Merger of Council for Trade Development and Promotion (CTDP) in to Board of Trade (BoT) - 11/2015-20 - Foreign Trade Policy

Government of India Ministry of Commerce Industry Department of Commerce Directorate General of Foreign Trade Notification No. 11/2015-20 New Delhi, the 17 July, 2019 S.O. 2571 (E) - The Council for Trade Development and Promotion (CTDP) was constituted vide S.O. 1798(E) dated 3 rd July, 2015 to ensure regular dialogue with State Governments and UTs on measures for providing an International trade enabling environment in the States and to create a framework for making the States active partners in boosting India's exports. The Board of Trade has been in existence for quite some time and was reconstituted vide Trade Notice 21/2015-20 dated 23 March, 2016. The objective of BOT is to have regular discussion and consultation with trade and industry and advise the Government on Policy measures related to Foreign Trade Policy in order to achieve the objective of boosting India's trade. 2. To bring about greater coherence in consultation process, it has been decided to merge the Council for Trade Development and Promotion (CTDP) with the Board of Trade (BOT)and the new forum will remain as Board of Trade (BOT) and its composition and Terms of Reference (TOR) will be as under: Composition of Board of Trade:- 1. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Chairperson 2. Minister/s of State for Commerce Industries, Gol and Minister in-charge of Trade and Commerce in States and UTs Members 3. Secretaries to Government of India: Commerce, Revenue, Financial Services, External Affairs, Railways(Chairman Railway Board), Shipping, Road Transport Highways, Civil Aviation, Promotion of Industry Internal Trade, Agriculture Cooperation, Health Family Welfare, Chemical Petrochemical, Posts, Animal Husbandry, Food Processing, Information Technology, Economic Affairs, MSME, Textiles, Environment Forests, Defence Production and Fisheries. CEO, NITI Aayog, Deputy Governor RBI, Chairman, CBIC, Chairman NHAI, CMD ECGC, MD EXIM Bank, MD, Container Corporation of India, Chairperson/President, MPEDA, FSSAI, APEDA, Coffee Board, Tea Board, Spice Board, Rubber Board, Head -Centre for WTO Studies, Director RIS, Official Members 4. President/Chairman, CII, FICCI, FIEO, ASSOCHAM, NASSCOM, GJEPC, AEPC, SRTPC, EPCH, CLE, EEPC, CHEMEXCIL, PHARMEXCIL, EPC for EOUs SEZs, SEPC, President, The Seafood Exporters Association of India, Indian Association of Tour Operators, SAARC Chairman of Commerce Industry, President Brihan Mumbai Customs House Agents Association, Federation of Freight Forwarders' Associations of India, Federation of Indian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Federation of Indian Women Enterprises, Indian Oilseeds and Producer Export Promotion Council, Laghu Udyog Bharti, CEO, Express Industry Council of India. Ex-officio Members from Apex Chambers and EPCs 5. To be notified separately Non-official Members 6 DGFT Member Secretary Chairman can co-opt any other official or expert, if required 3. The Terms of Reference for the Board of Trade (BOT) would be as follows: i. To provide a platform to State Governments and UTs for articulating their perspectives on trade policy; ii. To provide a platform to Government of India for apprising State Governments and UTs about international developments affecting India's trade potential and opportunities and to prepare them to deal with evolving situation; iii. To help State Governments develop and pursue export strategies in line with national Foreign Trade Policy; iv. To provide a platform for deliberation on the need for infrastructure relevant for promoting trade and for identification of impediments and infrastructure gaps which adversely affect India's exports; v. To facilitate a mechanism for discussion on operationalization of trade infrastructure. vi. To advise Government of Policy measures for preparation and implementation of both short and long term plans for increasing economic scenarios; vii. To review export performance of various sectors, identify constraints and suggest industry specific measures to optimize export earnings; viii. To examine existing institutional framework for imports and exports and suggest practical measures for further streamlining to achieve desires objectives; ix. To review policy instruments and procedure for imports and exports and suggest steps to rationalize use; and x. To examine issues which are considered relevant for promotion of India's foreign trade and for strengthening international competitiveness of Indian goods and services. (Alok Vardhan Chaturvedi) Director General of Foreign Trade Ex-officio Addl. Secretary to the Govt. of India (File No. 01/36/218/16/AM18/TC(Part II)