New Delhi. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal asked industry to focus on making high-quality products to tap global markets as export competitiveness will not be achieved through government subsidies or support. He said the government is trying to motivate the industry to manufacture high quality products as it is a “difficult” task to get the industry to accept that they should make quality goods. The government initially faced massive opposition from the industry over the quality control orders.
“Our export competitiveness is not going to come from subsidies or government support,” the minister said. It’s not going to come by closing our doors to the rest of the world. If we are moving towards becoming a self-reliant India, it can happen only when India is self-confident and this self-confidence will come only when we all decide that quality is not our job but our duty.” He said. If Indian industry is not competitive in a product that can be imported, the industry will have to work towards competing where it has a comparative advantage with other countries. The government is taking several steps like Quality Control Order (QCO) to promote manufacturing in the country.
He said that till 2014 only 14 QCOs ‘covering’ 106 products were issued, but in the last 10 years the government has issued 174 such orders ‘covering’ 732 products to ensure that more More people can connect with better quality standards. These orders help curb import of substandard products, prevent unfair trade practices and ensure protection of consumers as well as the environment. According to the order, no item can be produced, sold, traded, imported and stored unless it bears the mark of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
Violation of the provisions of the BIS Act in the first instance is punishable with imprisonment of up to two years or a fine of not less than Rs 2 lakh. In case of second and subsequent offences, the fine will increase to a minimum of Rs five lakh and can be up to 10 times the value of the goods or articles. QCOs are issued in accordance with the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade. The minister said that manufacturing of high quality goods boosts economic activities. Employment is created and exports increase. Goyal said, “India should aspire to become a manufacturer of high quality goods and services and it should be recognized at the global level.” Citing the example of the pharmaceutical industry, the Minister asked big industrialists to encourage micro, small and medium enterprises in this sector. Asked to cooperate with medium enterprises (MSME) units. The minister also urged the industry to participate in BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) committees.
