Lok Sabha Question No. 7 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-11-30
Subject: National Rubber Policy
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: PONNUSAMY VENUGOPAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 8 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  NOVEMBER, 2015

## DUTY CREDIT SCRIPS UNDER SFIS/SEIS

## *8. SHRI P.C. MOHAN:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- a) whether all service providers are entitled to duty credit scrips under the Served From India Scheme (SFIS) or Service Exports From India Scheme (SEIS) and if so, the details thereof;
- b) whether  the  Directorate  General  of  Foreign  Trade  (DGFT)  has  issued  duty  credit  scrips under SFIS/SEIS to airline industry;
- c) if so, the details thereof and the amount of scrips issued along with their validity, airlinewise;
- d) whether DGFT is likely to extend the time limit for unutilised scrips and if so, the details thereof; and
- e) whether DGFT has permitted the utilisation  of  these  scrips  for  payment  of    excise  duty payable by these companies and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग राज् य मंत्री )णीमीी स मलमा नीीारमि((स्वींत्र प्रभार ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

a) to  e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 8 FOR ANSWER ON 30 TH  NOVEMBER, 2015 REGARDING ' DUTY CREDIT SCRIPS UNDER SFIS/SEIS'

- (a) :All  service  providers  are  not  eligible  for  Served  from  India  Scheme (SFIS) or under Service Exports from India Scheme (SEIS).
- (i) SFIS :  All Service Providers of services as listed in Appendix 10 of  Foreign  Trade  Policy  were  eligible  for  SFISupto  31.12.2010. From  01.01.2011,  Indian  service  providers  of  services  listed  in Appendix 41 of Foreign Trade Policy (2009-14) were eligible for SFIS. Only those service providers who had minimum earning in free  foreign  exchange  of  Rs.10  lakhs  in  a  financial  year  were eligible  for  SFIS.  In  the  case  of  Individual  Service  Providers minimum  earning  criteria  in  Free  Foreign  exchange  was  Rs.  5 lakhs.
- (ii) SEIS :Under SEIS  which was  announced on  01.04.2015 under Foreign Trade Policy (2015-20), notified services under Appendix 3D, located in India, shall be rewarded, subject to conditions as may be notified. Only two modes of services (Mode 1 and Mode 2) are eligible, namely (i) supply of a 'service' from India to any other country (Mode 1) and (ii) supply of a 'service' from India to service consumer(s) of any other country in India (Mode 2).Such service provider should have minimum net free foreign exchange earnings of US$15,000 in preceding financial year to be eligible for  Duty  Credit  Scrip.  For  Individual  Service  Providers  and  sole proprietorship, such minimum net free foreign exchange earnings criteria would be US$10,000 in preceding financial year.
- (b) : Under SFIS, Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has issued duty credit scrips. No scrips have been issued under SEIS.
- (c) : The details of such scrip issued under Served from India Scheme (SFIS) and the amount is as under :

| S.No.   | Name of Airline   | Duty credit Scrip Amount (Rs. in crore)   |
|---------|-------------------|-------------------------------------------|

| 1.    | Air India   |   1083 |
|-------|-------------|--------|
| 2.    | Jet Airways |    693 |
| 3.    | Kingfisher  |     30 |
| 4.    | Go Airlines |      4 |
| 5.    | Indigo      |      3 |
| 6.    | Spice Jet   |     23 |
| Total | Total       |   1836 |

Scrips issued upto 04.06.2012, were issued with validity of 24 months from  the  date  of  issue.  From  05.06.2012,  scrips  were  issued  with validity of 18 months from the date of issue.

- (d) No, Madam.
- (e) SFIS  Duty  Credit  Scrips  are  permitted  to  be  utilised  for  payment  of excise duty in terms of Department  of Revenue (DoR) notification No. 34/2006-CE dated 14.06.2006.

SEIS Duty Credit Scrips can be used for payment of excise duties on domestic  procurement  of  inputs  on  goods  including  capital  goods  as per DoR notification No. 21/2015-CE dated 08.04.2015.

******

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 7

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  NOVEMBER, 2015 NATIONAL RUBBER POLICY

## 7. DR. P. VENUGOPAL

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- a) whether an expert committee has been formed to formulate the National Rubber Policy;
- b) if so, the details thereof;
- c) whether the said committee is yet to come out with its policy and if so, the details thereof;
- d) whether the Government proposes to impose safeguard provisions as the rubber imports harm the domestic sector; and
- e) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग राज् य मंत्री )णीमीी स मलमा नीीारमि((स्वींत्र प्रभार ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a) (b) & (c):  The Government of India constituted an Expert Committee on 16 June 2014 mandated to  examine  issues  related  to  rubber  production,  development,  consumption  and  exports  and suggest a National Policy on Rubber in the interest of both the growers as well as consumers. The Expert Committee consisted of experts and stakeholders of rubber industry including representatives  of  relevant  Ministries  and  Departments  of  the  Central  Government,  State Governments of Kerala and Tripura, Rubber Board, Associations of NR growers, Associations of rubber  based  industries  including  manufacturers  of  tyres,  latex,  block  rubber,  synthetic  rubber and  academic  &  research  oriented  institutions  in  the  government  and  the  non-governmental sector. The final draft of the Policy has been received from the Committee.
- (d) & (e) Import of NR has increased during the recent years. The main reasons for the increase in import  are  relatively  low  prices  of  NR,  especially  block  rubber,  in  the  world  market;  nonavailability  of  the  material  in  domestic  market  and  irregular  market  arrivals.    However,  the Government has made following  revisions in import policy of NR in order to protect growers:
- -DGFT vide Public Notice No. 81 (RE-2013)/2009-2004 dated 9 January 2015 reduced the export obligation period to six months for NR from the date of clearance of each consignment under Advance Authorisation/DFIA Scheme.
- -Basic customs duty on dry forms of NR was raised from '20% or Rs 30 per kg whichever is lower' to '25% or Rs 30 a kg whichever is lower' vide Customs Notification No. 28/2015 dated 30 April 2015.

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## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 17 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  NOVEMBER, 2015

## TRADE SHARE OF INDIA WITH BIMSTEC COUNTRIES

## 17. ADV. JOICE GEORGE:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- a) the  trade  share  of  India  with  Bay  of  Bengal  initiative  for  Multispectral  Technical  and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) countries at present;
- b) whether Bimstec has accepted India's proposal to revise tariff cuts and if so, the details thereof; and
- c) whether  the  framework  agreement  on  the  Bimstec  Free  Trade  Area  signed  in  2004  is operational and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग राज् य मंत्री )णीमीी स मलमा नीीारमि((स्वींत्र प्रभार ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a) The  trade  share  of  India  with  the  Bay  of  Bengal  initiative  for  Multi-Sectoral  Technical  and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) countries i.e. Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand for the financial year 2014-15 is as under:-

| S. No   | Country    | 2014-15                   | 2014-15                      | 2014-15                   | 2014-15                      |
|---------|------------|---------------------------|------------------------------|---------------------------|------------------------------|
|         |            | Export (in US $ Millions) | %share (w.r.t. total export) | Import (in US $ Millions) | %share (w.r.t. total import) |
| 1       | Bangladesh | 6,451.47                  | 2.08                         | 621.37                    | 0.14                         |
| 2       | Bhutan     | 333.94                    | 0.11                         | 149.87                    | 0.03                         |
| 3       | Myanmar    | 773.24                    | 0.25                         | 1,231.54                  | 0.27                         |
| 4       | Nepal      | 4,558.77                  | 1.47                         | 639.91                    | 0.14                         |
| 5       | Sri Lanka  | 6,703.72                  | 2.16                         | 756.17                    | 0.17                         |
| 6       | Thailand   | 3,464.83                  | 1.12                         | 5,865.88                  | 1.31                         |

Data source: DGCIS

- (b) &(c) The Framework Agreement on BIMSTEC Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was signed in February 2004.  The Framework Agreement includes provision for negotiation of FTA on goods,  services,  investment  and  economic  cooperation  amongst  the  member  countries.  The Member countries of BIMSTEC have constituted the Trade Negotiating Committee (TNC) to carry  forward  the  negotiations  in  accordance  with  the  Framework  Agreement.  So  far  20 Rounds of negotiations have been held.

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## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 23 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  NOVEMBER, 2015

## PROMOTION OF EXPORT

## 23. SHRI MALYADRI SRIRAM:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- a) whether the Government has taken any initiatives for promotion of export and also for the enhancement of the entire trade ecosystem; and
- b) if so, the details thereof and if not, reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग राज् य मंत्री )मा नीीारमिणीमीी स मल((स्वींत्र प्रभार ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a)

- :

Yes, Madam

- (b)

- : 1. The Government of India has notified Foreign Trade Policy (2015-2020) which came into force on 1.4.2015. Under the new FTP, two schemes namely Merchandise Export from India Scheme (MEIS) and Service Export from India Scheme (SEIS) have been introduced with a view to promote exports in all sectors. Scrips and input imported under the schemes are freely transferrable. Details of the Foreign Trade Policy 2015-2020 are available at the website of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade at http://dgft@gov.in.

2. Number of mandatory documents required for export and import have been reduced from 7 & 10 respectively to 3 each in the FTP 2015-20.  The saving in terms of cost and time associated with the dispensed documents would
2. improve Ease of Doing Business in India.
3. Facility of 24x7 Customs clearance for specified exports and imports has been made available in 18 sea ports and 17 air cargo complexes. This will help in faster clearance of such imported and export goods, reduce dwell time and lower the transaction cost.
4. Single Window Project - An electronic online message exchange facility has been established between Customs and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the Department of Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage (PQIS) at few ports.
5. Government has taken steps in creating a framework for making the States active partners in boosting exports by setting up a Council for Trade Development & Promotion which will help in ensuring a continuous dialogue with State Governments & UTs.

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## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 24 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  NOVEMBER, 2015

## TAX EXEMPTION ON EXPORT

## 24. SHRI A.T. NANA PATIL:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- a) whether the export products originating from various States are subjected to a number of State indirect taxes/levies  and  add to the  cost of  export products thereby making them uncompetitive in the international market;
- b) if  so,  whether the Government has any mechanism to get the State levies exempted on exports;
- c) if so, the details thereof; and
- d) if not, the corrective steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग राज् य मंत्री )णीमीी स मलमा नीीारमि((स्वींत्र प्रभार ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a) Yes, Madam.
- (b) to (d)  Under Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20, there is no mechanism to get state levies exempted on exports. Indirect Taxes like Sales Tax/VAT are purely State matter as per Entry 54, List II (State List), Seventh Schedule of the Constitution. Under Section 6(1) of the CST Act, 1956, exemption from payment of Central Sales Tax on sale of goods is provided for, which in accordance with the provision of section 5(3) of CST Act, 1956, is a sale in the course of export of goods out of the territory of India.

