• Investment World
• eWorld
• Brand Line
• Mentor
• Life
• Brand Quest
• The New Manager
• Smartbuy

Stocks

• Quotes
• SE Diary
• Scoreboard
• Open-End Mutual Fund

Cross Currency

• Rates
  
  

Shipping

• Ports
  
  

Archives

• Yesterday
• Datewise
• Resources
• In Focus
• In Depth
• Events 2007

Group Sites

• The Hindu
• The Hindu ePaper
• Business Line
• Business Line ePaper
• Sportstar
• Frontline
• The Hindu eBooks
• The Hindu Images

Mohan Padmanabhan

Chennai, Aug. 15 The Government, in a bid to speedily deal with issues relating to infrastructure required for export-import, has decided to constitute a Core Group of Secretaries to be headed by the Cabinet Secretary.

It is learnt that the group, which will meet at least once in three months or even earlier, if required, will recommend measures for accelerated development of critical infrastructure relating to export-import activities in a time-bound manner.

Talking to Business Line here recently, Union Commerce Ministry sources said the objective was to put in place an effective mechanism to resolve inter-ministerial issues relating to infrastructure required for export-import, and thereby minimise the transaction costs and time involved in exim-related activities.

Sources said the Core Group, besides facilitating trade, will strive to remove the bottlenecks in infrastructure, especially critical infrastructure at ports, airports, railways and roads related to exports and imports. It is learnt that the terms of reference of the group will cover a review of the functioning of service providers at ports, airports, land custom stations, etc with a view to identifying procedures/systems that inhibit trade and take measures to remove them.

There will also be a review of the functioning of certification arrangements at ports, airports and LCS points.

The ministries to be represented by the respective Secretaries in the Core Group include those of Civil Aviation, External Affairs, Shipping, Road Transport & Highways, Revenue, Agriculture and Cooperation, Department of Border Management besides the Chairman of the Railway Board. The Department of Commerce under the Ministry of Commerce will be the Secretariat of the Core Group.

Sources pointed out that the Core Group may associate other senior officers, particularly Chief Secretaries of States, as needed.

More Stories on : Exports & Imports | Foreign Trade

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu Business Line