INSTITUTIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR EXPORT PROMOTION IN

INDIA
The Government of India has set up a number of institutions whose main
functions are to help an exporter in its export efforts. It is therefore, necessary for
the exporters to acquaint themselves with these institutions and the nature of help
they can render to them so that they can initially contact them to get whatever help
they could get from these institutions in exporting their products.
1. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE:
The Department of commerce in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry is the
Primary Government agency responsible for evolving and directing foreign trade policy
and programmes, including commercial relations with other countries. This
department is headed by a Secretary and he is assisted in the discharge of duties by a
Special Secretary, Additional secretaries and a number of other senior officers
functioning as Divisional heads. The department consisting of the following Divisions
concerning with various subjects connected with exports and imports. International
Trade Policy Division Foreign Trade Territorial Division Export Products Division Export
industries Division Export Service Division Economic Division
2. ADVISORY BOARDS
Board of Trade: The Board of Trade is the highest advisory body under the
Department of commerce to deliberate on policy matters. It has its members as
follows:
1.
Presidents of FICCI, ASSOCHAM and FASSI Leading industries. Secretaries of
Commerce and industry, Finance, External Affairs and Textiles. Chairman of ITPO/MD
of ECGC Export Promotion Board: under the chairmanship of cabinet Secretary.
3.ATTACHED AND SUBORDINATE OFFICES:
Directorate General of Foreign Trade
Director General of commercial Intelligence and Statistics
Export Processing Zones
Indian Government Commercial Representatives Abroad
4.AUTONOMUS BODIES:
(I) Export Promotion Councils
There are 20 export promotion councils covering the following products:
Apparels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, carpet, cashew, cotton textiles,
electronics and computer software, gem and jewellery, handicrafts, handlooms,
leather, power loom, construction, plastics, shellac, silk, synthetic , sports goods and
wool and woolens. These councils are registered under the companies Act as nonprofit making agencies. The department of commerce provides necessary financial
assistance in relation to their export promotion work. These councils advise the
Government regarding current developments in the export sector and measures the
necessary to facilitate future growth in exports, assist manufacturers and exporters to
overcome the various constrains and extend to them the full range of services for the
development of market overseas. The councils also perform certain regulatory

functions as they have the power to register and issue Registration-cum-membership

certificate under the Export and Import policy and also de-register errant or
defaulting exporters. The councils also conduct market surveys, assist in product
development. Sponsor trade delegations and guide newcomers in the export trade.
(II) Commodity Boards:
There are 9 Statutory Boards for the following commodities: Handicrafts and
Handloom, Silk, Power loom, coffee, coir, rubber, tea, tobacco and spices. The
commodity boards deal with the entire range of problems of production,
development, marketing etc. In respect of commodities concerned, they act
themselves as if they were the Export Promotion Councils. Some of these Boards have
opened their branch in foreign countries in order to promote the consumption of the
commodities under their jurisdiction.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

(III) Marine Products Export Development Authority:

The main functions of the Authority are:
Development of off-shore and deep- sea fishing in all its aspects and conservation
and management of off-shore and deep-sea fisheries;
Registration of fishing vessels, processing plants, storage premises and exports with a
view to promote a healthy development.
Laying down standards and specifications for marine products for the purpose of
export.
Rendering financial assistance.
Arranging for training in different aspects connected with export with special
reference to fishing, processing and marketing.
(IV) Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority
(APEDA) was established by the Government of India under the Agricultural
and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act passed by
the Parliament in December, 1985. The Act (2 of 1986) came into effect from
13th February, 1986 by a notification issued in the Gazette of India
The
Authority replaced the Processed Food Export Promotion Council (PFEPC).
In accordance with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority
Act, 1985, (2 of 1986) the following functions have been assigned to the Authority.
Development of industries relating to the scheduled products for export by way of
providing financial assistance or otherwise for undertaking surveys and feasibility
studies, participation in enquiry capital through joint ventures and other reliefs and
subsidy schemes;
Registration of persons as exporters of the scheduled products on payment of such fees as
may be prescribed;
Fixing of standards and specifications for the scheduled products for the purpose of
exports;

Carrying out inspection of meat and meat products in slaughter houses, processing plants,
storage premises, conveyances or other places where such products are kept or handled
for the purpose of ensuring the quality of such products;
Improving of packaging of the Scheduled products;
Improving of marketing of the Scheduled products outside India;
Promotion of export oriented production and development of the Scheduled products;
Collection of statistics from the owners of factories or establishments engaged in the
production, processing, packaging, marketing or export of the scheduled products or
from such other persons as may be prescribed on any matter relating to the scheduled
products and publication of the statistics so collected or of any portions thereof or
extracts therefrom;
Training in various aspects of the industries connected with the scheduled products;
Such other matters as may be prescribed.