*****

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 29 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  NOVEMBER, 2015

## BILATERAL TRADE AGREEMENTS

## 29. SHRI P.R. SUNDARAM:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- a) whether India has signed bilateral trade agreements with various countries recently;
- b) if so, the details and the salient features of these agreements;
- c) the details of bilateral agreements with countries which were signed during  the last three years which did not materialize and the reasons therefor; and
- d) the  measures taken by the  Government to  strengthen the bilateral trade  relations  with other countries?

## ANSWER

वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग राज् य मंत्री )स मलमा नीीारमि णीमीी((स्वींत्र प्रभार )

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

(SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a)&(b) India has not entered into any new Free Trade Agreement (FTA) or Preferential Trade Agreement  (PTA)  during  the  last  one  year.  However,  India  expanded  the  scope  of  the  IndiaASEAN Trade in Goods (TIG) Agreement on 09.09.2014  to cover both Services and Investment with its date of implementation as 01.07.2015.

## (c) Does not arise.

- (d) There  are appropriate institutional  mechanisms  such  as  Strategic  Commercial Dialogue,  Trade  Policy  Forum,  Bilateral  High  Level  Group,  Annual  Ministerial  Dialogue  etc established  with  partner  countries  to  discuss  and  strengthen  bilateral  trade  relations.  Moreover, region specific initiatives such as ' Focus LAC ' for the Latin American region are also important in strengthening trade relation between partners in the region. With a view for closer trade integration, the  government has also negotiated 11 free trade agreement (FTAs), 6 preferential trade agreements (PTAs) and is negotiating 19 trade agreements as given in the Annexure to this question.

***

## A. Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) already in force:

| SN   | Name of the Agreement   | Date of Signing of the Agreement   | Date of Implementation of the Agreement   |
|------|-------------------------|------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|

Annexure

|   1 | India - Sri Lanka FTA                                                                                                                               | 28th December. 1998   | 1 st March, 2000                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|-----|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|   2 | Agreement on SAFTA (India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives and Afghanistan)                                            | 4th January, 2004     | 1st January, 2006 (Tariff concessions implemented from 1 st July, 2006)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|   3 | Revised Agreement of Cooperation between Government of India and Nepal to control unauthorized trade                                                | 27 th October, 2009   | 27 th October, 2009                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|   4 | India - Bhutan Agreement on Trade Commerce and Transit                                                                                              | 17 th January, 1972   | Renewed periodically, with mutually agreed modifications.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|   5 | India - Thailand FTA - Early Harvest Scheme (EHS)                                                                                                   | 9 th October, 2003.   | 1 st September, 2004                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|   6 | India - Singapore CECA                                                                                                                              | 29th June, 2005       | 1st August, 2005                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|   7 | India - ASEAN- CECA - Trade in Goods Agreement (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) | 13 th August, 2009    |  1st January 2010 in respect of India and Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand.  1 st June 2010 in respect of India and Vietnam.  1 st September 2010 in respect of India and Myanmar.  1 st October 2010 in respect of India and Indonesia.  1 st November 2010 in respect of India and Brunei.  24 January 2011 in respect of India and Laos.  1 st June 2011 in respect of India and the Philippines.  1 st August, 2011 in respect of India and Cambodia. |
|   8 | India - South Korea CEPA                                                                                                                            | 7 th August 2009      | 1 st January, 2010                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|   9 | India - Japan CEPA                                                                                                                                  | 16 th February, 2011  | 1 st August, 2011                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|  10 | India - Malaysia CECA                                                                                                                               | 18 th February, 2011  | 1 st July, 2011                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|  11 | India-ASEAN Services and Investment Agreement (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam)  | 9 th September, 2014  | 1 st July, 2015                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |

## B. Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) already in force:

|   S. No. | Name of the Agreement                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | Date of Signing of the Agreement           | Date of Implementation of the Agreement   |
|----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|
|        1 | Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) (Bangladesh, China, India, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | July, 1975 (revised on 2 nd November, 2005 | 1st Nov,1976                              |
|        2 | Global System of Trade Preferences (GSTP) (Algeria, Argentina, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Ecuador, Egypt, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Romania, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe) | 13 th April, 1988                          | 19 th April,1989                          |
|        3 | SAARC Preferential Trading Agreement (SAPTA)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | 11 April, 1993                             | 7 December,1995                           |
|        4 | India - Afghanistan                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | 6th March, 2003                            | 13 th May,2003                            |
|        5 | India - MERCOSUR                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | 25th January, 2004                         | 1st June, 2009                            |
|        6 | India - Chile                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | 8 th March, 2006                           | 11 th September, 2007                     |

## C.

|   S. No. | Name of the Agreement                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      | Status                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | India - EU BTIA (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom) | Negotiations launched on 28th June 2007 in the areas of Goods, Services, Investment, Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary Measures, Technical Barriers to Trade, Trade Facilitation and Customs Cooperation, Competition, IPR &GIs. etc Fifteen rounds of negotiations and a number of inter- sessional and Chief Negotiator level meetings have been held till date. A Ministerial review meeting between Hon'ble Commerce& Industry Minister and EU's Trade Commissioner was held on 15 th April, 2013 at Brussels. After a period of lull, both sides began re-engagement from October, 2014 onwards. The negotiations are still ongoing and an impact assessment can be made only they are |
|        2 | India - Sri Lanka CEPA                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | concluded. FTA in goods implemented from March 2000. A JSG was set up in April, 2003 to widen the ambit of ISLFTA to go beyond Trade in Goods to include Services and to facilitate greater investment flows between the two countries. Based on the recommendation and conclusion of the JSG, negotiations for a CEPA were started in February, 2005. No discussion is currently taking place on India-Sri Lanka CEPA.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|        3 | India - Thailand CECA                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      | Early Harvest Scheme on 82 items implemented. So far 29 th rounds of India-Thailand Trade Negotiation committee (ITTNC) meetings have been held. The 29 th round was held in Bangkok in June 2015.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|        4 | India - Mauritius CECPA                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | Ten rounds of negotiations on India-Mauritius CECPA have been held between the two sides so far. The last round of negotiation was held between India and Mauritius on 23-24 October, 2006. However, CECPA negotiations have been formally put on hold.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|        5 | India EFTA TEPA (Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland)                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | The India-EFTA TEPA (Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement) was launched in January 2008 (then known as BTIA). The first round was held in New Delhi during 6-8 October, 2008. The Chapters covered are Trade in Goods, Services, Investment,, Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary Measures (SPS), Technical Barriers to Trade(TBT), Trade Facilitation and Customs Cooperation, Competition, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), Government Procurement (GP), Dispute Settlement(DS), Trade Defence(TD), Rules of origin(ROO), Sustainable Development (SD) and Legal &Horizontal etc. 13 rounds of negotiations have been held with the 13 th and final round                            |

|    |                                                                                                                                  | being held on 25-29 th November, 2013. Legal vetting has been completed in most of the texts with only some residual work remaining. There are few pending issues on both sides such as TRIPS Plus and Data Adequacy/Data Security status.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|----|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|  6 | India - New Zealand FTA/CECA                                                                                                     | Ten Rounds of negotiation of CECA have been held so far. The 10 th Round was held in New Delhi on 17-18 February, 2015.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|  7 | India - Israel FTA                                                                                                               | Eight rounds of negotiations on India-Israel FTA have been held so far. The Eighth round was held in Israel from 24-26 November, 2013.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|  8 | India - Singapore CECA                                                                                                           | Second review of India-Singapore CECA was launched in May, 2010. During the visit of Minister of Commerce& Industry on 15-16 May, 2013 to Singapore, it was decided to constitute a Joint Working Group of Reserve Bank of India and Monetary Authority of Singapore to resolve the issue of Asset Maintenance Requirements in a time bound manner to conclude the 2 nd Review on the issue of Employee Provident Fund.                                                                                                                                                                      |
|  9 | India - SACU PTA (South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and Namibia)                                                        | Five rounds of negotiations have been held so far. 1 st Round of negotiation was held in Pretoria on October 5-6 th , 2007 and the 5 th round of negotiations held in October 2010 in New Delhi. During the 9 th Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) meeting held at Durban on 19 th March, 2015 under the co-chairmanship of Honorable Minister of External Affair and South Africa's Foreign Minister, while discussing pending negotiations on finalization of INDIA- SACU PTA, the Indian side requested the South African side for assistance in holding the 6 th round of negotiations. |
| 10 | India - Mercosur PTA (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay)                                                                   | The two issues currently under discussion on the India- Mercosur PTA are the expansion in coverage and inclusion of Venezuela in the PTA.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| 11 | India - Chile PTA                                                                                                                | With the objective of gaining optimal benefits and boosting bilateral trade between the two countries, the expansion of India-Chile PTA is being processed for Cabinet approval.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| 12 | BIMSTEC CECA (Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal)                                                 | 20 meetings of the Trade Negotiation Committee (TNC) have taken place. The 20th Meeting of BIMSTEC Trade Negotiating Committee (TNC) was held during 07-09, September 2015 in Khon Kaen, Thailand.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| 13 | India - Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Framework Agreement (Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and United Arab Emirates) | Two rounds of negotiations have been held so far in 2006 and 2008. The second round was held in September 9-10, 2008. No round could take place in the last 6 years since GCC has deferred its negotiations with all countries and economic groups and is currently reviewing its negotiations with all countries and economic groups.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| 14 | India - Canada FTA                                                                                                               | Eight rounds of negotiation on India-Canada CEPA have been held so far. The Eighth round was held in Ottawa,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |

|    |                                                                                                                                                         | Canada from 24 th to 26 th June, 2013.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|----|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 15 | India - Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA)                                                                                   | Commencement of negotiation on Indonesia - India CECA was announced on 25 th January 2011 during the visit of Indonesian President to New Delhi. Negotiations are yet to commence. The first meeting pre-negotiation and Biennial Trade and Investment Forum (BTIF) took place in Jakarta on October 3-4, 2011. Negotiation has been kept in abeyance watching progress of RCEP.                                                                                                                                                        |
| 16 | India - Australia                                                                                                                                       | Nine rounds of negotiations have been held so far. The ninth round of negotiations was held on 21-23 September 2015, in New Delhi, India.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| 17 | India-Malaysia CECA (1 st Review)                                                                                                                       | 1 st meeting of the India-Malaysia Joint Committee meeting to review implementation of the Agreement was held on 8 th December, 2014.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 18 | Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement among ASEAN + 6 FTA Partners (Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand) | Based on the Declaration of the Leaders during the ASEAN Summit in November, 2012, negotiations for a comprehensive economic partnership between the 10 ASEAN member states and its 6 FTA partners commenced in May, 2013. Ten rounds of negotiations have been held so far. The 10 th round was held from 8-16 October, 2015 in Busan, Korea. The negotiations cover a number of areas like trade in goods, services, investment, intellectual property, economic &technical cooperation, competition and legal& institutional issues. |
| 19 | India-ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) (1 st Review) | The ASEAN Secretariat has agreed to the 1 st review of India-ASEAN trade in Goods Agreement in the coming months. The dates would be finalized as per mutual consultations.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |

******

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 35 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  NOVEMBER, 2015

## EXPORT OF RICE

## 35(H). SHRI ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- a) whether  rice  has  been  exported  from  the  country  during  the  last  three  years  and  the current year;
- b) if  so,  the  total  quantum  and  value  of  rice  exported  from  the  country  during  the  period, item/year/country-wise along with the foreign exchange earned therefrom;
- c) whether  the  Government  has  taken  or  proposes  to  take  steps  for  exporting  other categories of rice also other than Basmati rice; and
- d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग राज् य मंत्री )णीमीी स मलमा नीीारमि((स्वींत्र प्रभार )

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

(INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

(SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

(a & b) Yes, Madam. The details of export of rice, for Basmati as well as Non-basmati, in terms of quantity and value during last three years and the current year, are as under. Country wise data for export of rice is at Annexure -I .

