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Renu Suresh

Expert

Published on: Jul 30, 2026

Covid 19 Helpdesk For International Trade

The

Direct General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has announced the Operationalisation of DGFT Covid 19 Helpdesk For International Trade-related Issues vide a Trade Notice No. 02/2021-2022 dated 26.04.2021. The DGFT took this initiative to monitor the export and import status and the difficulties being faced by trade stakeholders because of the surge in COVID-19 cases. The current article briefs the COVID-19 Helpdesk for International Trade.

Synopsis of Notification

The Department of Commerce, the Government of India, and DGFT have undertaken steps to monitor the status of export and imports and the difficulties faced by trade stakeholders because of the surge of COVID-19 cases. DGFT has accordingly operationalized a 'COVID-19 Helpdesk' to support and seek suitable resolutions to issues arising in respect of International Trade

Service Offered

This 'COVID-19 Helpdesk' would look into issues relating to the following:

  • Issues related to the Department of Commerce/ Direct General of Foreign Trade (DGFT)
  • Import and Export Licensing Issues
  • Customs clearance delays
  • Complexities arising
  • Import/Export documentation issues
  • Banking matters

The helpdesk would also collect and collate trade-related issues concerning other Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of Central Government and State Governments and coordinate to seek support and provide possible resolutions.

Procedure to Submit Issues

EXIM community may submit information on the DGFT website and submit information relating to their issues on which support is required using the following steps: The applicant needs to access the official website of the

DGFT Website and click on the Service option. Select the DGFT Helpdesk Service "<yoastmark The applicant can submit the issue by clicking on 'Create New Request.' Login to the DGFT web portal using the login credential. "<yoastmark After login into the portal, select the Category as 'Covid-19' and Select the suitable sub-category, enter the other relevant details and submit. "<yoastmark Note: Alternatively, The applicant can send the issues to given email ID with the subject header: Covid-19 Helpdesk or call at Toll-Free No 1800-111-550
  • The status of resolutions and feedback may be tracked using the Status tracker under the DGFT Helpdesk Services.
  • Email and SMS will also be sent as and when the status of these tickets is updated.

The official trade notice about the Covid 19 Helpdesk For International Trade is as follows:

Back to Learn

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about COVID-19 Helpdesk for International Trade Issues.

The DGFT COVID-19 Helpdesk for International Trade aims to monitor the export and import status and the difficulties being faced by trade stakeholders due to the surge in COVID-19 cases. It provides support and seeks suitable resolutions to issues arising in respect of international trade.
The COVID-19 Helpdesk looks into issues related to the Department of Commerce/DGFT, import and export licensing, customs clearance delays, complexities arising from import/export documentation, and banking matters. It also collects and coordinates trade-related issues concerning other ministries, departments, and agencies of the central and state governments.
You can submit an issue to the DGFT COVID-19 Helpdesk through the DGFT website by selecting the "DGFT Helpdesk Service" and clicking "Create New Request." Alternatively, you can send an email with the subject "Covid-19 Helpdesk" or call the toll-free number 1800-111-550.
You can track the status of your issue and any resolutions or feedback using the Status tracker under the DGFT Helpdesk Services. You will also receive email and SMS updates whenever the status of your ticket is updated.
The article does not specify whether the COVID-19 Helpdesk for International Trade is a permanent or temporary service. It seems to be an initiative launched by the DGFT specifically to address trade-related challenges arising from the surge in COVID-19 cases.
The article does not mention whether the COVID-19 Helpdesk can assist with issues related to other countries' trade regulations. It appears to be focused on addressing difficulties faced by trade stakeholders in India due to the COVID-19 situation.
The article does not mention any fees or charges for using the DGFT COVID-19 Helpdesk service. It seems to be a free service provided by the DGFT to support the export-import community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The article does not specify whether the COVID-19 Helpdesk is limited to Indian trade stakeholders or if individuals or businesses from other countries can also submit issues. However, since it is an initiative by the Indian government, it may primarily cater to the Indian export-import community.
The article does not provide any information on the expected response or resolution times for issues submitted to the COVID-19 Helpdesk. The timeline may vary depending on the complexity of the issue and the involvement of other government agencies or departments.
The article does not mention whether the COVID-19 Helpdesk is the only resource provided by the DGFT for trade-related assistance during the pandemic or if there are other initiatives or support services available.