March 23, 2022
Sudip Bandyopadhyay’s speech on Demands for Grants of Ministry of Commerce and Industry for 2022-23
Madam Chairperson, it appears to me that this Government is actually not in a mood to run the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The Government seems to be of the opinion that it is not the task of the Government to run factories, like the United States. In the United States, the Government looks after only defence and external affairs and not any other department. Here it appears that the importance of this Ministry is gradually being reduced to a great extent. The Minister may say that it is not so, but we feel many things in our heart and we can certainly express them on the floor of this House, the sanctum sanctorum of democracy, with you adorning the Chair. Madam, the overall trade deficit in 2020-21 was USD 14.06 billion, which was less than the deficit of USD 76.43 billion in 2019-20. India’s services trade recorded a negative growth year on year. In 2020-21, this negative growth was minus 3.3 per cent in comparison with the previous year. Contribution of services exports in India’s GDP declined from 7.7 per cent in 2018-19 to 7.4 per cent in 2019-20. What important items do we export from India and what do we import?
We would certainly like to know about this from the Minister’s reply. We export engineering goods, gems and jewellery, petroleum products, drugs and pharmaceuticals, organic and inorganic chemicals, textiles, electronic goods, cotton yarn, handloom products, rice, and plastic. This is all mentioned in the Annual Report of the Ministry, a copy of which I have with me. The important items that we import are: petroleum, electronic goods, gold, machinery (electrical and nonelectrical), organic and inorganic chemicals, pearls, semiprecious stones, transport equipment, coal, plastic material, iron and steel. महोदया, अभी नहीं, हम लोग वषर्2024 मेंउधर जाएगं े। Now I come to the countries to whom we export. येसब सामान िकन-िकन देशों में ज्यादा जाता है। The Commerce Ministry is an export-oriented Ministry. These countries include, USA, China, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Bangladesh,
Singapore, UK, Germany, Nepal and Netherlands. These are top ten export destinations. उसी प्रकार हम लोग कहां से सामान लातेहैं ? They are, China, USA, UAE, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Iraq, Germany, Singapore, and Republic of Korea. I am interested to know the position of these export-import items, and where do certain items, which once dominated the world market, stand today. I come from a State where tea is one of the best items produced. You may know about the Darjeeling Tea. The whole world accepts it as the best tea. The Tea Board Headquarters is situated in my constituency. I would like to say that this Tea Board has no Chairman since the last four years. It seems that the Tea Board office is gradually going to be taken away from Kolkata. Darjeeling Tea is
still the best tea in the world. We could have exported this tea. From number one position, it is gradually coming down. it is now positioned at number three or four. It does matter to me because I belong to a State where tea is being produced SEZ is being discussed here. महोदया, स्पशले इकोनॉिमक जोन मेंपि�म बं गाल के हालात पर केन्द्र सरकार कोई ध्यान नहीं देरही है। In India, SEZ is not at all up to the mark. I could not understand why this attitude is being adopted. SEZ is doing well in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. In a few other places like Gujarat, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, it is doing a little better. But what about West Bengal? SEZ could not ac Railways has more than 1,50,000 vacancies. I had categorically mentioned it to the hon. Railway Minister. He did not agree with it but I was referring to a Report of the Standing Committee, which I had Chaired for three long years. We had recorded positive reports, including a report on the high-speed trains, like bullet train. I do not want to go into that today. The Government has in its possession a number of Boards, like, Spice Board, Rubber Board, Coffee Board and Tea Board. There are a number of Boards. The Government has APEDA. It is a very important organisation. The Government has MMTC. I have already mentioned about Tea Board. The Coir Board is also there. The Export Council of India is also there. Madam, I am very much keen to know about India’s position inthe world market with regard to tea. Madam Chairperson, there is BRICS comprising of five countries namely, Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. This is an association of five major countries. These countries look after each other’s economic situation and also extend hand of cooperation. Are we really getting any economic support through the BRICS? Are we really extending our support economically through the BRICS? Recently, you must have seen how the NATO failed. In spite of being a