Quantity in Ton; Value in US $ Million

| Year                  | Basmati   | Basmati   | Other than basmati   | Other than basmati   | Total Rice   | Total Rice   |
|-----------------------|-----------|-----------|----------------------|----------------------|--------------|--------------|
|                       | Quantity  | Value     | Quantity             | Value                | Quantity     | Value        |
| 2012-13               | 3459829   | 3564.04   | 6687851              | 2651.97              | 10147680     | 6216.01      |
| 2013-14               | 3754102   | 4864.89   | 7136191              | 2925.16              | 10890293     | 7790.05      |
| 2014-15               | 3698927   | 4516.28   | 8278233              | 3336.84              | 11977160     | 7853.12      |
| 2015-16 (Apr to Sep)* | 2084170   | 1916.67   | 3442609              | 1254.64              | 5526779      | 3171.31      |

Source: DGCI&S

* Provisional

(c & d) As per Foreign Trade Policy, the export of non-Basmati rice is permitted freely from privately held stocks.

*******

Country-wise export of rice during last three years and current year.

Quantity in Ton; Value in US $ Million

| COUNTRY   | 2012-13   | 2013-14   | 2014-15   | 2015-16   |
|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|

Annexure - I

|                 |          |         |          |         |          |         | (Apr to Sep)*   | (Apr to Sep)*   |
|-----------------|----------|---------|----------|---------|----------|---------|-----------------|-----------------|
|                 | Quantity | Value   | Quantity | Value   | Quantity | Value   | Quantity        | Value           |
| SAUDI ARABIA    | 824366   | 752.67  | 965536   | 1195.43 | 1148997  | 1294.19 | 598001          | 527.16          |
| IRAN            | 1120412  | 1210.56 | 1532120  | 1918.60 | 1004718  | 1167.87 | 361474          | 319.17          |
| BANGLADESH      | 31435    | 15.52   | 661096   | 251.23  | 1269161  | 451.11  | 194406          | 63.42           |
| UAE             | 496715   | 380.10  | 373430   | 313.56  | 519758   | 439.93  | 415537          | 313.52          |
| SRI LANKA       | 4340     | 2.70    | 6115     | 3.78    | 667414   | 293.30  | 39369           | 16.93           |
| IRAQ            | 218215   | 204.85  | 236358   | 283.44  | 275752   | 284.51  | 253015          | 213.55          |
| KUWAIT          | 203466   | 217.37  | 202801   | 265.68  | 199754   | 270.83  | 122779          | 141.80          |
| BENIN           | 577616   | 240.93  | 1169040  | 488.00  | 601688   | 250.86  | 356282          | 125.44          |
| YEMEN REPUBLC   | 227809   | 189.14  | 211507   | 223.33  | 253172   | 243.68  | 87770           | 57.05           |
| SENEGAL         | 854598   | 267.93  | 652021   | 195.79  | 765515   | 226.60  | 500827          | 135.35          |
| OTHER COUNTRIES | 5588708  | 2734.23 | 4880269  | 2651.21 | 5271231  | 2930.24 | 2597319         | 1257.91         |
| GRAND TOTAL     | 10147680 | 6216.01 | 10890293 | 7790.05 | 11977160 | 7853.12 | 5526779         | 3171.31         |

Source: DGCI&S * Provisional.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 51

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  NOVEMBER, 2015

## MERCHANDISE EXPORT

## 51. SHRI M.B. RAJESH:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- a) the details of merchandise exports during the last three years and the current year, item and country-wise; and
- b) whether there is any decline in export of major items and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with its impact on the Indian economy?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग राज् य मंत्री )णीमीी स मलमा नीीारमि((स्वींत्र प्रभार ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a) Total merchandise exports during the last years and current year is given below.

## (US$ Billion)

|         |   2012-13 |   2013-14 |   2014-15 | 2014-15 (April- October)   |   2015-16 (April- October) (Provisional) |
|---------|-----------|-----------|-----------|----------------------------|------------------------------------------|
| Export  |     300.4 |     314.4 |     310.3 | 187.29                     |                                    154.3 |
| %Growth |      -1.8 |       4.7 |      -1.3 | …….                        |                                    -17.6 |

Source: DGCI&S

The value of exports country, commodity/sector-wise are available in the DGCI&S publication in CD form namely 'Monthly Statistics of Foreign Trade of India' Vol. I (Exports). Such CD's are regularly sent to Parliament Library by DGCI&S, Kolkata.

- (b) During the period  exports as % share of GDP are 16.4%,16.8% and 15.1% respectively. In value terms, the merchandise trade deficit has decreased from US$ 86.27 Billion in Apr-Oct 2014 to US$ 77.76 Billion for the same period in 2015. The major sectors which are  showing  fall  are  PETROLEUM  PRODUCTS,TELECOM  INSTRUMENTS  ,PLASTIC  RAW MATERIALS,ORGANIC  CHEMICALS,  BULK  MINERALS  AND  ORES  SILVER,  INORGANIC CHEMICALS,CONSUMER  ELECTRONICS  ,PULSES,PROJECT  GOODS  FRESH  FRUITS,DYE INTERMEDIATES,RAILWY TRNSPRT EQUIPMNTS, PRTS OTHER CRUDE MINERALS,SURGICALS,TIN AND PRODUCTS MADE OF TIN, BOOKS, PUBLICATIONS AND PRNTNG.

The main reasons for the fall in exports are,

(i)  The  major  global  slowdown during 2014 and 2015 which  has impacted Global Trade and India's Trade adversely. (ii) World Economic Outlook forecasts for import  has  been revised specially from emerging markets and developing economies from 3.5% to 1.3% for the year 2015.(iii)Moderate but uncertain recovery in the US Economy.(iv) The significant

- slowdown includes the Chinese Economy (v) Sharp fall in Crude and Petroleum product prices,(Brent  crude  declining  from  about  USD  98  per  barrel  last  year  to  USD  47.57  at present).(vi) fall in other commodity prices (Gold prices fell by 7.2 % high grade copper by about 26% in last one year (vii) Currency Fluctuations

*****

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 59 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  NOVEMBER, 2015

## IMPORT DUTY ON PULSES

## 59. SHRI ANTO ANTONY:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- a) the details of pulses imported into the country during the last three years and the current year, year-wise and country-wise;
- b) whether the Government is imposing import duty on pulses; and
- c) whether the Government has any plan to reduce import duty of pulses in near future and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग राज् य मंत्री )णीमीी स मलमा नीीारमि((स्वींत्र प्रभार ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a) The details of pulses imported into the country during the last three years and the current year is as below.  Country-wise details of pulses imported, is annexed.

Import of Pulses during last three years and current year (up to September 2015)

| YEAR                |   QTY(MT) |   Val(US $ in Million) |
|---------------------|-----------|------------------------|
| 2012-13             |   4013236 |                   2450 |
| 2013-14             |   3643705 |                   2119 |
| 2014-15             |   4584843 |                   2786 |
| 2015-16(Apr to Sep) |   2237089 |                   1612 |

- (b) No, Madam.
- (c) Question does not arise, in view of (b) above.

Country-wise import of pulses during last three years and current year (up to September 2015)

:QTY IN TON

:VALUES IN US $

|                | 2012-13   | 2012-13   | 2013-14   | 2013-14   | 2014-15   | 2014-15    | 2015-16(Apr to Sep)   | 2015-16(Apr to Sep)   |
|----------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
| Country        | QTY       | VAL       | QTY       | VAL       | QTY       | VAL        | QTY                   | VAL                   |
| AFGHANISTAN    | 12938     | 8613573   | 12447     | 9320538   | 4355      | 4667269    | 442                   | 404089                |
| ARGENTINA      | 39600     | 23541894  | 4665      | 4170287   | 9056      | 6500473    | 15296                 | 12409875              |
| AUSTRALIA      | 721044    | 486272230 | 342311    | 189522746 | 332655    | 188412686  | 223551                | 157976112             |
| AUSTRIA        | 24        | 24250     |           |           |           |            |                       |                       |
| BENIN          |           |           |           |           |           |            | 37                    | 36582                 |
| BRAZIL         | 26695     | 21187005  | 6853      | 4767320   | 603       | 567866     | 3199                  | 1852516               |
| BULGARIA       | 49        | 57245     |           |           |           |            |                       |                       |
| CANADA         | 1107459   | 552084848 | 1504717   | 758718752 | 2195554   | 1074572673 | 930638                | 512202445             |
| CHINA P RP     | 65584     | 84389930  | 49519     | 72561654  | 71106     | 72343632   | 41300                 | 33769793              |
| COSTA RICA     |           |           |           |           | 110       | 132637     |                       |                       |
| COTE D' IVOIRE | 23        | 21504     | 18        | 16964     | 20        | 22308      | 115                   | 128912                |
| DJIBOUTI       | 210       | 162129    |           |           |           |            | 96                    | 61356                 |
| EGYPT A RP     |           |           | 88        | 82630     |           |            | 327                   | 177256                |
| ETHIOPIA       | 29736     | 24943525  | 17355     | 13915483  | 31028     | 26361456   | 26248                 | 17034719              |
| FRANCE         | 127498    | 53573478  | 23275     | 9003268   |           |            | 52252                 | 17772501              |
| INDONESIA      | 13255     | 10992264  | 42        | 37154     | 2661      | 3260951    |                       |                       |
| IRAN           | 115       | 103425    | 120       | 117982    | 24        | 27094      | 1274                  | 825906                |
| IRAQ           | 1376      | 1204742   |           |           |           |            |                       |                       |
| ITALY          | 120       | 154651    | 12        | 9600      |           |            |                       |                       |
| KAZAKHSTAN     |           |           | 386       | 248691    |           |            | 3537                  | 1923743               |
| KENYA          | 15429     | 13099730  | 36141     | 30810990  | 18083     | 17115023   | 17023                 | 18000236              |
| KOREA RP       |           |           | 0         | 55        |           |            |                       |                       |
| KYRGHYZSTAN    | 24        | 36093     | 135       | 170018    | 284       | 388798     | 356                   | 475698                |
| MADAGASCAR     | 15028     | 11053699  | 5330      | 3566394   | 1917      | 1843912    | 1752                  | 2049434               |
| MALAWI         | 65745     | 38056692  | 22428     | 13732913  | 46015     | 33423679   | 14077                 | 13129459              |
| MALAYSIA       | 670       | 604125    | 1008      | 778677    | 312       | 313534     | 24                    | 29252                 |
| MEXICO         | 10848     | 14359507  | 910       | 1104458   | 8190      | 8918891    | 5079                  | 3356636               |

