing logistic hubs near sea ports with private sector participation to relieve the issue of receiving stocks on the airport, seaport and movement of goods inland, according to Nirmala Sitharaman, Commerce Minister.

Speaking at an Assocham conference on ‘Strategies for double digit growth in exports in New Delhi on Friday, she said, “We are establishing logistic hubs nearer the sea ports, as many of them, I may not be able to give a final picture, I think this would address immediate concerns that would be sustainable in the long term.”

Highlighting the priority of the government to cut down on logistic challenges, she informed that the Centre was trying to make electronic data interchanges at major ports that are completely under the control of Central Government. “In 36 landing areas, the regional authorities representing the DGFT (Director General of Foreign Trade) office have just initiated a two-day intensive workshop with them to see how best to reach out to exporters, how best to engage with exporters and CBEC (Central Board of Excise and Customs) is also part of this exercise,” said the Minister.

Highlighting that a complete, comprehensive picture is being handled on the logistics front, she stated that her ministry was engaging with railways to cut down costs.

Informing that the government was currently reviewing the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP), Nirmala Sitharaman said, “As of 2015 when FTP was brought out I remember making a clear statement so that there is a sense of stability in the minds of exporters that I will not review the policy unless we reach the mid-term, the review has commenced. We are doing the FTP review.”

On ease of doing business, she said that government was identifying more and more hurdles each year without which exporters, manufacturers would be better off.

“We are working on it, it is something which is not going to be that easily brought to a closure, these are long term sustained efforts, which are not the glamorous side of big ticket reforms but the sustainable actions that we need to take in order to bring systemic reforms and we are at it,” said Nirmala Sitharaman.