Commerce ministry seeks views from ministries on proposed national logistics policy

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 the cost of logistics, sources said.

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.

Besides, the policy proposes the development of short-term training courses for the creation of a talented workforce and the promotion of green logistics enterprises and infrastructure.

To improve logistics for international trade, it proposes augmentation of physical facilities and land custom stations, improvement in inter-agency coordination to streamline inspection and testing, they said.

One of the sources said a robust logistics sector will help significantly in the sustainable economic growth of the country.

The ministry would seek Cabinet approval for the policy.

In the last Budget, the government had announced that it will come up with the National Logistics Policy.

The move comes at a time when high logistics cost is impacting the competitiveness of domestic goods in the international market.

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.

According to an official statement, the sector is very complex with more than 20 government agencies, 40 partnering government agencies, 37 export promotion councils, 500 certifications, and 10,000 commodities.