## Annexure

| MOLDOVA       |         |           |         |            | 2317    | 877073     | 202     | 74338      |
|---------------|---------|-----------|---------|------------|---------|------------|---------|------------|
| MOZAMBIQUE    | 77108   | 46123515  | 78904   | 47900249   | 97068   | 70415213   | 26782   | 25487572   |
| MYANMAR       | 963649  | 649126912 | 906484  | 621207608  | 931330  | 802997303  | 552838  | 602581031  |
| NEPAL         | 57      | 49973     | 30      | 27419      | 1047    | 1298891    |         |            |
| NEW ZEALAND   | 435     | 287083    |         |            |         |            |         |            |
| NICARAGUA     |         |           | 44      | 38650      |         |            |         |            |
| PAKISTAN IR   | 856     | 641417    | 3116    | 2377072    | 2689    | 2406764    | 144     | 142308     |
| PERU          | 739     | 857272    | 428     | 441035     |         |            |         |            |
| POLAND        |         |           |         |            |         |            | 66      | 104265     |
| PORTUGAL      |         |           | 70      | 84323      |         |            |         |            |
| ROMANIA       |         |           | 100     | 37843      |         |            |         |            |
| RUSSIA        | 324858  | 168719917 | 215619  | 90327419   | 236894  | 103162894  | 180640  | 87943702   |
| SINGAPORE     | 48      | 35021     | 239     | 138515     | 72      | 76483      |         |            |
| SOMALIA       |         |           | 197     | 179368     |         |            |         |            |
| SOUTH AFRICA  |         |           | 22      | 33845      | 48      | 56185      | 45      | 23600      |
| SRI LANKA DSR |         |           | 529     | 277978     | 738     | 633828     | 43      | 47129      |
| SUDAN         | 563     | 412338    |         |            | 17088   | 12565043   | 13209   | 13767142   |
| TAIWAN        | 72      | 95582     |         |            |         |            |         |            |
| TANZANIA REP  | 146206  | 100304653 | 181495  | 110169409  | 179993  | 138827162  | 37906   | 37476576   |
| THAILAND      | 1792    | 1695073   | 352     | 265125     | 1157    | 1344921    | 191     | 247617     |
| TURKEY        | 3082    | 1554844   | 221     | 150859     | 2370    | 1077131    | 743     | 469536     |
| U ARAB EMTS   | 66      | 59710     | 216     | 241644     | 167     | 122671     | 24      | 25091      |
| U S A         | 178275  | 102104684 | 195846  | 112442916  | 312227  | 168376471  | 68884   | 41714086   |
| UGANDA        | 390     | 334331    | 614     | 517936     | 3008    | 2517315    | 1467    | 1214775    |
| UKRAINE       | 48535   | 21094298  | 20314   | 8538971    | 62069   | 25404999   | 16838   | 6477043    |
| UNSPECIFIED   | 82      | 99356     | 74      | 62450      |         |            |         |            |
| UZBEKISTAN    | 12953   | 11855612  | 10892   | 11123372   | 12473   | 14991358   | 444     | 415223     |
| VATICAN CITY  |         |           | 139     | 79503      |         |            |         |            |
| YEMEN REPUBLC |         |           |         |            | 115     | 81597      |         |            |
| Grand Total   | 4013236 | 2.45E+09  | 3643705 | 2119320083 | 4584843 | 2786106184 | 2237089 | 1611827554 |

Note: Figures for 2015-16(Apr to Sep) is provisional.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 69 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  NOVEMBER, 2015

## BAN ON IMPORT OF STEEL

## 69(H). SHRI NANA PATOLE:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- a) whether indigenous Steel manufacturers have requested the Government to impose a ban on poor quality of Steel imported from China and Korea;
- b) if so, the details thereof along with total quantum of Steel imported and the expenditure incurred thereon;
- c) the total loss suffered from the import of poor quality of Steel and the measures taken by the Government to provide good quality of Steel to the domestic Steel manufacturers; and
- d) whether  any  decision  has  been  taken  by  the  Government  in  this  regard  and  if  so,  the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग राज् य मंत्री )णीमीी स मलमा नीीारमि((स्वींत्र प्रभार ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a) & (b): Indigenous steel manufacturers and their associations have requested the Government to notify several steel products, having direct bearing on human health and / or critical to safety and  security of construction, housing  and  infrastructure,  under  the  Mandatory  Quality Certification  Mark  Scheme  of  Bureau  of  Indian  Standards  (BIS)  to  prohibit  import  of  sub  standard  steel  products.  Import  of  steel  during  the  last  three  years  and  the  current  year  is tabulated as below. Country-wise data (China and Korea) is annexed as at Annexure I and II.

Import of Iron and Steel (Ch-72) of ITC(HS) from China and Korea and the rest of the world

Quantity in Ton / Value in Million USD

|            | 2012-13   | 2012-13   | 2013-14   | 2013-14   | 2014-15   | 2014-15   | 2015-16 (Apr. to Sept.)   | 2015-16 (Apr. to Sept.)   |
|------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|---------------------------|---------------------------|
| COUNTRY    | qty       | val       | qty       | val       | qty       | val       | qty                       | val                       |
| CHINA P RP | 1770193   | 1495.33   | 1120649   | 976.29    | 3756649   | 2713.35   | 1842450                   | 1116.16                   |
| KOREA RP   | 1858259   | 1744.12   | 1539746   | 1414.33   | 2240827   | 1818.87   | 1684414                   | 1002.66                   |
| Others     | 14819136  | 10376.08  | 8920721   | 6719.23   | 10653873  | 7809.81   | 6332018                   | 3787.27                   |

11581116

Note: Figures for 2015-16(Apr. to Sep.) is provisional.

(c) & (d):  The Government does not maintain import data based on the quality of Steel. The Government  reviews  the  data  on  import  of  steel  including  import  of  seconds  and  defective quality steel from time to time and takes necessary measures to make quality steel available to the  consumers.  The  Government  has  already  issued  two  Steel  and  Steel  Products  (Quality Control)  Orders  in  March,  2012  thereby  notifying  16  steel  products  under  the  Mandatory Quality  Certification  Mark  Scheme  of  Bureau  of  Indian  Standards.  Notifications  of  steel products under this scheme to protect interests of the domestic steel producers & consumers are taken as per need.

Further,  the  Department  of  Revenue,  Ministry  of  Finance  vide  its  Notification  No.28/2015  Customs (ADD) dated 05.06.2015 has imposed anti - dumping duty on import of Hot Rolled Flat Products of Stainless Steel of 304 Grade from China, Korea RP and Malaysia.

****

16651349

Import of Iron and Steel from CHINA during last three years and current year (up to September2015)

## :QTY in KG

## :Values in US $

|       | 2012-13   | 2012-13   | 2013-14   | 2013-14   | 2014-15   | 2014-15   | 2015-16(Apr to September)   | 2015-16(Apr to September)   |
|-------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
| itchs | qty       | val       | qty       | val       | qty       | val       | qty                         | val                         |
| 7201  | 13653     | 17253     |           |           | 110       | 98        |                             |                             |
| 7202  | 32273796  | 58806337  | 24067737  | 46079716  | 35696848  | 87773500  | 17373731                    | 33002691                    |
| 7203  | 1055      | 618       |           |           | 80        | 97        |                             |                             |
| 7204  | 1573362   | 1100108   | 1387239   | 505226    | 701854    | 599133    | 198000                      | 100521                      |
| 7205  | 5412922   | 7668592   | 4913743   | 6893981   | 5774410   | 8687315   | 3933992                     | 4049366                     |
| 7206  | 29725     | 23306     | 29233     | 41075     | 23868     | 24468     | 1141                        | 1896                        |
| 7207  | 588758    | 594031    | 590163    | 1097859   | 11755537  | 6187167   | 756280                      | 733552                      |
| 7208  | 118008093 | 81589574  | 105517320 | 62901555  | 258502264 | 150696929 | 125703726                   | 57763716                    |
| 7209  | 235686052 | 159545617 | 27422963  | 20092602  | 191739695 | 120634786 | 65592317                    | 32496262                    |
| 7210  | 107154027 | 86104044  | 93883866  | 71609832  | 257026394 | 186559484 | 299201639                   | 176483409                   |
| 7211  | 2539962   | 3778215   | 2309889   | 3113954   | 2442429   | 3111194   | 1144255                     | 1283811                     |
| 7212  | 9015750   | 9382243   | 8975195   | 10206698  | 9271327   | 10899749  | 5988287                     | 7289722                     |
| 7213  | 7998999   | 5915690   | 5609145   | 3332273   | 17264468  | 9803137   | 7339081                     | 3396884                     |
| 7214  | 4297906   | 3461373   | 3122863   | 2496867   | 4624961   | 3621179   | 2835042                     | 2076857                     |
| 7215  | 1401796   | 2275452   | 707163    | 1036164   | 766278    | 894071    | 566158                      | 473470                      |
| 7216  | 1231147   | 1444762   | 1215938   | 1157152   | 1416568   | 1052127   | 2232499                     | 1569096                     |
| 7217  | 67098210  | 69548307  | 55870102  | 59060099  | 86384868  | 82620375  | 58061492                    | 49231691                    |
| 7218  | 1421826   | 3072639   | 1779377   | 3168578   | 1907345   | 3119783   | 55928                       | 160297                      |
| 7219  | 65900459  | 164526281 | 51907799  | 108482337 | 95987538  | 218594454 | 46336612                    | 95864344                    |
| 7220  | 24844282  | 40853130  | 59857337  | 92970631  | 135614967 | 192622909 | 77926568                    | 98180299                    |
| 7221  | 1636702   | 4791039   | 4686913   | 11283302  | 8144588   | 19125634  | 774810                      | 1768146                     |
| 7222  | 2122692   | 4576137   | 4551907   | 8784689   | 4023080   | 9403579   | 1227794                     | 1985138                     |
| 7223  | 1514446   | 2725320   | 791665    | 1943727   | 1730579   | 3505178   | 1340969                     | 2212001                     |
| 7224  | 96818533  | 68692817  | 19793706  | 14664034  | 140726526 | 83709650  | 62237638                    | 28521684                    |

Annexure-I

| 7225   |   716180500 |   475447501 |   413198680 |   248625155 |   1280696644 |   803883528 |   511078027 |   248703099 |
|--------|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|--------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
| 7226   |    11252373 |    13541771 |     1785490 |     3711397 |      2309096 |     4572635 |     3194520 |     2789829 |
| 7227   |   169750065 |   116706168 |   116352223 |    72541768 |    769754175 |   409368455 |   400779423 |   171572573 |
| 7228   |    61487263 |    80549560 |    88647516 |    94520200 |    420025248 |   275567127 |   143037876 |    89618239 |
| 7229   |    22938385 |    28594200 |    21674233 |    25971300 |     12337623 |    16714243 |     3531926 |     4831023 |
| Total  |  1770192739 |  1495332085 |  1120649405 |   976292171 |   3756649368 |  2713351984 |  1842449731 |  1116159616 |

Note: Figures for 2015-16(Apr to Sep) is provisional.

