Lok Sabha Question No. 443 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-22
Subject: Restructuring and Strengthening of APEDA
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Thiru D M Kathir Anand

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 443 ANSWERED ON 22.07.2025

## Restructuring and Strengthening of APEDA

## 443. THIRU D M KATHIR ANAND:

Will  the  Minister  of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य और उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- a. whether it is a fact that APEDA's annual budget has been stagnant for many years and more than 15 positions are lying vacant and has not been filled so far, if so, the details thereof;
- b. whether the Government has created new posts in APEDA, Chennai and other regional centres and if so, the details thereof;
- c. whether  the  Government  has  any  plan  for  the  restructuring  of  APEDA  with enhanced  budget  outlay  to  keep  pace  with  the  emerging  new  trends  and potentialities in trade, commerce and economy and if so, the details thereof; and
- d. the steps taken by the APEDA to conduct awareness programs and workshops to motivate entrepreneurs in Tamil Nadu?

## ANSWER

वाणिज्य और उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री ( श्री णिणिन प्रसाद ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

(a) An  amount  of  Rs.  405.02  Crores  has  been  allocated  by  Government  to  the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) in the 15 th   Finance Commission Cycle (2021-22 to 2025-26). The total allocation has been  apportioned  in  the  five-year  period,  with  yearly  allocations  almost  equally apportioned in the plan period, to ensure optimal and full utilization of funds. The detail of the Budget Allocation to APEDA is as below:

| Year           |   2021-22 |   2022-23 |   2023-24 |   2024-25 |   2025-26 |
|----------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Fund Allocated |        85 |        80 |        80 |        80 |     80.02 |

A total of 26 posts (21 posts under Group-A and 05 posts under Group-B) are presently vacant in APEDA, on account of superannuation of personnel/creation of new posts and the recruitment process is underway to fill up these posts. The details of vacancies in APEDA are as below:

| Group A      | Group A   | Group A         | Group A   | Group A                | Group A                   |
|--------------|-----------|-----------------|-----------|------------------------|---------------------------|
|              | Director  | General Manager | Secretary | Deputy General Manager | Assistant General Manager |
| Vacant posts | 1         | 2               | --        | 3                      | 15                        |

| Group B      | Group B   | Group B           | Group B                 |
|--------------|-----------|-------------------|-------------------------|
|              | Manager   | Assistant Manager | Junior Hindi Translator |
| Vacant posts | 1         | 3                 | 1                       |

As per APEDA Restructuring Report approved by the Government in January 2019, Group C posts once vacant (47 Vacancies) are not to be filled, except for promotion to the posts of Assistant/Cash Executive.

- (b) Yes, the Government has created twenty new posts in APEDA in September 2022, for posting in APEDA Headquarters and other regional offices, including Chennai. The breakup and details of new posts are as below:
- (c) The  Department of Commerce had undertaken a comprehensive review of the functioning of APEDA and had approved the restructuring report in respect of APEDA in  January  2019.  The  report  included  various  recommendations  which  inter-alia included creation of posts at various levels, engagement of subject matter experts, redesignation, and merger of posts at the same pay-levels, opening of new regional offices of APEDA, discontinuation of Group C posts etc.

| Name of the post          | Group                   |   Number of Posts |
|---------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------|
| Deputy General Manager    | A                       |                02 |
| Assistant General Manager | A                       |                08 |
| Assistant Manager         | B                       |                10 |
| Total new posts created   | Total new posts created |                20 |

(d) APEDA,  through  its  Headquarters  and  regional  office  at  Chennai  has  been organizing training, sensitization, outreach and capacity building programs, for various stakeholders of the State, including State Government department officials, farmers & Farmer producer organizations (FPOs), women entrepreneurs, start-ups, exporters for creating awareness regarding export opportunities for agricultural & processed food products, certification requirements, adherence to quality standards, organic production and certification requirements etc. In the last financial year more than 80 training and capacity building programmes were held in the State of Tamil Nadu which were attended by approximately 8300 participants.

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