By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, OCT 04, 2020: WHILE virtually speaking on the issue of economic recovery at an event organised by the Hindustan Chamber of Commerce, the Union Commerce Minister, Mr Piyush Goyal, said that data points indicate that the worst is over. The merchandise exports in September this year are 5% more than the last year, GST collections are up by 4% over the corresponding period, and railway carried 15% more freight. “The indicators show that India will once again bounce back to high growth levels which is truly our destiny”, he added.

Assuring that the Government is committed to ensuring the recovery of all businesses, Mr Goyal said that it is the collective effort of industry & the Govt that has helped us come back to the recovery phase. He said that through the use of technology, India has been able to keep the wheels of Government, business, trade & industry rolling & picking up speed.

Mr Goyal said that pandemic has shown how important measures in the last 6 years, to strengthen the infrastructure of India and take the benefits of quality lifestyle to the poor, have been to overcome this period. He said that Swacchata Mission, facilities of free gas cylinders and health facilities to the poor, and the opening of Jan-dhan accounts, have all helped in better delivery of services.

Mr Goyal said that the Prime Minister talks about having Reform, Perform and Transform, and in this regard, the Govt taken the opportunity of COVID to bring about game-changing reforms in agriculture, labour, mining, capital markets & banking, space technology & defence. This will strengthen India and prepare us to engage with the world from a position of strength, he added.

Talking about the recent agriculture reforms, Mr Goyal said that the fact that nearly 10 crore farmers are getting Rs 6,000 per year as a mark of respect for their enormous contribution to making India self-sufficient in food grains. He appreciated the farmers for making India a large exporter of Agri & processed food products.