<p>The Union Commerce Ministry has taken a major step to minimise the use of paper in global business by revamping its website.</p><p>Commerce Secretary Rajiv Kher has launched an app which would allow exporters/importers to access the foreign trade policy and other related documents in an easy-to-use searchable format. With just one click, the trade community would be able to check the status of transmission of various authorisations and the shipping bills through the dynamic app.<br><br>"In the days to come, the ministry is going to focus on simplification and ease of doing business, use of technology and digital things to make international trading paperless," Kher said.<br><br>The ministry's Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has worked on the mobile initiative with its Android app (DGFT) through which most DGFT services can be accessed on the go.</p><p>The app will allow the exporters/importers to search for ITC (HS) codes and merchandise exports from India rates which are huge databases that are used every day by the whole trade community.</p><p>Application and its data structures have been designed in-house and software development done by DeitY. The app is currently available for the Android platform. The app is just a new beginning for DGFT and many new apps to provide other services are in the pipeline.<br><br>A revamped website has also been launched making it more user-friendly and easy to navigate. DGFT website has a huge dynamic component whereby the trade community can file applications online for IEC and various other schemes of DGFT. The exporters can also see the status of their electronic bank realisation certificates in almost real-time. The website is rich in content with all documents related to the foreign trade policy along with a responsive online grievance redressal system.<br><br>The mobile application and the new website will further strengthen the e-governance platform of DGFT.</p>
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