(a) whether the Government has constituted Inter-State Trade Council;
(b) if so, the main objectives of the council;
(c) whether inter-state trade is likely to increase consequent upon the setting up of Inter-State Trade Council;
(d) if so, the target fixed for the current year;
(e) whether the Government has developed any mechanism to ensure that the trade is uniformly promoted all over the country; and
(f) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI KAMAL NATH)
(a): The Inter State Trade Council has been constituted on 24th June, 2005.
(b): It has been set up with a view to engaging the State Governments in providing an enabling environment for boosting international trade, by evolving uniform practices across different States in respect of trade facilitation, and engaging them with regard to capacity building and infrastructure development so as to create an overall supportive Policy and fiscal environment for international trade.
(c) to (f): Promotion of international trade, and not inter-state trade, is the objective of the Inter-State Trade Council, though increase in international trade is expected to lead to a spin-off effect in terms of increase in inter-state trade as well.