January 20, 2021
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‘The logistics team in the Commerce Ministry is trying to work towards integrating the various means of transport, documentation and stakeholders’ The National Logistics Policy, now under consultation, together with the National Logistics Council and State Logistics Coordination Committee, will work as a template for better coordination and integrated development of logistics centre, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said.
“The logistics team in the Ministry of Commerce & Industry is trying to work towards integrating the various means of transport, documentation and stakeholders, including customs, ports, shipping companies, railways, trucking companies, inland waterways.through technology platforms,” the Minister said addressing the first National Conference of States on Logistics on Tuesday. This would result in a much-simplified way of working, which will enhance the ease of doing business.
Budget 2021 | Focus areas for scripting auto sector’s recovery story
India’s automobile industry has the potential to be the third-largest auto market in the world, and an important pillar for India to become a $5 trillion economy Budget reforms will play a key role in it Pramod Achuthan
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COVID-19 impacted every single industry. The Indian automobile sector, which was already facing an unparalleled slowdown, was further atrophied due to the pandemic and subsequent localised lockdowns. Carefully and cautiously, the auto sector is recovering and looks forward to Budget 2021 with anticipation of support and focus from the government, to help it sustain and strengthen its recovery.
Low consumption demand, further triggered due to pandemic, leading to reduction in investments Frequent and sudden tariff & non-tariff barriers leading to supply chain disruptions, increasing costs and thus reducing demand Inadequate physical, digital infrastructure affecting efficiencies in supply chain management
Industry ask A National Retail Policy seeking alignment between sectoral policies and regulations
Retail sector is governed by multiple laws and regulations, including economic and product specific regulations like FSSA, legal metrology, Drugs and cosmetics etc. Further, there are disparities in interpretation and implementation at all levels of the government. Thus, the proposed National Retail Policy needs to focus on the aspect of harmonising the regulations impacting the sector, facilitating ease of doing business.
The domestic logistics sector is expected to continue at the core of the next stage of the battle against the virus in 2021 even as some easing in freight charges and container shortage, which hit the exports in the last quarter of the previous year, is also expected during the year, experts have said. India s USD 215 billion logistics sector is one of the largest globally and has been growing at a CAGR of 10.5 per cent, according to a recent report. The sector was a key player in the movement of essentials and medicinessupplies during the nearly two-month long complete lockdown to curb spread of the pandemic last year.
Commerce ministry seeks views from ministries on proposed national logistics policy
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Last Updated: Jan 03, 2021, 12:46 PM IST
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Synopsis
The proposed policy talks about developing national and state master plans for multi-modal connectivity; formulation of an umbrella national logistics law; comprehensive standards for the sector; and developing IT applications to provide solutions that include track and trace for trucks.
Agencies
India s logistics sector is highly fragmented and the government aims to reduce the logistics cost from the present 14 per cent of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) to less than 10 per cent by 2022.
The commerce ministry has sought views of different departments on its proposed national logistics policy which aims at enhancing productivity and competitiveness of manufacturers by reducing cost of logistics, sources said.