The Hindu Business Line : `Last mile EDI connectivity by end March'

Once EDI connectivity has been achieved, online verification of DEPB shipping bills would be taken up in full swing, resulting in cost and time savings all round.

Kolkata , Dec. 28

The DGFT (Directorate General of Foreign Trade), having put on the mantle of a trade facilitator from its earlier avatar of a regulator, is now gearing up to offer better services to the trade in a seamless online environment.

Talking to newspersons here on Thursday at the sidelines of a pre-Exim Policy Open House jointly organised by Capexil and Shefexil (Shellac and Forest Products Export Promotion Council), Mr B.S. Meena, Director General of Foreign Trade, Government of India, said the last mile EDI connectivity between Customs and DGFT was expected to be completed before the Exim policy statement, likely by end March 2007.

It is learnt that once this is achieved, online verification of DEPB (Duty Entitlement Passbook Scheme) shipping bills would be taken up in full swing, resulting in cost and time savings all round.

Growth strategy

Reiterating DGFT's changed role as a facilitator, Mr Meena said all out efforts would be mounted to help reduce transaction costs for exporters. Seeking an inclusive growth strategy to render Indian exports globally competitive, he said an enabling environment would make the country more cost efficient in the global markets.

Stressing on the need for readjustment on the part of trade to arrive at an agreed framework to achieve the targeted export growth, he particularly lauded Shefexil membership, which was not only creating jobs among the rural poor through involvement of SHGs, but also pushing export of minor forest produce.

DEPB scheme

Earlier, in his welcome address, Mr S.K. Ghosh, National Chairman of Capexil, seeking continuance of the existing DEPB scheme, said the replacement being considered should also run side by side for some time at least to give the necessary relief to the exporting community.

Citing the present uncertainty over continuance of DEPB scheme, which has to be resolved as exporters factor this into their pricing, Mr Ghosh urged the DGFT as an export facilitator to flag the issue at the appropriate level of Government.

He also suggested that the benefits originally promised by the Government under Target Plus Scheme (duty credit for incremental exports) should be restored, as exporters had taken the higher rate of benefit while pricing the products.

Mr Ghosh said the value of overall export of products dealt by the council during 2005-06 was around $9.3 billion (Rs 41,422 crore), out of which export under the mineral sector alone was $6.1 billion (Rs 27,265 crore).

Share of exports of Capexil products in the country's total exports basket now hovers slightly over 9 per cent. Major destinations are East and West Asia, Europe and North America.

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