The NIC Cell in the Office of the Joint Director General of Foreign Trade (JDGFT), Madras, in consultation with NIC Headquarters, has come up with a software package to automate the process of issuing export licences. Named APAREM (Automated Processing of Applications Received on Electronic Media), this package marks the first major step towards introduction of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), in the licencing offices of the Ministry of Commerce. A Fast Track Counter with APAREM facility was formally inaugurated by the Commerce Secretary, Mr Tejendra Khanna, recently. APAREM will go a long way in cutting short delays in granting of export licences. Exporters can now send their applications on a floppy disc to the computer centre in the Office of the JDGFT. The applications being on a pre-processed format, no further data entry is required.