DGFT Constitutes Import Facilitation Council for Supply Chain Resilience
Issue: To provide institutional support and guidance to importers, address vulnerabilities in key supply chains, and suggest policy measures necessary to enhance India’s resilience against global supply disruptions and trade restrictions.
Facts:
- The decision to constitute the council was made in pursuance of directions from the Cabinet Secretariat.
- The Council is established under the Chairmanship of the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), operating within the Department of Commerce.
- The Council includes representatives from various stakeholders, including key government departments (Department of Commerce, CBIC, Line Ministries), trade bodies (FIEO, CII, FICCI), and concerned Export Promotion Councils (EPCs).
Decision:
The Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) issued an Office Memorandum constituting the Import Facilitation Council, which will function to provide strategic and institutional support to importers and coordinate supply chain responses.
Key TakeDowns:
- Objective: Import Resilience: The core objective is to strengthen India’s import resilience and supply chain coordination against global disruptions or trade restrictions.
- Core Functions: The Council is tasked with:
- Identifying Alternate Suppliers: Finding and disseminating information on alternate domestic and international suppliers for critical imported products.
- Assessing Vulnerabilities: Evaluating India’s import dependency and potential vulnerabilities in key supply chains.
- Coordination and Policy: Facilitating coordination among stakeholders to address disruptions and suggesting policy measures to enhance self-reliance in import-dependent sectors.
- Review Schedule: The Council is mandated to meet periodically to review import-related issues, supply chain disruptions, and the availability of alternate sources.
Source :- O.M-dated-04.11.2025