New foreign trade policy to focus on trade facilitation: Official

he new Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) that is on the anvil will unveil trade facilitation measures, simplify procedures, reduce the interface between bureaucrats and industry for ease of doing business and make the system transparent, an official said Saturday.

“It would encourage exploration of new markets and product diversification for export. The Indian government recognizes the importance of trade for growth of economy and the new FTP would be dovetailed with the long term vision of the government,” said Director General, Foreign Trade Pravir Kumar at a round table on ‘India’s Foreign Trade Policy’ organized by Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), CUTS International and IPE Global Ltd.

The underlying philosophy of the FTP is to provide an effective and transparent framework that gives impetus to export and import, Kumar said, assuring trade and industry that the new FTP was being formulated only after extensive stakeholder consultations and to the extent possible include recommendations of the industry.

He also urged the industry to focus on “how” instead of “what” and “why” when it came to increasing trade in the country. The targets are well-known, now it was time to create an effective way forward, he added. 

Ms Arti Ahuja

Arti Ahuja

Director

Retired from the Indian Administrative Services, Ms Ahuja has over 34 years of experience in administration, policy formulation, project management, and leadership across the public sector. Her expertise spans health systems, nutrition, women’s workforce participation, vulnerable populations, petrochemicals, and social sector programs. She has held several senior positions in the Government of India, including Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, where she led reforms to strengthen worker welfare and represented India at the G20 Employment Working Group; Secretary, Ministry of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, where she initiated the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme; and Secretary, Women & Child Development, where she directed large-scale nutrition and empowerment initiatives, strengthening the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS). As Secretary of Health, Government of India she played a pivotal role in India’s COVID-19 response, launched the National Digital Health Mission, and advanced national programs on TB and AIDS control. She continues to advise on gender, climate change, and nutrition, contributes to national and international publications, and teaches public policy and nutrition at leading academic institutions. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health; Master’s in Public Policy from Princeton University; Master’s in Economics (Gold Medallist) from Panjab University, and is a Bachelor of Law from the University of Delhi.

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