member, that country was attacked repeatedly. Similarly, as far as the BRICS is concerned, I would like to know what it is doing. Madam, as per the IMF, the global recovery continues but the momentum has slowed and was hampered by the pandemic. Pandemic outbreaks in critical links of global supply chains have resulted in longer than expected supply disruptions, further feeding inflation in many countries. In general, risks to economy have increased and policy trade-offs have become more difficult. The situation reflects a downgrade for advanced economies and for low income developing countries as well. How is APEDA performing? I have already mentioned about APEDA. The
APEDA is Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority. It is a very well-to-do organisation. It is a very powerful wing. I have the opportunity to come across APEDA when Shri Kamal Nath was the Commerce Minister of the country. We were involved in one of the APEDA programmes and we also went abroad. I do not remember the name of the country. The APEDA can play a major role as a potential alternative in this world. It has such a huge infrastructure. It is such a huge institution. It has big markets. After COVID-19, this issue can come up. Madam Chairperson, export policy is required to be activated here. How long do we have to import pulses, oilseeds, etc.? I chair the Standing Committee on Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution. It has now become one of the most important Standing Committees. Still, we have to import pulses, edible oils, and everything. Ultimately, all this will come under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The Government-led industries are in a very bad condition. Our industries — which are public sector undertakings — are divided into four
categories namely, Maharatna, which is at the top level; then comes Navratna; third one is Ratna; and the fourth one is Miniratna. Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia has also mentioned about it. So, our public sector undertakings are divided
into these four categories. This Government is not hesitating to sell Navratna units, Maharatna units, and the profit-making public sector units as well. Without the public sector undertakings, what industries do we have? Industries
are dominated by the private parties. These are being controlled by Ambanis, Adanis, Tatas, Birlas, Goenkas
and by a group of people. But there are at least 250 Public Sector Undertakings, which my memory can recollect. Except few, all are facing losses. For this, the NDA had to create one Department. The name of that Department was Ministry of Disinvestment. Does it ever happen that a Ministry was named as Ministry of Disinvestment? Mr. Arun Shourie was the then Minister. We want to know about the attempts and efforts with which this Government is trying to motivate and set up industries. Without industries, we cannot create new job opportunities. The unemployed cannot be removed unless the big industry and medium scale industries are set up in the country.
Unless the State Governments are given a major support, they cannot build up their own industries. So, without giving major importance or a budgetary support to this Department, I think, even if any positive proposals are taken by the Government, those are not being able to fulfil the desire due to crunch of funds. So, this Department requires more funds for their operations and at the same time, unemployment is growing day by day. It is skyrocketing. So, is this Government prepared or ready to extend full scale support to this Ministry by giving more impetus? Madam, I have told that the golden era was in India when many Maharatna and Navratna type of Public Sector Undertakings made our head high. Today, we discussed about Civil Aviation. But it was not admitted by the Government that it has been sold to Tata. I was allowed to ask the question. The entire world knows that Air India was sold to Tatas but no response was there from the Government. If you are in a mood to go in this passage, why are you so hesitant? Why are you feeling shy? In this Annual Report, it is mentioned very categorically about the organisational structure and functions of the Ministry of Commerce, global economic and trade situation, trend in India’s foreign trade, foreign trade policy, EXIM trade, and major schemes, export promotion mechanisms, commercial relations, trade agreements and international trade organisations, special economic zones and export oriented units, specialized agencies, programme undertakings for the welfare of SC, ST, OBCs, women and disabled persons and so on. I hope the major issues, which have been placed in the preface of the Annual Report, each and every item be explained, may be short, but all replies require immediate attention of the Government and equally on the Opposition of this side.
So, as such, the way this Budget has been Tabled, I cannot support the Budget.
