The Hindu Business Line : Industry chambers seek sops for exporters

Chambers demand
Duty Entitlement Pass Book Scheme be extended beyond March 31.
The Govt should target at least 30% growth in exports for the next three years.

New Delhi March 25

The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has urged the Government that export promotion schemes be designed in such a manner that taxes are not exported.

In a memorandum to the Directorate General of Foreign Trade for the forthcoming Annual Supplement of Foreign Trade Policy for the year 2007-08, the chamber has urged the Duty Entitlement Pass Book (DEPB) Scheme be extended beyond March 31, 2007.

The scheme is scheduled to be phased out by March 31 and if exporters do not have assurance of the continuation of the scheme, they would not be in a position to do their costing and pricing.

Of the 346 airports, seaports, inland container depots and others in the country, only 108 have been notified for export promotion schemes. If all of them are notified for the purpose, it will save the freight cost of large number of exporters, according to the chamber.

Faster processing

With regard to SCOMET (special chemicals, organisms, materials, equipment and technologies) items, validity of the export license should be increased from six months to two years. The chamber has also urged faster processing of export licenses for repeat orders of these items.

The Confederation of Indian Industry too has put out its demand for the Annual Supplement. The Government should target at least 30 per cent growth in exports for the next three years, according to the chamber.

Simplifying procedures

The Government should continue simplifying export and import procedures for small and medium sector units that contribute greatly to the exports from the country.

An important aspect on Trade Facilitation for India is setting a target of a maximum of 10 hours turnaround time at ports for all goods by 2010.

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