Import of Iron and Steel from KOREA during last three years and current year (up to September2015)

## :QTY in KG

## :Values in US $

|       | 2012-13    | 2012-13    | 2013-14    | 2013-14    | 2014-15    | 2014-15    | 2015-16(Apr to September)   | 2015-16(Apr to September)   |
|-------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
| itchs | qty        | val        | qty        | val        | qty        | val        | qty                         | val                         |
| 7201  |            |            | 6625       | 3419       |            |            |                             |                             |
| 7202  | 10235902   | 28334081   | 14621987   | 33233082   | 19514428   | 42146332   | 13518791                    | 23895276                    |
| 7203  | 550        | 1071       |            |            |            |            |                             |                             |
| 7204  | 31298259   | 46458695   | 27610627   | 38414591   | 55405350   | 71239500   | 61096235                    | 56921545                    |
| 7205  | 518005     | 377320     | 384500     | 321095     | 454000     | 341455     | 332000                      | 228907                      |
| 7206  | 1058722    | 919651     | 48000      | 146600     |            |            |                             |                             |
| 7207  | 88197441   | 47509250   | 5663673    | 4350637    | 42449442   | 20679463   | 33589338                    | 12344675                    |
| 7208  | 638708285  | 461413668  | 297605615  | 207134379  | 880120854  | 526921621  | 1015804654                  | 443057432                   |
| 7209  | 552785748  | 457701243  | 578857641  | 434020699  | 584204719  | 424037006  | 218344362                   | 126829869                   |
| 7210  | 225855504  | 282949132  | 250993190  | 284624115  | 269200167  | 304513892  | 134616636                   | 141612352                   |
| 7211  | 2184419    | 3520354    | 2000282    | 3716592    | 3127505    | 5221565    | 3551038                     | 5014477                     |
| 7212  | 8963418    | 14003843   | 7191312    | 9096843    | 4978129    | 7539386    | 2432399                     | 4107230                     |
| 7213  | 4775333    | 4597662    | 4690600    | 3729163    | 19090952   | 12857771   | 13061284                    | 7661931                     |
| 7214  | 5135032    | 5247603    | 7030300    | 6686022    | 3080729    | 2914432    | 3572638                     | 3261503                     |
| 7215  | 2139832    | 3478713    | 1370331    | 2171755    | 1393640    | 1632280    | 771662                      | 759375                      |
| 7216  | 1869219    | 1661314    | 1608184    | 1267317    | 246235     | 206071     | 134102                      | 131767                      |
| 7217  | 5686898    | 8379515    | 5880380    | 8361529    | 4018692    | 6013036    | 2738056                     | 3418653                     |
| 7218  | 103012     | 347925     | 4448       | 29696      | 1970       | 20347      |                             |                             |
| 7219  | 45809292   | 87998714   | 39531984   | 65468058   | 37980469   | 62732002   | 15262271                    | 25026286                    |
| 7220  | 4429540    | 14527709   | 13423901   | 17634041   | 3458758    | 9373718    | 1974031                     | 5128706                     |
| 7221  | 31036      | 152699     | 282271     | 672655     | 959658     | 2553992    | 4515                        | 19758                       |
| 7222  | 105385     | 218629     | 181593     | 244628     | 163479     | 277318     | 154305                      | 376306                      |
| 7223  | 686242     | 3107325    | 679835     | 3094895    | 502824     | 2370354    | 337917                      | 1591737                     |
| 7224  | 1033560    | 845419     | 3706160    | 1769544    | 16236000   | 7205032    |                             |                             |
| 7225  | 173383877  | 204773778  | 239345966  | 241274126  | 239578373  | 244592865  | 142494827                   | 117943954                   |
| 7226  | 2629606    | 3993070    | 2638670    | 4563498    | 3925883    | 7097862    | 1922468                     | 3287939                     |
| 7227  | 30769753   | 29346628   | 18655671   | 17528413   | 30775877   | 26872069   | 10055318                    | 8129910                     |
| 7228  | 12739793   | 20017000   | 10895537   | 16198232   | 13920678   | 18757829   | 6362584                     | 8019557                     |
| 7229  | 7124856    | 12235463   | 4836509    | 8571543    | 6038130    | 10755045   | 2282384                     | 3892732                     |
| Total | 1858258519 | 1744117474 | 1539745792 | 1414327167 | 2240826941 | 1818872243 | 1684413815                  | 1002661877                  |

Note: Figures for 2015-16(Apr to Sep) is provisional.

Annexure- II

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 70

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  NOVEMBER, 2015 IMPORT OF RICE FROM CHINA

## 70. SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB: SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- a) whether  the  rice  made  out  of  plastic  has  been  imported  into  the  country  from  China during the last three years and the current year and if so, the details thereof;
- b) whether the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has given clearance to import of such rice into the country;
- c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- d) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  enquiry  to  fix  the  responsibility  of  the concerned officials in import of such rice; and
- e) if  so,  the  details and outcome thereof along with the steps taken by the Government to restrict import of such rice into the country?

## ANSWER

वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग राज् य मंत्री )णीमीी स मलमा नीीारमि((स्वींत्र प्रभार ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a) to  (c)  No,  Madam.    Whether  'rice  made  out  of  plastic'  is  an  agriculture  product-  say  a variety of rice, is itself unclear. As such there is no Exim Code for 'Plastic Rice' in Indian Trade Classification (Harmonised System), 2012, Schedule - I (Import Policy) and no such import of 'plastic rice' has been permitted .

Import of rice is  allowed through  Food Corporation of  India (FCI),  as per  India's Import Policy under Chapter 10 of ITC (HS), 2012, Schedule - I (Import Policy).  Further, Import  of  rice  is  subject  to  clearance  by  Food  Safety  and  Standards  Authority  of  India (FSSAI). As per the data available in Food Import Clearance System (FICS) of FSSAI, no import of rice made out of plastic has taken place from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Cochin, and Tuticorin where FSSAI is present.

- (d) : On the basis of alert from International Network of Food Safety Authorities (INFOSAN), FSSAI had taken up the issue with the State Governments of Kerala and Gujarat and these States have confirmed that no incidence of imported plastic rice has been reported in the respective States.
- (e) : In light of part (d) above, question does not arise.

******

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 81 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  NOVEMBER, 2015

## SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES

## 81.  SHRI S.P. MUDDAHANUME GOWDA:

SHRI ABHIJIT MUKHERJEE:

SHRI P.K. BIJU:

SHRI A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN:

SHRI INNOCENT:

SHRI BHAGWANTH KHUBA:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- a) the  details  of  functional/nonfunctional  Special  Economic  Zones  (SEZs)  in  the  country  at present, State/UT-wise and the target fixed for employment generation in SEZs along with the achievements thereof;
- b) whether the Government proposes to set up new SEZs in the country and if so, the details and the present status thereof, State/UT-wise including West Bengal;
- c) the  details  of  the  proposals  received  and  approved  by  the  Government  in  this  regard including those which have been rejected along with the reasons therefor during the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise including Karnataka;
- d) whether the functional SEZs have not been able to achieve Net Foreign Exchange earnings and if so, the reasons for the decline in the growth of SEZs; and
- e) whether the Government proposes to review the functioning and performance of SEZs in the country and if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken/being taken by the Government to improve the functioning of SEZs?

## ANSWER

वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग राज् य मंत्री )णीमीी स मलमा नीीारमि((स्वींत्र प्रभार )

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

(SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a): In addition to Seven Central Government Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and 11 State/Private Sector SEZs set-up prior to the enactment of the SEZ Act, 2005, approval has been accorded to 411 proposals for setting up of SEZs, out of which 327 SEZs have been  notified  as  on  date.    Presently,  a  total  of  204  SEZs  are  exporting.  A  statement showing  State/UT-wise  details  of  operational/non-operational  SEZs  is  at Annexure-I. Further, no employment generation target is fixed for SEZs.  As on 30.06.2015, a total of 15,04,597 persons have been provided employment in SEZs.
- (b) and (c): Proposals for setting up of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are approved by the  Board  of  Approval  (BoA)  on  recommendations  of  the  relevant  State  Government.

Approval of SEZs is an on-going process as they are created under the provisions of the SEZs Act, 2005.   Currently, there is no new proposal for setting up of SEZ in the State of West  Bengal.    During  the  last  three  years  and  current  year,  BoA  has  approved  19 proposals  including  2  proposals  in  the  State  of  Karnataka  for  setting  up  of  SEZs. State/UT-wise list of SEZs approved by Board of Approval during the last three years and the current year is at Annexure-II .  No proposal has been rejected during this period.

(d): As per the provisions of the SEZs Act, 2005 and Rules framed thereunder, a SEZ Developer is not required to achieve Net Foreign Exchange earnings.  However, the SEZ units are under an obligation to achieve positive Net Foreign Exchange (NFE) earnings to be calculated cumulatively for a period of 5 years from the commencement of production, failing which the units shall be liable for penal action under the provisions of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992.

(e): Review  of  functioning  of  SEZs  is  an  on-going  process  and  on  the  basis  of inputs/suggestions received from stakeholders on the policy and operational framework of the SEZ Scheme, periodically reviews the policy and operational framework of SEZs and takes necessary measures so as to facilitate speedy and effective implementation of SEZ Scheme. The Government has notified SEZ Rules (Amendment), 2015 vide G.S.R. 5(E) dated  02.01.2015  allowing  dual  utilization  of  facilities  in  Non-Processing  Area  (NPA)  of SEZs  by  both  SEZ  and  non-SEZ  entities.  Besides,  timelines  for  disposal  of  various approvals of Developers and Units have been introduced in all SEZ Zones.

