Jaipur Gets Unified Commerce Ministry Centre

• Jaipur becomes the first city to house all Commerce Ministry offices at one location.
• Goyal calls for co-location across all 46 Ministry organisations.
• March 31, 2027, set as the deadline for digitising services and records.
• Physical visits for services are expected to end from April 1, 2027.

GG News Bureau
Jaipur, 4th Nov: The inauguration of Jaipur Vanijya Bhawan and Udyog Bhawan marks a new step towards consolidating the offices of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry under one roof. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal virtually inaugurated the facilities on Wednesday, making Jaipur the first city to bring all departments and affiliated offices of the Ministry together at a single location.

Goyal said the initiative should be expanded across the country, particularly to every state capital. The proposed centres will function as one-stop locations for promoting exports, attracting investments, supporting internal trade and assisting businesses.

The Minister called for the co-location of offices belonging to all 46 organisations under the Ministry, which currently operates around 500 offices across the country. He clarified that the centres would facilitate services across the Ministry’s organisations, even when their officials were not physically stationed at a particular location.

A key directive concerns the digitisation of public services. Goyal set March 31, 2027, as the deadline for moving processes such as licence and permit applications, SCOMET approvals and other services entirely online. This will also include digitisation of historical records held by the Regional Authorities of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

From April 1, 2027, people should not be required to visit these offices physically to access the services. Where original documents need verification, limited counters may be provided for checking and uploading records.

Goyal also called for greater use of self-certification, simpler application formats, reduced paperwork and deemed approvals wherever feasible. He stressed that the initiative should improve service delivery rather than remain limited to administrative consolidation.

The proposed centres will also have video-conferencing facilities to connect visitors with officials from organisations located elsewhere. Depending on requirements, offices may have two or three such counters.

The Minister said the centres should focus on investment promotion, foreign trade, export assistance and business facilitation. He added that co-location, digitisation and faceless assessments would improve transparency, accountability and public confidence.

Goyal also directed that offices be equipped with CCTV cameras connected to a central server at Vanijya Bhawan in New Delhi for periodic monitoring. He stressed the need for proper workplace facilities, including accessible toilets for persons with disabilities, fire safety approvals and other statutory clearances.

He further called for modular furniture and equipment, with procurement favouring domestic or Swadeshi products wherever possible.

Highlighting India’s expanding role in global trade, Goyal said the Ministry must prepare to handle new trade agreements and emerging market opportunities as the country works towards the goal of becoming a USD 30 trillion economy by 2047.

Reiterating the government’s citizen-centric approach, he said serving citizens and businesses must remain the foremost responsibility of the Ministry.