Committee of 6 Admn Secys fails to act on Govt’s directives
Even Regional Authority of DGFT not approached for assistance
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Feb 25: Though a detailed policy is in place yet there is absolutely no focus on promotion of trade, commerce and export mainly because of non-serious approach of a high level committee comprising of six Administrative Secretaries, which has the mandate to facilitate in filling up of infrastructure and logistics gap.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that Jammu and Kashmir’s export remains too heavily focused on primary commodities and its share of total trade in India is abysmally low despite numerous economic measures and domestic market liberation.
In order to assist the State strive to carve a place for itself in the national economy and a niche for its products in the national and international market, the Industries and Commerce Department on the directions of the State Government formulated Trade and Export Policy, which received the approval of the State Administrative Council (SAC) on August 1, 2018.
The Policy was notified vide Government Order No.197-IND dated August 10, 2018 to enhance domestic trade volumes by five times from the existing level in next 10 years; to move more speedily towards transformation of its role from regulatory to facilitator and from performer to enabler for the trade and commerce sector and to encourage more investment in enterprises and building a strong, responsive and vibrant business environment in the State.
It was mentioned in the Government Order No.197-IND dated August 10, 2018 that district and regional export promotion committees will be notified involving the Regional Authority of Directorate General of Foreign Trade in Jammu and Srinagar and other stakeholders in every district/region of the State to focus on promotion of district/region specific products and cater to the demands of the exporter community.
Keeping this provision in mind, the Government vide Order No.1374-GAD dated September 12, 2018 constituted State level committee for export promotion and to facilitate policy and strategy planning for filling up of infrastructure and logistics gap in the State to promote trade and commerce in general and exports in particular.
The committee comprising of Administrative Secretaries of Industries and Commerce, Transport, Finance, Public Works, Horticulture and Agriculture Department was directed to meet once in a quarter to facilitate policy and strategy planning, ensure effective implementation of Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES) in the State and take necessary decisions on export promotion issues pertaining to the State.
The committee was supposed to convene first meeting before December 12, 2018 to start working on the terms and references but till date it has not met even once thereby defeating the objective behind its constitution by the Government, sources said while disclosing that even Regional Authority of Directorate General of Foreign Trade, North Zone has not been approached for providing assistance in the implementation of the J&K Trade and Export Policy.
“We have not been approached by any officer of the Industries and Commerce Department of the State although we are ready to extend every possible assistance for promotion of trade and export”, said an officer of the Regional Authority of Directorate General of Foreign Trade, North Zone when contacted.
Due to inability of the committee of six Administrative Secretaries to start working as per the mandate given by the Government no step could be initiated towards implementation of J&K Trade and Export Policy, sources said while disclosing that even district and regional level export promotion committees have not been constituted till date.
The other objectives of the policy include increasing the share of trade and commerce in GDP by at least 3% in next five years and to add to per capita income of the State. Further, to raise, the share of State in the gross national export from 0.05 % at present to 2 % in next 10 years and to raise efficiency and widening linkages in domestic production and building a diversified competitive export sector as the means of stimulating higher rates of growth and development.
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