New Delhi: In line with the “Make in India” appeal that he made during his address from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Independence Day this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked the ministry of commerce to work out a plan to reduce India’s dependence on unwarranted imports.
In its communication to the ministry, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has suggested evolving a system of “periodic import appraisal” so that the import of certain commodities which could be produced and made in India, like packaged food, alcoholic beverages, sugar, edible oil etc, can be reduced. “As part of this exercise, the PMO has also asked the commerce ministry to devise a policy paper containing a strategy, goal, roadmap and outcome for the same,” sources in the government said.
Incidentally, the Prime Minister is scheduled to launch the ambitious “Make in India” campaign on September 25. Hundreds of global and domestic CEOs are expected to attend the function at Vigyan Bhavan here, an official said, adding that to make it more successful, the campaign will be simultaneously launched in different state capitals, including Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru. The campaign will also be launched in countries with a similar time zone as India, they added.
PMO for periodical import appraisal
- PMO has suggested evolving a system of “periodic import appraisal” to reduce imports of certain commodities which could be locally produced
- These include packaged food, alcoholic beverages, sugar, edible oil etc
- The commerce ministry was told to prepare a roadmap for the same
