An exclusive Commerce Mission for the promotion of trading activities, especially that of small and medium traders, and exports is likely to be instituted by the second quarter of the 2018-19 fiscal.
The Industries Department has adopted the proposal, which finds a mention in the draft industrial policy, in mission mode and is in advanced stages of formulating its structure and implementation. The structure of the mission would be finalised in the next three months followed by its constitution in the following three months.
Identification and short-listing of stakeholders is under way since the department is determined to make sure that no eligible beneficiary is left out. Consultations with stakeholders would begin in April, a department official said.
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Though known as Industries and Commerce Department, the realisation that a large commercial community involving small and medium traders did not receive the due importance over the years prompted the department to formulate an exclusive mission. The need to give greater focus to exports has been cited as another driving force behind the initiative.
“The contact of trading community remains largely limited to tax authorities, leaving their myriad problems largely out of the focus of the Industries Department. Hence, we have decided to from the mission under which various interventions such as common parking lots and better and more professional organisation of trade fair are planned,” the official said.
Among the stated objectives of the proposed mission include promoting and fostering retailing in the State and organising promotional events along with the Tourism Department.
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Support and assistance will be provided to enterprises to participate in major trade fairs and expositions in India and abroad while opportunity will be provided for Kerala businessmen and entrepreneurs to learn more about national and international markets. Enterprise delegations from the State will be facilitated to visit national and international business forums to have trade and business meetings for entering mutually beneficial business relationship.
The mission proposes to market products, services and technologies produced by the enterprises in Kerala directly to the national and international buyers. Sector-specific exhibitions inside the State for the promotion of products from sectors such as food processing, handloom and textiles, handicrafts, wood-based furniture, bamboo, etc., and products of Kerala Soaps, offering project consultancy services and facilitation to foreign investors are among other goals of the mission.