NTWB’s 100th VC Meeting Marks Milestone in Strengthening Government-Trader Dialogue and Partnership
The National Traders’ Welfare Board (NTWB) today convened its 100th Virtual Conference (VC) Interaction Meeting, marking a significant milestone in strengthening regular engagement with the trader community across the country.
The decision to establish a dedicated virtual platform for retail traders was taken during the 2nd Meeting of the Board, held on 7 February 2024 and chaired by the Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal. During the meeting, it was proposed that a dedicated virtual platform be created to facilitate regular interaction with retail traders, disseminate information on Government schemes and policies, and provide traders with an accessible mechanism to raise their grievances and suggestions.
The initiative was formally launched during the 3rd Meeting of the Board held on 11 July 2024. Since its launch, VC Interaction Meetings have been conducted every Monday from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM, providing a structured and continuous platform for engagement with traders.
The weekly VC platform has facilitated regular interaction with retail traders, dissemination of information on Government schemes and policy initiatives, and easy submission of grievances and suggestions. It has also enabled the identification of recurring issues and their communication to the concerned Ministries and Departments for appropriate consideration and redressal.
The 100th VC Interaction Meeting reflects the importance of sustained and institutionalised engagement with the trader community. The platform has provided thousands of traders with an avenue to share their concerns, suggestions and experiences directly with the Government.
Going forward, the initiative will focus on further expanding participation, strengthening the feedback and recommendation mechanism, and facilitating more tangible outcomes from issues raised through the platform.
The meeting was chaired by Chairman, NTWB, Shri Sunil J. Singhi. The 100th VC Interaction Meeting marks an important milestone in the NTWB’s efforts to strengthen dialogue, collaboration and partnership between the Government and the trader community, reaffirming the importance of traders as an integral part of India’s economic ecosystem.
The platform has connected small, medium and large traders from across the country on a common forum and facilitated dissemination of information on Government schemes, policies and reforms relevant to the trading community. It has also provided a simplified and accessible mechanism for traders to raise grievances and suggestions, enabled identification of recurring issues and their communication to the concerned Ministries and Departments, and strengthened transparency, trust and cooperation between the Government and the trader community.
Traders play a vital role in the Indian economy, serving as an important link between producers and consumers. They contribute to employment generation, sustain local markets and support the livelihoods of crores of people across the country. The welfare and empowerment of traders therefore have a direct bearing on employment, household incomes, local economies and the overall economic strength of the nation.
