The Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industry has called upon the new government in Kerala to desist from any move to impose taxes on online shopping.

Submitting its wish list to the new Left Democratic Front government, the trade body said that any taxes on online shopping, especially on cash on delivery (COD) services, would be a retrograde step.

Growing business The Chamber president CS Kartha said unwarranted curbs on online shopping would erode the online customer base in Kerala. Ernakulam district alone has registered a 50-60 per cent growth rate in e-commerce transactions, achieving a business turnover of ₹350 crore.

“We request the government to initiate steps to foster this sector,” he said, adding that the other pending demands of the trade and industry pertaining to various sectors should also be considered in a time-bound manner.

Plantation sector Seeking the support for plantations and the rubber industry, he urged the prospective Finance and Revenue ministers to provide adequate funds to the sector. The 5 per cent tax waiver has led to a minor increase in the rubber prices.

However, this has ended in March 2015 and the new Finance Minister should extend this for the next two financial years as Kerala accounts for 90 per cent of rubber plantations, engaging over 1.1 million farmers.

The government, he said, also needs to tackle the challenges facing the LNG project so that Kerala could reap the benefits of the project, especially in the industrial front.

Expecting the government to revisit the liquor policy, the Chamber urged the authorities to seriously look into other aspects required to boost domestic as well as foreign tourist arrivals given the revenue growth earned from the tourism industry.

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