New Delhi: The Commerce Ministry is setting up a new Central Processing Department in the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) to roll out a faceless trade facilitation system, with the aim of promoting ease of doing business for exporters and importers. 

A DGFT office memorandum states that the Central Processing Department (CPD) will act as a central unit for processing of trade-related applications. It will be located at 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 states.

Faceless trade facilitation is a key initiative of the government which is aimed at enabling faceless, paperless, and jurisdiction-free processing of trade-related applications. It would help reduce processing time, enhance transparency and improve ease of doing business for exporters and importers.

The new unit will consist of officers and staff drawn from the DGFT headquarters and its Regional Authorities

As many as 53 DGFT officers from Delhi and regional centres have been posted or transferred to the department. This included five Joint DGFTs, 10 Deputy DGFTs, and seven Assistant DGFTs.

The competent authority has been asked to order the posting and transfer of the officers to the Central Processing Department (CPD), CLA Delhi, with immediate effect.

The officers concerned will stand relieved of their present charge on September 30, and will have to report to DGFT Headquarters at Vanijya Bhawan here for orientation and training, which will commence on October 5. On completion of the orientation and training programme, the officers shall assume charge in the Central Processing Department at CLA Delhi, the memorandum states.

The Heads of the respective Zonal or Regional Authorities and the Divisions concerned at DGFT (HO) shall ensure that the officers are relieved on the aforesaid date without exception and that charge, pending files and case records are handed over in an orderly manner. No request for retention, deferment or modification of posting shall be entertained, the memorandum added.