The government has nominated 29 non-official members from large and small enterprises and different sectors in the Board of Trade, chaired by the commerce and industry minister.

The board offers a forum for discussion of strategies to increase manufacturing and exports. Its members include representatives from states, union territories, and senior executives from the public and business sectors.

According to an announcement from the commerce ministry, the government combined the Council of Trade Development and Promotion and the Board of Trade in 2019 to increase coherence in the consultation process with all stakeholders for encouraging exports and imports.

Rajesh Gopinathan, CEO and Managing Director of Tata Consultancy Services, Sanjay Nayyar, Chairman of KKR India, and Om Prakash Mittal, Executive Member of Laghu Udyog Bharati, are among the new non-official members.

Other unofficial members include Pankaj Mahindroo, the chairman of the India Cellular and Electronics Association, RS Sodhi, the managing director of GCMMF (Amul), and Arun Mandal, the CEO of the West Bengal's Bidhannagar Pineapple Development Trust.

The members' duties include acting as facilitators in the execution of District Export Hub events, such as sensitization workshops, identification, and promotion of recognised products, and giving state governments and UTs a platform to articulate state-oriented opinions on trade policy.

Additionally, they would facilitate a discussion mechanism on the operationalization of the trade infrastructure, review policy instruments and procedures for imports and exports, and suggest actions to rationalise use, according to the statement. States would also be assisted in developing and pursuing export strategies in accordance with national Foreign Trade Policy.

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