*****

| States/UTs     |   Operational SEZs |   Non-operational SEZs |
|----------------|--------------------|------------------------|
| Andhra Pradesh |                 19 |                     12 |
| Chandigarh     |                  2 |                      0 |
| Chhattisgarh   |                  1 |                      1 |
| Delhi          |                  0 |                      2 |
| Goa            |                  0 |                      7 |
| Gujarat        |                 18 |                     16 |
| Haryana        |                  7 |                     15 |
| Jharkhand      |                  0 |                      1 |
| Karnataka      |                 26 |                     33 |
| Kerala         |                 16 |                     14 |
| Madhya Pradesh |                  2 |                     11 |
| Maharashtra    |                 25 |                     35 |
| Manipur        |                  0 |                      1 |
| Nagaland       |                  0 |                      2 |
| Odisha         |                  2 |                      6 |
| Puducherry     |                  0 |                      1 |
| Punjab         |                  2 |                      2 |
| Rajasthan      |                  4 |                      6 |
| Tamil Nadu     |                 36 |                     17 |
| Telangana      |                 26 |                     22 |
| Uttar Pradesh  |                 11 |                     13 |
| West Bengal    |                  7 |                      8 |
| GRAND TOTAL    |                204 |                    225 |

*****

| List of State wise SEZs approved by Board of Approval during the last three years and current year (upto 30.11.2015)   | List of State wise SEZs approved by Board of Approval during the last three years and current year (upto 30.11.2015)   |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| States                                                                                                                 | Number of Approvals granted                                                                                            |
| Andhra Pradesh                                                                                                         | 1                                                                                                                      |
| Gujarat                                                                                                                | 2                                                                                                                      |
| Karnataka                                                                                                              | 2                                                                                                                      |
| Kerala                                                                                                                 | 1                                                                                                                      |
| Maharashtra                                                                                                            | 4                                                                                                                      |
| Manipur                                                                                                                | 1                                                                                                                      |
| Madhya Pradesh                                                                                                         | 1                                                                                                                      |
| Uttar Pradesh                                                                                                          | 2                                                                                                                      |
| Tamil Nadu                                                                                                             | 3                                                                                                                      |
| Telangana                                                                                                              | 2                                                                                                                      |
| Total                                                                                                                  | 19                                                                                                                     |

*****

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 96

TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  NOVEMBER, 2015

## PRODUCTION AND IMPORT OF RUBBER

96. PROF. K.V. THOMAS:

SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN:

SHRI FEROZE VARUN GANDHI:

DR. P. VENUGOPAL:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- a) the total quantum of natural rubber produced and imported in the country during the last three years and the current year, year-wise;
- b) whether  there  is  a  consistent  drop  in  the  production  of  natural  rubber  during  the  said period and if so, the details thereof, year-wise along with the reasons therefor;
- c) whether a new rubber policy has been formulated by the Government and if so, the details thereof and the extent to which it is likely to help rubber growers in the country; and
- d) the steps taken by the Government to boost rubber production in the country and address the problems faced by rubber growers?

## ANSWER

वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग राज् य मंत्री )णीमीी स मलमा नीीारमि((स्वींत्र प्रभार )

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

(SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a) The production and import of rubber in the country during the last three years and current year is as under:
- (b) Domestic  production  of  NR  in  2013-14  was  low  due  to  adverse  weather  conditions, incidence of leaf diseases and low rubber prices. NR production in 2014-15 and current year is low mainly due to low rubber prices.
- (c) The Government of India constituted an Expert Committee on 16 June 2014 to examine issues related to rubber production, development, consumption and exports and suggest a National Policy on Rubber in the interest of both the growers as well as consumers. The Expert  Committee  consisted  of  experts  and  stakeholders  of  rubber  industry  including representatives of relevant Ministries and Departments of the Central Government, State Governments  of  Kerala  and  Tripura,  Rubber  Board,  Associations  of  NR  growers, Associations  of  rubber  based  industries  including  manufacturers  of  tyres,  latex,  block rubber, synthetic rubber and academic & research oriented institutions in the government and the non-governmental sector. The final draft of the Policy has been received from the Committee.
- (d) Several programmes covering research, extension and provision of financial assistance are being implemented during 12 th Five Year Plan to increase rubber production through new planting, replanting of uneconomic plantations and productivity enhancement. The scale of financial assistance for new planting and replanting is as follows:-

| Year                    |   Production (tonnes) |   Import (tonnes) |
|-------------------------|-----------------------|-------------------|
| 2012-13                 |                913700 |            262753 |
| 2013-14                 |                774000 |            360263 |
| 2014-15                 |                645000 |            442130 |
| 2015-16 (April-October) |                329000 |            252587 |

| Region                               | Planting subsidy in 12 th Plan                                                                      |
|--------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Traditional region                   | Rs. 25,000 per ha                                                                                   |
| Non-traditional region other than NE | Rs.35,000 per ha (planting subsidy - Rs.30000, reimbursement of cost of planting material- Rs.5000) |
| NE region                            | Rs.35,000 per ha (planting subsidy - Rs.30000, reimbursement of cost of planting material- Rs.5000) |

Other steps taken to regulate import and promote export of NR are the following.

-  DGFT reduced  the  export  obligation  period  to  six  months  for  NR  from  the  date  of clearance of each consignment under Advance Authorisation/DFIA Schemes in January 2015.
-  Import duty on dry forms of NR was raised from '20% or Rs 30 per kg whichever is lower' to '25% or Rs 30 a kg whichever is lower' with effect from 30 April 2015.
-  Added  RSS  (Ribbed  Smoked  Sheet)  and  TSR  (Technically  Specified  Rubber)  is included in Merchandise Export from India Scheme (MEIS) which makes them eligible for an incentive at the rate of two per cent for exports vide DGFT Public Notice No. 44/2015-20 dtd. 29 October 2015.

*******

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 100 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  NOVEMBER, 2015

## SETTING UP OF TURMERIC BOARD

## 100. SHRI M. CHANDRAKASI:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- a) whether the Government has any proposal to establish a Tumeric Board on the lines of Spices Board and Coffee Board for the promotion of trading of turmeric in the country;
- b) if so, details and the present status thereof;
- c) whether the proposed Turmeric Board is likely to be established in Tamil Nadu as it is one of  the  State  where  turmeric  trading  is  well  established  and  the  use  ofr  Turmeric  is connected with the tradition of the people of the State; and
- d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग राज् य मंत्री )णीमीी स मलमा नीीारमि((स्वींत्र प्रभार ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

(a)  &  (b):  Spices  Board  of  India  is  mandated  to  promote  export  of  fifty  two  notified  spices  including turmeric and implements programmes for marketing, post-harvest improvement and export of spices.

Government has established Spice Development Agencies in various parts of the country including Erode in  Tamil  Nadu  for  boosting  development  and  export  of  spices  at  regional  level.    Spice  Development Agency at Erode, Tamil Nadu has the responsibility of coordinating programmes implemented by various Central  and  State  agencies  in  the  region  for  production,  development  and  export  of  spices  including turmeric.

- (b) & (d): Does not arise.

*****

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 102 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  NOVEMBER, 2015

## PROBLEMS OF TOBACCO GROWERS

## 102. SHRI M. RAJA MOHAN REDDY:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- a) whether the Government has received a number of representations from the organizations  of  tobacco  growers  including  public  representatives  in  2015  highlighting their problems;
- b) if so, the details thereof; and
- c) the action taken by the Government to solve their problems?

## ANSWER

वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग राज् य मंत्री )णीमीी स मलमा नीीारमि((स्वींत्र प्रभार )

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a)  &  (b)    The  Department  of  Commerce    has  received  few  representations/references from  the  organization  of  tobacco  growers  like  Virginia  Tobacco  Farmers  Associations, Andhra Pradesh , The A.P. Tobacco Growers Co-Op. Union Ltd., A.P . etc. and few public representatives regarding marketing of Flue Cured Virginia (FCV)  tobacco in the State of Andhra Pradesh during crop season 2014-15.  The crisis took place due to surplus global production  including  in  India,  subdued  demand  of  FCV  tobacco  in  the  domestic  & international markets, greater turnout of low and medium variety of Indian crop due to bad weather, onslaught of tobacco root parasite, Orabanche.
- ( c) The Government of India has taken various measures to address this crisis:
- (i) Compensation scheme : To ameliorate the acute distress conditions of the registered growers  of  the  Tobacco  Board  in  the  Andhra  Pradesh  Auctions  during  2015,  the Department of Commerce, Government of India provided financial relief , as a one-time measure & as a special case, to registered growers of FCV tobacco of identified low grade varieties viz. dark greens (F9/NDG variety) and Thin bodied perished leaf (F10) and NOG (BX  2)  variety.  The  compensation  was  limited  to  Andhra  Pradesh  growers  for  2015 auctions w.e.f. 19.09.2015. As a result, as on date of closure of auction i.e. on 02.11.2015, 27950  registered  growers    benefitted  from  the  scheme,    resulted  in  financial  outgo  of Rs.16.85 crore @Rs. 15 per kg from the Government of India and Rs.5.61 crore @ Rs.5 per kg from the state Government of  Andhra Pradesh.

(ii) On  direction  of  the  Government,  Tobacco  Board  through  Indian  embassy  in respective countries is exploring the potential for promotion of FCV tobacco world-wide as long-term measures.

(iii) Based  upon  RBI's  circular  dated  03.07.2015,  a  clarification  has  been  issued  to Tobacco Board to allow  foreign  buyers  to  participate  in  the  auction  process  on  cash  & carry & retail basis in terms of the said circular.

(iii) The  Government  of  India  has  reduced  crop  size  to  120  million  kg  for  Andhra Pradesh crop season 2015-16 from 172 million kg of last crop season 2014-15.

(iv) In  order  to  provide  economically  sustainable  alternatives  to  tobacco  growing  to farmers  who  will  be  impacted  by  the  reducing  demand  for  tobacco,  Tobacco  Board  is working  vigorously  in  collaboration  with  CTRI  besides  educational  and  awareness programmes on cultivation of alternate crops to FCV tobacco.

****

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 105 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  NOVEMBER, 2015

## EXPORT OF MEAT

## 105(H).SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- a) the registered meat exporters/ companies in the country at present;
- b) the quantity and value of meat/cattle meat exported from the country during each of the last three years and the current year, cattle and country-wise;
- c) whether the meat of camel is being exported despite ban on it; and
- d) if so, the details thereof along with the action taken by the Government against the guilty companies?

## ANSWER

वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग राज् य मंत्री )णीमीी स मलमा नीीारमि((स्वींत्र प्रभार ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

There are 64 Abattoirs-cum-Meat Processing Plants/stand alone Abattoirs and 38 meat processing  plants  registered  with  Agricultural  Processed  Export  Development  Authority (APEDA) in the country at present.

