Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal virtually inaugurated ‘Vanijya Bhawan’ and ‘Udyog Bhawan’ in Jaipur on November 4. With this, Jaipur has become the first city in India where all departments and affiliated organizations of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry have been brought under one roof.
Congratulating the Department of Commerce and Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Union Minister Piyush Goyal called for the implementation of a ‘co-location model’ across the country, particularly in every state capital.
These centers will function as one-stop hubs to promote exports, investment and domestic trade, facilitate business activities and supporting India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision. The objective of this initiative is to improve coordination, simplify business-related services and establish a ‘single-window’ facility system for exporters, investors and industries.
The Ministry currently has around 500 offices and 46 organisations across the country. While most offices will be brought under the co-location model, certain large campuses, including ECGC’s Mumbai office, will continue to operate independently. However, the proposed centres will facilitate services across all the 46 organisations, regardless of their physical presence at these locations.
A major focus of the initiative is the complete digitization of government services. Piyush Goyal directed officials to ensure that the all services, including licenses and permit applications, SCOMET approvals, are fully digitised and made available online by March 32, 2027.
The digitisation drive will also include historical records maintained by the Regional Authorities (RAs) of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). Goyal said that from April 1, 2027, businesses and individuals should no longer be required to visit government offices physically to access these services.
The initiative aims to improve coordination, reduce procedural delays and ease business access to government services. Goyal also highlighted India’s ambition to become a USD 30 trillion economy by 2047, stressing the Ministry’s growing role in global trade.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal directed that all co-located offices be equipped with video-conferencing facilities and called for simplified procedures, reduced paperwork, self-certification and faceless assessments to enhance transparency and accountability.
He also said the centres should focus on promoting investment, exports and trade rather than merely issuing licences. He also directed officials to ensure proper infrastructure, statutory approvals, accessible facilities, CCTV surveillance linked to a central server in New Delhi and preference for Swadeshi products in procurement.
Concluding his address, Goyal reiterated that serving citizens and businesses is the government’s highest responsibility. He emphasized the need to ensure a transparent, accountable and citizen-centric governance system.
(PIB)
