New Delhi, July 6 -- Restrictions on exporters meeting officials at the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) could delay the resolution of urgent trade-related matters and slow the issuance of key authorisations, the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said in a report released on Friday.

The report said the restrictions come at a time when Indian exporters are facing weak global demand and rising trade barriers, making timely regulatory approvals critical for sustaining exports.

"Exporters say they do not visit DGFT unless absolutely necessary. In such situations, quick access to the officer handling the case is often the only way to prevent disruption to trade," GTRI said, adding that businesses approach the DGFT only when ...