SBI Chairman and Apple India MD Among 29 Members Appointed to Piyush Goyal’s Board of Trade
High-Profile Advisory Body Reconstituted to Boost India’s Exports and Global Competitiveness; Focus on Manufacturing, Services, and Strategic Trade Policy
New Delhi: In a significant move to strengthen India’s trade ecosystem, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal has reconstituted the Board of Trade, appointing 29 prominent industry leaders, including State Bank of India (SBI) Chairman Dinesh Khara and Apple India Managing Director Ashish Ahuja.
The Board of Trade serves as a premier advisory body to the government, providing strategic recommendations on export promotion, trade policy reforms, and enhancing India’s position in global markets. The new appointments reflect the government’s intent to bring practical industry insights into policymaking.
Key Appointments
The reconstituted board includes a diverse mix of leaders from banking, technology, manufacturing, and export-oriented sectors. Notable members are:
- Dinesh Khara, Chairman, State Bank of India
- Ashish Ahuja, Managing Director, Apple India
- Senior executives from major conglomerates including Tata, Reliance, Adani, and leading export houses
- Representatives from MSMEs, pharmaceuticals, textiles, engineering goods, and agriculture sectors
Piyush Goyal will chair the board, which is expected to meet regularly to review India’s trade performance and suggest actionable policy measures.
Objectives of the Board
The government has outlined several key priorities for the Board of Trade:
- Achieving the ambitious $2 trillion goods and services export target by 2030
- Addressing challenges faced by Indian exporters in key markets like the US, Europe, and ASEAN
- Strengthening integration into global value chains, particularly in electronics, semiconductors, and green technologies
- Improving ease of doing business for exporters and resolving logistical and financing hurdles
- Providing inputs for ongoing and future Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations
Strategic Significance
The appointment of SBI Chairman Dinesh Khara is expected to enhance focus on export financing, trade credit availability, and support for small and medium enterprises. Ashish Ahuja from Apple India brings valuable expertise in technology manufacturing and global supply chain strategies a critical area as India pushes to become a major electronics and semiconductor hub.
The inclusion of leaders from diverse sectors signals a comprehensive approach to trade policy that balances traditional exports with emerging high-tech and services sectors.
Industry and Government Response
Industry bodies have welcomed the reconstitution, describing it as a forward-looking step. NASSCOM, FICCI, and CII have expressed hope that the board will help address current challenges such as global demand slowdown and increasing protectionism in developed markets.
Piyush Goyal emphasised that collaboration between government and industry is essential to make India a global manufacturing and services powerhouse. He stated that the Board of Trade will play a pivotal role in achieving the vision of a developed India by 2047.
What Lies Ahead?
The first meeting of the reconstituted Board of Trade is likely to be convened soon. The board will submit periodic reports and recommendations to the government on measures needed to boost exports, attract foreign investment, and improve trade competitiveness.
This high-level advisory platform is expected to play a crucial role in shaping India’s future trade strategy amid a rapidly changing global economic landscape.
