Mass transformation through digital platforms: Piyush Goyal
Author: BI Bureau
New Delhi: Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Textiles Piyush Goyal has said that India is showing the world how to bring about mass transformation using digital platforms. Addressing the 19th annual Harvard India Conference on ‘India at 2030: Decade of Transformation’ recently here, he said the policies in the last seven years have created the foundation for the next 25 years when we celebrate India at 100.
“As we are committed to bring Ease of Doing Business in India, we are equally committed to Ease of Living for our people as well as Maximum Governance with Minimum Government… Government is working relentlessly towards that vision. Most recently, we launched the PM Gati Shakti National Infrastructure Master Plan that will help India plan its needs and implement infrastructure in a better way,” said Goyal, in his address through video conferencing.
He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said ‘India is a Bouquet of Hope for the World.’ “Powered by the triple engine of exports, investment and startups, the foundation has been set for India to become a global powerhouse… Even during COVID, India met all its international commitments, particularly in the Services sector, making it a trusted partner for the world,” he said, adding that India’s technology, talent and temperament is bringing hope to the world.
“Our exports both in goods and services have been the highest ever in the history of India. We hope to continue to grow in a much bigger way… Our Startups made 2021 the Year of Unicorns, with over 80 Unicorns currently, and over 60,000 Startups registered,” he said, adding that just two days back, we signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the UAE. “It’s the fastest ever negotiated bilateral FTA globally,” he said.
Urging the Harvard India Diaspora to become part of India’s growth story, Goyal gave the students a three point Call for Action: Keep a part of India with you wherever you go and in whatever you do. Make Seva your guiding philosophy and try to give back to the nation. Mentor young aspiring minds of India in Tier II and Tier III cities and students of municipal schools and inspire them
Provide innovative solutions for farmers, artisans and weavers, small retailers, etc., and help realize the goals of Aatma Nirbhar Bharat and Make in India for the World. Quoting Mark Zuckerberg, Goyal said, “I am here to make something long term, anything else is temporary.” He said India is ready to take giant leaps towards transforming the nation and changing lives of 135 crore people. “India is one sixth of the world. Therefore when India grows, the world grows. When India reforms, the world transforms,” said Goyal, quoting Prime Minister Modi. /BI/
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The exports of agricultural commodities from March to June 2020 shot up by 23.24 percent on-year to Rs 25,552.7 crores.
As the economy comes to a standstill amid the coronavirus-led lockdown, India’s agriculture sector has taken the baton of economic growth in its hands. The exports of agricultural commodities from March to June 2020 shot up by 23.24 percent on-year to Rs 25,552.7 crores, according to the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. The government said that self-reliant agriculture is critical for the goal of an Atmanirbhar Bharat and for this, agricultural export is extremely important as besides earning foreign exchange for the country, the exports help farmers, producers, and exporters to take advantage of the wider international market and increase their income.
The surge in exports has also resulted in increased production in the farm sector by increasing coverage area and productivity. The share of India’s agricultural exports and imports in the world agriculture trade in 2017 was 2.27 percent and 1.90 percent, respectively. Even during the difficult time of pandemic lockdown, India took care not to disturb the world food supply chain and continued to export, the government said.
Ministry of Agriculture has prepared a comprehensive action plan for the promotion of Agri trade; the twofold approach focuses on boosting Agri Export with emphasis on value addition and action plan for Import Substitution. Recently, the Agriculture sector has witnessed a series of reforms, giving more choices to the farmers to sell their produce at competitive rates.
To mention a few, the Export strategy focuses on the export promotion of fast-evolving niche markets of Wellness food/ Health-conscious food/nutraceuticals, Development of “Brand India” in campaign mode to help penetration into new foreign markets and of new products which automatically translates into higher value realization, Gulf countries have been identified as focus destination to increase the market share which is a strong market for India though presently India caters to only 10-12% share of their total imports. A product-market matrix has been made containing a list of products of strength that could be expanded in new geographies and a list of known markets which can be introduced with newer products.
At the behest of the Department of Agricultural Cooperation & Farmers’ Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture, product-specific Export Promotion Forums have been created to lead Agri exports to new heights. Each Export Promotion Forum shall be having exporters of the related commodity as its members along with official members representing concerned Ministries/Departments of the Central and State Governments. Chairman APEDA shall be the chairman of each of these forums. The forums will meet at least once every two months, to discuss recommendations on issues pertaining to the export.
The recommendations of the forum will be placed in the product committee / Authority of APEDA. The Forum will keep in close contact with the concerned organization of the Ministry of Agriculture such as MIDH, Extension, NPPO, etc., DGFT, Ministry of Civil Aviation, MoFPI, etc. to further the interest of agricultural export.