(V) Indian Institute of Foreign Trade

The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade is functioning under the Ministry of commerce.
This is registered under the Societies Act. The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade
(IIFT) is an autonomous public business school established in 1963 by the
Government of India to help professionalize the country's foreign trade
management and increase exports by developing human resources,
generating, analysing and disseminating data.
(VI) India Trade Promotion Organization
India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), headquartered at Pragati Maidan, is the nodal
agency of the Government of India under aegis of Ministry of Commerce and Industry (India)
for promoting country's external trade. ITPO is a Schedule-B Miniratna Central Public Sector
Enterprise (CPSE)[14] with 100 percent shareholding of Government of India.
ITPO renewed its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ministry of Commerce &
Industry for the year 2013-14 on 20 March 2013.
In 2011-12, ITPOs performance was evaluated by the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE)
as the best among all the CPSEs under the administrative control of the Department of
Commerce (DoC) namely MMTC, STCI, PEC and ECGCI.
(VII) National Centre for Trade Information (NCTI):
The main functions of NCTI inclusive of Create database at national and international levels for export promotionCollect information on various aspects of trade and commerce on different countries.Establish linkages with trade promotion bodies, regulatory bodies, chamber of
commerce etc.-

Organize training, seminars and conferences on matters related to trade and

commerce.Publish papers, periodicals and other literature having a bearing on trade and
commerce.
(VIII) Export credit and Guarantee Corporation:
The ECGC a Government of India undertaking has been established for
minimizing the risk element in export business and to facilitate the flow of finance
from the banks to exporters. In addition to the normal risk policies, the corporation
assists the exporters through special schemes such as packing credit guarantee, post
shipment credit guarantee and export production finance guarantee. To suit varying
needs of exporters, the corporation provides different types of cover which may be
divided into the following three broad groups: Standard polices Financial guarantees
Special policies Under its policies intended to protect the exporters against overseas
credit risks, ECGC bears the main risks and pays the exporter 90% of his loss on
account of commercial risks and Political risks.
(IX) Export-Import Bank:
The EXIM Bank was established on January 1, 1982 for the purpose of financing,
facilitating and promoting foreign trade of India. It extends finance to exporters of
capital and manufactured goods, exporters of softwares and consultancy services and
overseas joint ventures and construction projects abroad. The bank is the principal
financial institution in India for coordinating the work of institutions engaged in
financing export and import trade. The EXIM bank concentrates mainly on medium
and long term credit for export of goods and services on deferred payment terms.
(X) Export Inspection Councils:
Quality control and pre shipment inspection is one of the important factors in
the export marketing. In order to ensure the quality of the products exported, a
legislation entitled "Export (Quality control and Inspection) Act" was enacted by the
Indian Parliament in 1963. As per this act The Government of India has established the
Export Inspection Council. The functions of this council are generally to advise the
central government regarding the measures for the enforcement of quality control
and inspection in relation to commodities intended for export and draw up a
programme therefore.
(XI) Indian Institute of Packaging
The Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP) is a national apex body which was set
up in 1966 by the packaging and allied industries and the Ministry of
Commerce, Government of India, with the specific objective of improving the
packaging standards in the country. The Institute is an autonomous body
working under the administrative control of the Ministry of Commerce.

(XII) Indian Council of Arbitration

The Indian Council of Arbitration (ICA) is organizing a 2-day International Conference on
Arbitration in the Era of Globalization on 11th and 12th December, 2015 in New Delhi in
or der to provide a meaningful coverage on common trends in the field of international and
domestic arbitration with a special reference to dynamic economy of India. The Conference
will be inaugurated by the Honble Justice of Supreme Court of India and the closing
ceremony will most likely to be addressed by the Honble Law Minister. Besides prominent
arbitration experts both from India and overseas, each technical session will be chaired by
the Honble Judges and eminent jurists. The Conference promises to be an exciting event
for people having keen interest in arbitration.
(XIII) Federation of Indian Export Organization
Federation of Indian Export Organisations represents the Indian entrepreneurs spirit of enterprise
in the global market. Known popularly as "FIEO", this apex body of Indian export promotion
organizations was set up jointly by the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India and private
trade and industry in the year 1965. FIEO is thus a partner of the Government of India in
promoting India's exports.
Other Institutions concerned with export promotion:
Office of the Textile Commissioner, Bombay Office of the Jute Commissioner, Kolkatta Indian Jute Mill Association, Kolkatta.