Concerned over declining exports, the government will soon set up a Trade Facilitation Council comprising members of Centre and states to promote India's overseas shipments.
The council will be chaired by Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and secretaries of key ministries and state ministers will be the members.
The main objective of the council will be facilitating trade from states in a bid to boost the country's exports.
To discuss the issue, Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia will hold meetings with officials from the states tomorrow.
"We will also look at several other issues. What is that holding states back (on trade front)? There are infrastructure and governance issues in states. Every state needs to look at that. We are also looking at local taxation issues particularly where refund of taxes are involved," the official said.
The commerce ministry is also working on other measures including dis-segregation of exports data state-wise.
"We will give access to DGCI&S window for their (states) own data to see where they are going," the official added.
The Commerce Ministry will encourage every states for a State Trade Policy in order to streamline procedures and increase exports.
Seeking to involve states for promoting exports, the Commerce Ministry had asked them to appoint commissioners and prepare export strategy.
