The Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and Union Minister for Ayush Shripad Naik have decided to work together and set up an Export Promotion Council to boost AYUSH exports and to promote AYUSH industry as a whole.
This decision was taken recently in a joint review of both the ministries. The joint review was held through VC (video conference) on 4 December which was attended by over 50 trade and industry leaders from the sector (AYUSH). The e-event witnessed the participation of officials from Ministry of Commerce and Industry, RIS, BIS and Invest India and AYUSH. In addition, over 2000 stake-holders of the sector attended the e-event through live streaming on virtual platforms.
Reportedly, the entire AYUSH sector will work on price and quality competitiveness to promote AYUSH exports.
Naik underlined the growing global interest in AYUSH- based solutions for immunity, disease resistance and treatment in the wake of Covid -19 pandemic. Naik emphasised that trade and commerce in the AYUSH-Sector needed to upscale swiftly to meet the increasing demands from India & abroad.
Shripad Naik also mentioned to the participants that the AYUSH’s immunity-protocols and the National Clinical Management Protocol (NCMP) for Covid-19 for Ayurveda and Yoga were timely interventions that provided relief to large sections of the population. There has been evidences of correlation between the low COVID-19 mortality rates and largescale adoption of AYUSH prophylactic-solutions by the population is significant for the public health practice in the country.
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal recognised the frontline-role played by the AYUSH Sector in the fight against the pandemic. He also assured that AYUSH Sector will figure appropriately in the “Brand India” initiative being presently undertaken.
The outcome of the discussion and decision may be summarised as follows:
- Both ministries will work together for establishing an ‘AYUSH Export Promotion Council’ (AEPC), which can be housed at Ministry of AYUSH.
- Standardisation of HS-code for AYUSH will be expedited.
- Ministry of AYUSH will work in collaboration with Bureau of Indian standards (BIS) to design international standards for AYUSH products and services.
- AYUSH Sector will identify best practices/ success stories and promote them amongst the public.
- In order to become price-competitive AYUSH industry will expedite the quality and standards
- AYUSH will figure in the Brand India activities.
