E-connect Platform for Small Exporters: DGFT

New Delhi, June 21 (PTI) The commerce ministry will soon launch an e-connect platform to provide information to small exporters on duties and other trade-related issues, an official said on Friday.

Addressing exporters in Kolkata, Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) Santosh Kumar Sarangi said the focus is on digitisation and simplification of processes and procedures to promote ease of doing business.

The event was organised by the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO).

"Government shall be shortly launching the e-connect portal to provide one-stop solutions to all the information need of the exporters regarding trade, tariff, SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary), and TBT (technical barriers to trade) marketing intelligence," FIEO said in a statement, quoting Sarangi.

Sarangi said that enormous potential is there in the e-commerce exports and the DGFT has tied up with various marketing platforms and logistics companies to help exporters, particularly in Tier II and III cities.

Speaking on the occasion, FIEO president Ashwani Kumar said exports will remain buoyant this year and "we are looking to take overall exports to over USD 900 billion" this fiscal.

Yogesh Gupta, Regional Chairman, FIEO, said the Red Sea crisis has hurt exports and freight rates have increased significantly, reducing our competitiveness.

The government should look at strategies to mitigate this challenge, Gupta said, adding that the eastern region has a good volume of exports to Bangladesh, and there is a need to address some of the infrastructure and operational issues, which come in the way of timely release of goods on the Bangladesh side.