- (a) The quantity and value of meat exported from the country during each of last three years and the current year, product and country-wise is given below.  As per Foreign Trade Policy of the Government, meat export of beef which covers cows, oxen, bulls and calves is prohibited and is not allowed.
- (i) EXPORT OF MEAT AND MEAT PRODUCTS:

Quantity in MT/Value in US$ Million

|              | 2012-13   | 2012-13   | 2013-14   | 2013-14   | 2014-15   | 2014-15   | 2015-16 (Upto Sept.)   | 2015-16 (Upto Sept.)   |
|--------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|------------------------|------------------------|
| COMMODITY    | Qty       | VALUE     | Qty       | VALUE     | Qty       | VALUE     | Qty                    | VALUE                  |
| BUFFALO MEAT | 1076103   | 3201.14   | 1365643   | 4350.38   | 1475540   | 4781.18   | 59884                  | 1889.98                |
| OTHER MEAT   | 194       | 0.43      | 268       | 0.55      | 262       | 0.44      | -                      | -                      |
| PROCESSED    | 796       | 1.73      | 508       | 1.29      | 405       | 2.29      | 27                     | 0.91                   |

| MEAT            |         |         |         |         |         |         |       |         |
|-----------------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|-------|---------|
| SHEEP/GOAT MEAT |   15287 |   78.35 |   22608 |  115.37 |   23614 |  135.71 |  1250 |   72.75 |
| Grand Total     | 1092380 | 3281.65 | 1389027 | 4467.59 | 1499821 | 4919.62 | 61161 | 1963.64 |

Source: DGCI&S

## (ii) Country-wise (top five) export of meat

Quantity in MT/Value in Rs.Crore

|             | 2012-13    | 2012-13   | 2013-14    | 2013-14   | 2014-15    | 2014-15   | 2015-16 (Apr to Sep)   | 2015-16 (Apr to Sep)   |
|-------------|------------|-----------|------------|-----------|------------|-----------|------------------------|------------------------|
| COUNTRY     | QTY        | VAL       | QTY        | VAL       | QTY        | VAL       | QTY                    | VAL                    |
| VIETNAM     | 302556.15  | 5129.19   | 524483.90  | 10976.18  | 633939.42  | 13210.11  | 208533.10              | 4586.80                |
| EGYPT       | 71295.33   | 1257.20   | 107825.72  | 2033.33   | 128082.00  | 2574.03   | 80948.00               | 1659.03                |
| MALAYSIA    | 115360.03  | 1943.71   | 121713.22  | 2356.42   | 130876.81  | 2586.03   | 69623.90               | 1381.61                |
| SAUDI ARAB  | 73852.09   | 1301.22   | 80432.32   | 1691.79   | 80844.87   | 1844.36   | 33315.75               | 805.49                 |
| IRAQ        | 24738.20   | 352.99    | 29992.00   | 526.77    | 23602.54   | 406.16    | 24665.46               | 449.18                 |
| Others      | 504571.47  | 7862.86   | 524565.87  | 9578.52   | 502459.96  | 9506.88   | 194604.77              | 3762.94                |
| Grand Total | 1092373.26 | 17847.17  | 1389013.03 | 27163.01  | 1499805.59 | 30127.56  | 611690.98              | 12645.04               |

Source: DGCI&S

(c ) & (d) As per Foreign Trade Policy of the Government, export and import of live camel is 'restricted' and meat of the camel is 'free'.   However, no export of meat of camel during the last three years and the current year (Upto September, 2015) has been made.

*****

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 109

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  NOVEMBER, 2015

## PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT TO LDCS IN TRADE

## 109. SHRI B. VINOD KUMAR:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  provide  preferential  treatment  to  least  Developed Countries (LDCs) in trade in services; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग राज् य मंत्री )णीमीी स मलमा नीीारमि((स्वींत्र प्रभार ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a)  :    Yes,  Madam.
- (b)  :  1. India will provide preferential treatment to LDCs in trade in service in respect of:
- i)  Visa related issues where India will waive visa fees for LDC applicants seeking Indian business and employment visas.
- ii)    Technical  Assistance  and  capacity  building  in  financial  services,  insurance  services, MSME sector, agriculture and rural development, railways & specially designed courses in consultancy services and technical assistance for development of chartered accountancy and company/corporate secretary  professions in LDCs.
- iii)      Market  access    commitments  in  some  services  subsectors,  including  access  for  LDC professionals subject to fulfillment of all immigration and qualification requirements.
2.    Subsequent to approval by the Union Cabinet, the Permanent Mission of India in the    WTO has notified India's offer in the WTO on 30.09.2015.  The notification will come into effect from 01.12.2015.  India will maintain these preferences for the period of the waiver.

…………………

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 110 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  NOVEMBER, 2015

## TRADE BETWEEN INDIA AND AFRICA

## 110(H).SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- a) whether trade between India and Africa has more than doubled during the last decade and if so, the details thereof;
- b) whether the Government has announced to provide certain concessional credit to Africa in India-Africa Forum Summit in order to strengthen commercial ties with African countries;
- c) if so, the details thereof and the sectors under which said fund is likely to be provided; and
- d) whether  the  Government  has  also  emphasised  to  address  the  issues  related  to  food security  and  agriculture  subsidy  in  the  World  Trade  Organisation  summit  to  be  held  in Nairobi and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग राज् य मंत्री )णीमीी स मलमा नीीारमि((स्वींत्र प्रभार ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

(SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a): Yes,  Madam.    India's  total  trade  with  Africa  increased  from  US$  12  billion  during 2005-06 to US$ 72 billion in 2014-15. During this period, exports from India to Africa increased  from  US$  7  billion  to  US$  33  billion  and  imports  from  Africa  to  India increased from US$ 5 billion to US$ 39 billion.
- (b) to (d): During the 3 rd India  Africa  Forum  Summit,  the  Government  of  India announced  India's  offer  for  concessional  credit  of  US$  10  billion  over  the  next  5 years to African Countries to strengthen India-Africa partnership, in addition to the US$ 7.4 billion concessional credit programme committed by India since the 1 st  India Africa  Forum  Summit  in  2008.  The  Governments  of  African  countries  will  propose projects  in  areas/sectors  where  they  would  seek  concessional  credit from  Govt. of India. In the past, such projects have broadly covered sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure,  power  transmission,  water  supply  and  so  on.  Government  of  India emphasised that at the ministerial meeting of the WTO in November at Nairobi, India and Africa must ensure that a permanent solution on public stock holding for food security and special safeguard mechanism in agriculture for the developing countries should be achieved.

*****

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 116 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  NOVEMBER, 2015

## EXPORT TARGETS

## 116(H). SHRI SHARAD TRIPATHI:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- a) whether the Government has achieved the export targets during each of the last three years and the current year;
- b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor along with the steps taken by the Government to achieve the export targets;
- c) the share of cottage industries and small industries in exports from the country during the said period; and
- d) the details of the scheme for providing financial package to the handloom industry and the names of the districts of Uttar Pradesh proposed to be included under the scheme?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग राज् य मंत्री )नीीारमि णीमीी स मलमा((स्वींत्र प्रभार ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

(SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

(a, b& c) The export targets, export and share of cottage industries and small industries (MS&ME)for each of the last three years and current year are shown in the table below.

## Value (US$ Billion)

|                                               | 2012-13                 | 2013-14                 | 2014-15                 | 2014-15 (April- October)   | 2015-16 (April- October)   |
|-----------------------------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|
| Export Target                                 | 350                     | 325                     | 340                     | ………                        | ………                        |
| Export                                        | 300.4                   | 314.4                   | 310.3                   | 187.3                      | 154.3                      |
| %share of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises | 43.0%                   | 42.4%                   | 44.7%                   | ……….                       | ………..                      |
| Trade deficit                                 | 190.3                   | 135.8                   | 137.7                   | 86.3                       | 77.8                       |
| Source: DGCI&S Kolkatta                       | Source: DGCI&S Kolkatta | Source: DGCI&S Kolkatta | Source: DGCI&S Kolkatta | Source: DGCI&S Kolkatta    | Source: DGCI&S Kolkatta    |

The main reasons for the fall in exports are,

(i)  The  major  global  slowdown  during  2014  and  2015  which    has  impacted  Global  Trade  and India's  Trade  adversely.  (ii)  World  Economic  Outlook  forecasts  for  import    has    been  revised specially  from  emerging  markets  and  developing  economies  from  3.5%  to  1.3%  for  the  year 2015.(iii)Moderate  but  uncertain  recovery  in  the  US  Economy.(iv)  The  significant  slowdown includes the Chinese Economy (v) Sharp fall in Crude and Petroleum product prices,(Brent crude declining  from  about  USD  98  per  barrel  last  year  to  USD  47.57  at  present).(vi)  fall  in  other commodity prices (Gold prices fell by 7.2 % high grade copper by about 26% in last one year (vii) Currency Fluctuations

The steps taken by Government to enhance  the export  are :

- (i) New Foreign Trade Policy (2015-20)  launched on 1 st  April, 2015 with a focus on supporting both manufacturing and services exports and improving the 'Ease of Doing Business'.    The policy has introduced  two  new  schemes,  namely,  'Merchandise  Exports  from  India  Scheme'(MEIS)  for incentivising  export  of  specified  goods  to  specified  markets  and  'Service  Exports  from  India Scheme' (SEIS) for increasing exports of notified services from India.
- (ii) By way of trade facilitation and enhancing the ease of doing business, Government reduced the number  of  mandatory  documents  required  for  exports  and  imports  to  three  each,  which  is comparable with international benchmarks. The trade community can file applications online for various trade related schemes.  Online payment of application fees through Credit/Debit Cards and electronic fund transfer from 53 Banks has been put in place.
- (iii) The Government has also expanded the coverage of Merchandise Exports from India scheme on 29 th October, 2015 by adding 110 new items to the original 4914 lines included in the scheme.  The reward  rates/country  coverage  of  2228  items  were  enhanced.    Consequently  the  envisaged revenue outgo under the scheme was increased from Rs. 18,000/- crore earlier to  Rs. 21,000/crore per annum.
- (iv) Government has infused additional Corpus (Capital) to the tune of Rs. 375/- crore into the National Export Insurance Account (NEIA), raising the corpus to over Rs. 2,100/- crore, and strengthen the capacity to augment Project exports from the country.  The equity capital of ECGC Ltd.  has also been raised by Rs. 50 crore to Rs. 1,300 crore enabling higher underwriting capacity to support exporters to expand their business and support banks for adequate lending to exporters.
- (v) Recently, the government has approved the proposal for implementing the Interest Equalization Scheme  on  Pre  &  Post  shipment  Rupee  Export  Credit  w.e.f.  1 st April,  2015  for  5  years, incorporating  an  interest  equalization  element  of  3%  per  annum.    This  scheme  will  facilitated access export credit at competitive rate of interest, given the lower interest rate level prevailing for exporters in other countries.
- (vi) The  State  governments  have  been  requested  to  develop  their  export  strategy,  appoint  export commissioners, address infrastructure constraints restricting movement of goods, facilitate refund of  VAT/Octroi/State  level  cess,  and  address  other  issues  relating  to  various  clearances  etc.  and build capacity of new exporters, in order to promote exports.

Handloom Marketing Assistance  is  one  of  the  Component  of  National  Handloom  Development programme  (NHDP)  introduced  during  the  12th  plan  period  for  implementation.  Under  the scheme, Export promotion is one of the component of the scheme. The objective of the handloom export  promotion  is  to  assist  the  handloom  cooperative  societies  &  corporations  in  developing exportable products and assist handloom agencies in publicity and international marketing of their products through publicity related activities and participation in international exhibitions, Buyerseller meets etc., and to make available to the exporters the latest international designs, colour forecasts, trends etc. Under this scheme assistance is provided to different districts of different State.

