Interstate Trade Council to bridge Centre-state gap

FOREIGN TRADE POLICY/ TRADE DIALOGUE: Handlooms to get trademark

Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath today announced the establishment of an inter-state trade council for providing a proper institutional dialogue mechanism between the Centre and states.This, he said, would boost international trade.

"Coherence and consistency among trade and other economic policies of both the Centre and states are vital for achieving our Foreign Trade Policy objective. It is therefore proposed to engage state governments in providing an enabling environment for boosting international trade," Nath said, releasing the Annual Supplement-2005 to the Foreign Trade Policy (2004-09).

The government said though some states had formulated export policies with a focus on the impediments in promoting trade, a lot more needed to be done to coordinate these activities. "State governments are increasingly required to partner with the Union government in the process," Nath said.

He also said the government had decided to have a trademark for handlooms similar to 'Woolmark' and 'Silkmark', which would enable handloom products to develop a niche market for themselves with a distinct identity.

To promote the export of 'minor forest produce' products, Shellac Export Promotion Council has been designated as the nodal export promotion council(EPC).

The government has also invited suggestions on a proposal to change the names of export promotion councils to trade promotion councils.

In a move to encourage youth and women entrepreneurs in the export effort, the government will direct all EPCs to open a separate cell for providing assistance to such people.

Nath also stated the Foreign Trade Policy had succeeded in boosting employment.

According to a commerce ministry study, exports generated an incremental direct employment of 10 lakh jobs during 2004-05.

"The total employment generated during the year corresponding to export activity valued at 78 billion was 1 crore jobs "� 86 lakh of direct employment, and 14 lakh of indirect employment in the logistics, transport and related sectors," Nath said.