Excelsior Correspondent
New Delhi, July 16: Minister for Industries & Commerce, Chander Parkash Ganga, today attended a high-level meeting convened by the Union Minister of State for Commerce & Industries (Independent Charge) Nirmala Sitharaman here.
The meeting was convened to discuss various issues pertaining to e-commerce and allowing FDI in the retail.
Ministers of Industries and Commerce of various States including Punjab, Haryana, Rajsthan, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Nagaland and many other States attended the meeting.
Speaking on the occasion, Chander Parkash Ganga emphasized the need for e-Commerce especially in view of the fast globalization. He, however, maintained that the interests of the small retailers, artisans and people involved in trade in the country have to be safeguarded while taking any initiative in this direction. Opening up of e-commerce field for the Foreign Direct Investors is fraught with many problems for lakh of people involved in the retail trade. He requested the Union Minister to have wide ranging deliberations and consultations and to examine each and every aspect of the matter before reaching to any decision.
He assured the Union Minister that the view point of the state will be communicated to the Union Government after due deliberations with all the stake holders, including Chambers of Commerce & Industries.
After the meeting, the J&K Minister separately met the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Commerce& Industries and requested giving due consideration to the request of the J&K for extending the North-Eastern type package for the investors in J&K.
The issue of International Trade Centre (ITC) at Pampore, Industrial Estate, Ghatti, Kathua, opening up of Entrepreneur Development Institute (EDI) at Jammu and Leh, funding for modernization and up-gradation of Government Woolen Mill, Bemina and Government Silk Factory at Raj Bagh also came up for discussion.
The Union Minister assured that the issues would be examined thoroughly and the best possible assistance will be extended to the State.
The meeting was also attended by Khurshid Ahmad Ganai, Financial Commissioner, Industries & Commerce, J&K and Sudhanshu Pandey, Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, GoI.