E-platform for exporters in 2-3 months: DGFT

The commerce ministry has started work on an online platform that will facilitate aspiring exporters through guidance and hand- holding in all aspects of trade and it will be made operational in the next three months, Director General of Foreign Trade Santosh Kumar Sarangi said on Thursday.

The Trade Connect e-Platform will provide tutorials on how to start exporting by providing information of products in demand, markets which where the demand for their products is, buyer events relevant to them and paperwork required to register as a exporter.

Apart from the market information, the platform will also have information regarding regulatory matters, export benefits available, tariffs in different countries and opportunities in countries with which India has Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).

The portal will also have information on non-tariff barriers in different countries and ways to negotiate them. The portal would also be relevant to importers with information on import and other tariffs and quality standards that the products need to confirm to.

The portal will be supported by a help desk to address the queries of potential exporters. In the second phase the portal will also try to meet the requirements of exporters like credit and insurance.

The portal will also act as a window to explore opportunities through e-commerce and leads generated by Indian missions. It will be a single, direct intermediary platform between exporters and various government’s trade related entities including Indian missions abroad. It will also provide authentic source to buyers to validate Indian exporter profile.

The platform will enable exporters to report and address trade disputes and barriers in export markets. The platform will also allow exporters’ micro page on trade.gov.in to showcase their company profile and products to foreign customers.