Export promotion offices to open in 10 missions abroad: Prabhu
New Delhi, June 15: The Department of Commerce will soon open 10 offices in Indian missions abroad to boost export promotion activities, Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu said on Friday.
Making this announcement at a review here of the sectoral export promotion plans prepared by various ministries, he said a conference of heads of Indian missions abroad has been scheduled in end-June to discuss trade promotion measures, according to a Commerce Ministry release.
The Minister stressed on branding of Indian products and export credit as important focus areas for export promotion, it said.
He also emphasised that efforts should be made for getting priority sector lending status for export credit and directed the ministry's Logistics Division to work upon measures like bulk cargo transportation to reduce freight costs.
Prabhu suggested each ministry and department should set targets for increasing exports in 2018-2019 and directed that inter-ministerial meetings be held quarterly to resolve difficulties and assess the progress across sectors.
Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia noted that although exports have grown in the past year, a quantum jump is required in this direction.
She stressed that branding is a major issue cutting across all sectors and Brand Equity Foundation is formulating a proposal to support line ministries for branding export products.
Director General Foreign Trade Alok Chaturvedi said that the Department of Commerce is preparing a "100 Billion Additional Exports Strategy" which will be released shortly.
Indian merchandise exports in 2017-18 grew by 9.8 per cent over the previous year, while services exports were up by 17.8 per cent.
As per Commerce Ministry data on Friday, the country's trade deficit in May at $14.62 billion, widened marginally over the excess of imports over exports at $13.84 billion recorded in the same month last year, on account of a higher import bill due to oil prices.
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Congress voices concern over safety of minorities in Bangladesh
New Delhi (PTI): The Congress on Wednesday expressed deep concern over the "atmosphere of insecurity" being faced by religious minorities in Bangladesh and the arrest of Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das.
In a statement, Chairman of the party's Media and Publicity Department Pawan Khera said, "The Indian National Congress expects the government of India to prevail upon the Bangladesh government to take necessary steps and ensure security of life and property of minorities in the country".
"The Indian National Congress expresses its deep concern at the atmosphere of insecurity being faced by religious minorities in Bangladesh. The arrest of the ISCKON monk is the latest example," he said.
A lawyer was killed on Tuesday during clashes between security personnel and followers of Das, who was denied bail and sent to jail by a court in the port city of Chattogram in Bangladesh in a sedition case.
Das, the spokesperson for Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote, was arrested from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka a day earlier.
India on Tuesday noted with "deep concern" the arrest and denial of bail to the Hindu leader, and urged authorities in the neighbouring country to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all other minority groups.
Bangladesh reacted sharply to the Ministry of External Affairs statement, saying it was unfounded and stood contrary to the spirit of friendship between the two countries.
In its statement, Dhaka said it does not interfere with the country's judiciary, which is fully independent
