The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) is the agency of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of the Government of India, responsible for execution of the import and export Policies of India. It was earlier known as Chief Controller of Imports & Exports (CCI&E) till 1991. DGFT plays a very important role in the development of trading relations with various other nations and thus help in improving not only the economic growth but also provides a certain impetus needed in the trade industry. For promoting exports and imports DGFT establish its regional offices across the country.
- DGFT has important role to issue Notifications, Public notices, Circulars, Exim Policy, Procedure and Foreign Laws and Ayaat- Niryaat forms and appendices.
- DGFT grant 10 digit IEC (Importer Exporter Code), which is a primary requirement for any company/person or venture capitalist wanting to export-import in India. ANF- 2A is required to obtain IEC.
- Zonal/Regional offices of DGFT are also functioning as Export Facilitation Centers and as nodal agencies to attend to the problems of trade and industry and to coordinate with different departments.
- DGFT implemented the Right to Information Act, 2005. DGFT has also appointed Central Public Information Officers (CPiOS) and set up mechanism of appeal as provided in the Act.
