Capacity Building
           Skilling new entrepreneurs for exports is an important priority. In the last two years, over
      50,000 entrepreneurs have been trained under the Niryat Bandhu programme implemented by
      DGFT, thus complementing the Start-up India and Skill India initiatives. Institutional set up
      under the Department like – Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Indian Institute of Packaging,
      Indian Institute of Plantation, Export Promotion Councils, Centres of Excellence, Plantation
      Research Institutes, etc., – are being leveraged for capacity building, export promotion, research
      and analysis and long term policy formulation.
      Centre for Research in International Trade
           Given the growing complexity of the process of globalization and its spillover effects on
      domestic policy making, there is a need to significantly deepen existing research capabilities and
      widen them to encompass new and specialized areas. In this context, a new institution, namely,
      the Centre for Research in International Trade (CRIT) has been set up. It is expected to fill the
      gap and will also help in forming enduring coalitions with a large number of developing
      countries which may have convergence of interests with India and could potentially become
      India’s allies on various trade issues at the global level. CRIT will have 5 centres namely Centre
      for Trade and Investment law, Centre for Regional Trade, Centre for Training, Centre for Trade
      Promotion and Centre for WTO Studies. The Council for Trade Development and Promotion
      was constituted in July 2015. It would ensure a continuous dialogue with state governments and
      UT’s on measures for providing an international trade enabling environment in the states and
      create a framework for making the states active partners in boosting India’s exports. The state
      governments were requested to develop their export strategy, appoint export commissioners,
      address infrastructure constraints restricting movement of goods, facilitate refund of
      VAT/octroi/state level cess, and address other issues relating to various clearances, etc., and
      build capacity of new exporters, in order to promote exports.
      Integrated Exhibition cum Convention Centre
           Modern world class Integrated Exhibition cum Convention Centre (IECC) is coming up in
      New Delhi to create air-conditioned exhibition space of 1.2 lakh sq. mtr. and an iconic state-of-
      the-art convention centre with 7,000 pax seating capacity. Underground parking space for 4,800
      Passenger Car Units (PCU) is also planned. Work has begun and is to completed by September
      2019, creating an appropriate venue for all types of major national and international events. It
      will be a unique symbol of New India, and will reflect India’s aspirations to be a global power.
      Special Economic Zones
           India was one of the first in Asia to recognise the effectiveness of the Export Processing
      Zone (EPZ) model in promoting exports, with Asia’s first EPZ set up in Kandla in 1965. To
      overcome the shortcomings on account of multiplicity of controls and clearances, absence of
      world-class infrastructure and an unstable fiscal regime and with a view to attract larger foreign
      investments in India, the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) Policy was announced in April 2000.
      This policy intended to make SEZs an engine for economic growth supported by quality
      infrastructure complemented by an attractive fiscal package, both at the Centre and the state
      level, with minimum possible regulations. SEZs in India functioned from 2000 to 2006 under the