FDI in retail may not be allowed, hints Nirmala

“We do not have a fixed approach. We would like to look at FDI in each sector in a very calibrated fashion,” Sitharaman said.

Boosting exports and creation of jobs will be top priorities, she added.

The Ministry would play an important role in enhancing economic and trade ties with all the countries, she said.  India's exports in the last three years have been hovering around USD 300 billion. Exports in 2013-14 fell short of the USD 325 billion target but managed to reach USD 312.35 billion.

Exports stood at USD 300.4 billion in 2012-13 and USD 307 billion in 2011-12.

“The economic situation in this country demands that more jobs should be created for the young and talented and well educated... the ministry will bring in lot of hope to improve economic and commercial ties with our (trade) partners, improve on exports,” she said.

Sitharaman said the Ministry is looking at various sectors where jobs can be created as the “Prime Minister has requested for appraisal status and situation which is prevailing to see where the immediate deliverable and doable areas, to be worked out”.

The ministry will play an important role in strengthening relations with all the countries and “Pakistan is certainly one of them”, she added.

When asked whether her plate is full as she is also the Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs, she said:

“If there is efficiency ... by bringing departments together, by bringing activities together that is beneficial for the country, it is not that plate is full or less. It is (about) more efficiency for the shake of delivery”.  On a question about exports of minerals, she said the ministry would look at “greater details” as “every export is not bad”.

She met Commerce and DIPP secretaries, who apprised her of their respective departments.

“There are lots of things happening in this department which should be taken forward with greater enthusiasm given the impetus with which Prime Minister Narendra Modi would like the department to function”.