Commerce ministry to set up central processing department for faceless trade facilitation

The commerce ministry has decided to establish a Central Processing Department (CPD) under the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) to implement a faceless trade facilitation system aimed at making it easier for exporters and importers to obtain trade-related approvals.

According to a DGFT office memorandum, the CPD will function as a centralised unit for processing trade-related applications and will be located in the central licensing area in Delhi.

"The system is proposed to be dedicated to the nation during the second fortnight of October 2026," the memorandum said.

The faceless trade facilitation system is a key government initiative aimed at enabling faceless, paperless and jurisdiction-free processing of applications.

The system is expected to reduce processing time, improve transparency and enhance ease of doing business for exporters and importers.

As many as 53 DGFT officers from Delhi and various regional centres have been posted or transferred to the new department.

The personnel include five joint DGFTs, 10 deputy DGFTs and seven assistant DGFTs.