Congress poll manifesto promises to simplify GST, create a department to help startups
Rahul Gandhi promises to create an "Enterprise Support Agency" to help entrepreneurs, including start-ups, with all-round business support including counselling, incubation, access to technology, funding, domestic and export markets, and the creation of new products, services and intellectual property.

- Apr 2, 2019,
- Updated Apr 8, 2019 5:14 PM IST
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday released his party's manifesto for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, with focus on jobs, farmers, industry, and women security. The Congress manifesto was released in the presence of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other party leaders, at Congress headquarters in New Delhi.
Speaking at the event, Rahul Gandhi said if his party was elected to power, its government would give the highest priority to protecting existing jobs and creating new jobs.
"Congress will radically simplify the GST regime with a single moderate rate of tax, zero rating of exports, and exemption for essential goods and services. We also promise panchayats and municipalities a share of GST revenues," said the manifesto.
If elected to power, the Congress President promises to create an "Enterprise Support Agency" to help entrepreneurs, including start-ups, with all-round business support including counselling, incubation, access to technology, funding, domestic and export markets, and the creation of new products, services and intellectual property.
Congress proposes to create a new "Ministry of Industry, Services and Employment", in a bid to underline the link between the growth of the industry and services sectors and rapid creation of jobs.
The Congress manifesto proposes to boost growth of the manufacturing sector, particularly of MSMEs, through the provision of "world-class infrastructure in industrial hubs and cluster towns" in order to aid the expansion of current units and the creation of new units.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday released his party's manifesto for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, with focus on jobs, farmers, industry, and women security. The Congress manifesto was released in the presence of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other party leaders, at Congress headquarters in New Delhi.
Speaking at the event, Rahul Gandhi said if his party was elected to power, its government would give the highest priority to protecting existing jobs and creating new jobs.
"Congress will radically simplify the GST regime with a single moderate rate of tax, zero rating of exports, and exemption for essential goods and services. We also promise panchayats and municipalities a share of GST revenues," said the manifesto.
If elected to power, the Congress President promises to create an "Enterprise Support Agency" to help entrepreneurs, including start-ups, with all-round business support including counselling, incubation, access to technology, funding, domestic and export markets, and the creation of new products, services and intellectual property.
Congress proposes to create a new "Ministry of Industry, Services and Employment", in a bid to underline the link between the growth of the industry and services sectors and rapid creation of jobs.
The Congress manifesto proposes to boost growth of the manufacturing sector, particularly of MSMEs, through the provision of "world-class infrastructure in industrial hubs and cluster towns" in order to aid the expansion of current units and the creation of new units.