The 53-year-old Anand Sharma is a Rajya Sabha member from Himachal Pradesh. He has served as the Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs.

Issues

The industry has been demanding more incentives to tide over the economic crisis. Sops such as interest subsidy, exemptions from income tax and service taxes, and support for access to special markets are some of the demands he needs to look at. The government needs to look at a 33 per cent year-on-year drop in exports during April. The trade data for April 2009 pegs exports at about $11 billion compared to $16 billion in April 2008.

What he plans to do

Ruling out any "review" of the foreign direct investment policy, Anand Sharma said there are safeguards against FDI in sensitive sectors like broadcasting and defence production, while the policy does not allow overseas investment in retail, he said.

The Foreign Trade Policy will be announced during August 2009.

Stressing on the need to re-energize the Inter-State Trade Council, the Minister informed that states would be involved in creating an investor-friendly climate in the country.