Flag nations with non-tariff barriers, Piyush Goyal tells India Inc

NEW DELHI: Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal on Friday asked the industry to flag the countries that are placing non-tariff barriers on Indian exports and promised to take retaliatory action against such countries even as he assured the industry that India is the best place to invest in.

“It’s the place where you get both — competitive edge and a huge domestic market aspiring for a better quality of life,” Goyal said at the 92nd annual convention of Ficci, adding that India needs to be more competitive and address problems of the entire value chain, be it inverted duties, dumping, or unfair subsidies.

He also pointed out that the industry and government need to work together to rejuvenate that entrepreneurial spirit and find solutions to certain problems which are real. “The government will have to play the role of an enabler and facilitator and end that harassment faced at the lower ends,” Goyal said at Assocham’s annual conference.


He said India dropped out of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership trade agreement because it was turning out to be just an India-China FTA. “We desire to work with the world on an equal and reciprocal terms.”

“India has a glorious future and $5 trillion is doable and will be achieved,” said Goyal, adding that the government has been doing a lot to support the startup culture and encourage entrepreneurship.

He said, “We (the industry and government) are very keen that we understand each other’s position, be it litigation, regulatory certainty and predictability, and seamless compliances. We can work together on these,” he said. The minister also suggested if automatic self-approvals can be looked at to start and run businesses.

Referring to the over 370 experts certified to do a boiler inspection anywhere, he said 11 private sector organisations have been approved who can get their boiler inspected from anybody without going to the government.

For overall development, he suggested infrastructure and innovation along with inclusive growth, and pondered if funds for corporate social responsibility can be used for research and development.