Union minister Piyush Goyal has officially taken charge of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for a second consecutive term. Upon assuming office, he emphasised the need for integrity, speed, skill, and scale among ministry officers. He stressed the importance of fully utilising the Steering Committee on Advancing Local Value-add & Exports (SCALE) Committee and Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Schemes to boost exports and domestic production.
In a ceremony in New Delhi, Goyal, along with Jitin Prasada, who has assumed the role of minister of state, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, convened a review meeting with senior officers from both departments within the ministry. The meeting, attended by Prasada, saw presentations by the commerce secretary and DPIIT Secretary on ongoing proposals and action items.
Goyal highlighted the need for continued collaboration and directed that a series of meetings be scheduled in the coming days to delve into the details of various policies and actions that need to be finalised. He underscored the importance of introspection and better coordination between departments, emphasising the significance of research and development and strengthening the public private partnership (PPP) model of governance, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a press release.
Encouraging the officers to adopt ‘quality’ as the mantra for ensuring India’s progress, Goyal noted that timely sharing of data and transparency in exports and imports will foster investor confidence. He stated that India is currently in a favourable position, and it is crucial to convert challenges into opportunities.
During the meeting, Goyal recounted the achievements of his previous term, including a boost in overall exports from India, the signing of various free trade agreements (FTAs), and a significant inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) into the country. With a renewed commitment to driving economic growth and fostering international trade, he expressed hope to lead the Ministry of Commerce and Industry towards new heights, ensuring that India’s progress remains steadfast and inclusive.
“I am delighted to be part of PM Modi’s third term and am grateful to the people of Mumbai North for electing me. As I take charge, I come to you with a lot of fresh perspectives about India and about ground zero,” said Goyal.