********

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 132 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  NOVEMBER, 2015

## RUBBER GROWERS

## 132. SHRI C.N. JAYADEVAN:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- a) whether there is a continued crash in the prices of rubber during the last three years and the current year;
- b) if so, the details thereof, year-wise; and
- c) the measures taken by the Government to help rubber growers in Kerala?

## ANSWER

वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग राज् य मंत्री )णीमीी स मलमा नीीारमि((स्वींत्र प्रभार ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a) & (b): Government is aware of the decline in the prices of Natural Rubber (NR) caused primarily by  fall  in  rubber  prices  in  the  international  markets  and  the  lower  demand  for  the  type  of  NR produced domestically.  Main reasons for the decline of rubber prices in the international market are weak demand for NR due to moderating economic growth in China, Increase in world stock of NR particularly in Thailand and low oil prices resulting in low prices of synthetic rubber.  However, the domestic rubber prices have generally stayed above international prices.

Details of prices of NR in the domestic and international market for the last three years are given below:

Prices of NR in the domestic and international markets (Rs./Kg)

|             | Sheet rubber              | Sheet rubber                    | Block rubber                 | Block rubber                         | Latex (60% drc)     | Latex (60% drc)              |
|-------------|---------------------------|---------------------------------|------------------------------|--------------------------------------|---------------------|------------------------------|
| Year/ Month | Domestic (RSS 4 Kottayam) | Internati- onal (RSS 3 Bangkok) | Domestic (ISNR 20 Kottayam ) | Internat-ional (SMR 20 Kuala Lumpur) | Domestic (Kottayam) | International (Kuala Lumpur) |
| 2012-13     | 176.82                    | 175.76                          | 168.17                       | 160.89                               | 117.72              | 111.64                       |
| 2013-14     | 166.02                    | 155.25                          | 156.43                       | 137.14                               | 123.31              | 101.06                       |
| 2014-15     | 132.57                    | 112.71                          | 114.40                       | 96.04                                | 94.46               | 77.07                        |
| Oct., 2015  | 114.10                    | 86.28                           | 102.64                       | 81.98                                | 86.66               | 62.60                        |

- (c) The Government has recently increased the duty on import of dry rubber from '20% or Rs 30 per kg whichever  is  lower'  to  '25%  or  Rs.  30  per  kg.  whichever  is  lower'  w.e.f  30.4.2015.  The

Government  has  also  reduced  the  period  of  utilization  of  imported  dry  rubber  under  advance licensing scheme from 18 months to 6 months. RSS (Ribbed Smoked Sheet) and TSR (Technically Specified Rubber) has been added in Merchandise Export from India Scheme (MEIS) which would make them eligible for an incentive at the rate of two per cent for exports vide DGFT Public Notice No. 44/2015-20 dated 29 October 2015.

*******

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 141 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  NOVEMBER, 2015

## EXPORT OF LEATHER AND LEATHER PRODUCTS

## 141(H). SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV:

PROF. SAUGATA ROY:

SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL:

SHRI SHIVKUMAR UDASI:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- a) the quantum and value of leather and leather products exported from the country during each of the last three years and the current year;
- b) whether the export of leather and leather products have declined during the said period particularly from April to September, 2015 as compared to the corresponding period last year and if so, the details thereof, year-wise;
- c) whether the Council for Leather Exports has requested the Government to come out with favourable tariff  so  as  to  revive  the  leather  industry  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along with the reaction of the Government thereto;
- d) whether the Government proposes to provide interest subsidy to leather industry and if so, the details thereof along with other steps taken by the Government to revive the said industry; and
- e) whether the leather industry has the requisite potentials to grow in the State of Karnataka and  if  so,  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  set  up  leather  cluster  in  Belgaum  and Bangalore rural districts of the  State to tap the potentials of the leather industry of the State and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग राज् य मंत्री )णीमीी स मलमा नीीारमि((स्वींत्र प्रभार ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a)  The  details  of  value  and  quantum  of  leather  and  leather  products  exported  from  India  are enclosed as Annexure-A.
- (b)  Yes Sir.  During April to September 2015, the export of leather and leather products was US$ 3123.83 million against US$ 3437.18 million in the corresponding period of 2014.
- (c)  The Council for Leather Exports had requested for reduction in the rate of Central excise duty on  footwear  with  leather  upper  from  12%  to  6%  which  has  already  been  accepted  by  the Government.
- (d)  Yes Sir.  The Government has approved 3% interest equalization scheme for all MSME units in leather  sector  and  for  7  tariff  lines  at  HS  4  digit  level  for  leather  goods  and  footwear  w.e.f. 1.4.2015.    Indian  Leather  Development  Programme  (ILDP)  is  being  implemented  for  overall development  of  leather  sector  in  the  country  by  augmenting  raw  material  base,  capacity enhancement, modernization and up-gradation of leather units, establish institutional facilities and support to artisans.
- (e)  The  export  of  leather,  leather  products  and  footwear  from  Karnataka  has  increased  from Rs.562.26 crore in 2013-14 to Rs.591 crore in 2014-15.  There is no proposal to set up leather cluster in the State of Karnataka.

## Annexure - A

In Value Terms, Export of leather and leather products from the country have increased from USD 5.01 billion (Rs.5009.52 million) in 2012-13 to USD 6.50 billion (USD 6499.97 million) in 2014-15.

| 2012-13    | 2013-14   | 2014-15   | 2015-16   |
|------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| APRIL- MAR | APRIL-MAR | APRIL-MAR | APRIL-SEP |
| 5,009.52   | 5,916.12  | 6,499.97  | 3123.83   |

Quantity wise export of leather, leather products and footwear (except leather garments) has increased during last 3 years as shown below.

| Product                                                                     | Unit   |   2012-13 |   2013-14 |   2014-15 |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Finished Leather                                                            | Sq. ft | 759565425 | 822668171 | 834452198 |
| Footwear Components, Leather Footwear, Non-Leather Footwear, Leather Gloves | Pairs  | 270994825 | 293813873 | 332035246 |
| Leather Garments, Harness and Saddlery, Leather Goods                       | Pieces | 170110208 | 172119056 | 184430990 |

(Based on membership records of Council for Leather Exports as available upto 2014-15)

## Annexure - B

Indian  Leather  Development  Programme  (ILDP)  is  being  implemented  by  the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion in the 12 th  Five Year Plan for overall development  of  leather  sector  in  the  country.  The  major  objective  of  ILDP  is  to augment raw material base, enhance capacity, modernization and up-gradation of leather  units,  address  environmental  concerns  ,  human  resource  development, support  to traditional leather artisans, address  infrastructure constraints  and establish institutional facilities. The ILDP comprises the following six sub-schemes:

1. Integrated Development of Leather Sector (IDLS) - Under this sub-scheme, assistance is provided for technology up-gradation/modernization and/or expansion and setting up of a new unit in the leather sector. The Sub-scheme provides assistance in form of investment grant to the extent of 30% of cost of new plant and machinery for micro and small enterprises and 20% of cost of new plant and machinery for other units subject to a ceiling of Rs. 2 crore for each product line.
2. Human Resource Development (HRD) -  HRD mission targets potential work force  for  leather  sector  and  lays  stress  on  skill  development  and  technical development. This project is intended to train and prepare individuals to be fit to work  in  medium  to  large  industrial  units.  Up  gradation  of  skills  of  persons already employed in the sector, besides training for trainers/supervisors, is also undertaken. Under Placement Linked Skill Development Training, at least 75% of trained persons are placed in the industry as per the guidelines.
3. Support  to  Artisan -  There  are  various  clusters  in  India  making  traditional footwear  and  other  leather  goods.  The  aim  of  this  scheme  is  to  promote  the clusters at various forums as they are an integral part of rural Indian economy and  have  potential  for  generating  local  employment  and  export.  The  artisan clusters  all  over  India  would  be  supported  for  enhancing  their  design  and product development, capacity building, providing marketing support, establishing  common facility  center  and  marketing  support/linkage.  The  broad objective of this component is to ensure better and higher returns to the artisans resulting into socio-economic upliftment.
4. Establishment of Institutional Facilities -  The  sub-scheme of ILDP aims at providing institutional facilities by way of establishing new campuses of FDDI to meet  the  growing  demand  of  the  leather  industry  for  footwear  technologies,
5. designers, supervisors and mechanics. Two new branches of FDDI in Punjab and Gujarat are being set up.
5. Leather Technology, Innovation & Environmental Issues - This sub-scheme provides  financial  support  to  Leather  Cluster  to  meet  the  prescribed  pollution control discharge norms and environmental issues. This covers establishment/ expansion/ up gradation of CETPs, Technology benchmarking for implementing cleaner  technologies  for  environment  management,  utilization  of  solid  waste from tanneries and conducting workshops to educate and train the tanners and tannery workers.
6. Mega  Leather  Cluster -  The  major  objective  of  developing  Mega  Leather Clusters is to create state of the art infrastructure and to integrate the production chain in a manner that caters to the business needs of the leather industry so as to cater to the domestic market and exports. These mega clusters will assist the entrepreneurs to set up units with modern infrastructure, latest technology, and adequate  training  and  Human  Resource  Development  (HRD)  inputs.  The development  of  Mega  Leather  Clusters  would  help  in  creating  additional employment opportunity, particularly  for  the  weaker  sections  of  society.  Mega Leather  Clusters  (MLC)  for  the  development  of  leather  industry  will  have minimum common facilities. The project cost would cover various infrastructure developments like Core Infrastructure, Special Infrastructure, Production Infrastructure,  HRD  &  Social  Infrastructure,  R&D  Infrastructure  and  Export services related infrastructure.

*****

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 148 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  NOVEMBER, 2015

## PLANTATION OF RUBBER

## 148. SHRI JITENDRA CHAUDHURY:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- a) whether  the  Government  has  not  revised  scale  of  subsidies  and  other  Inputs  for  new planting and replanting of rubber for more than last ten years;
- b) if so, the reasons therefor;
- c) whether the Government is considering expansion of rubber to other North-Eastern states other  than  Tripura,  where  the  soil  and  climatic  condition  has  been  found  suitable  for rubber cultivation; and
- d) if so, the details thereof along with the fiscal and physical plan for next ten years?

## ANSWER

वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग राज् य मंत्री )णीमीी स मलमा नीीारमि((स्वींत्र प्रभार ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a) & (b):  The subsidy rates for new planting and replanting of rubber have been raised during the 12 th Plan to Rs. 25,000 per hectare in the traditional region and Rs. 35,000 per hectare in the non-traditional region respectively, covering 8% and 15% of the development costs.
- (d) & (d)   Expansion of rubber cultivation to North Eastern (NE) states is an approved activity under the 12 th Plan.  The target for expansion of rubber cultivation with financial assistance in NE states other than Tripura is 16,000 ha under 12 th Plan.  Potential area available in NE states  for  rubber  cultivation  is  estimated  provisionally  at  around  300,000  ha.    Fiscal  and physical plans of the special rubber plantation development schemes are fixed from year to year on the basis of discussions with various State Government and concerned Ministries.

*******

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 154

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  NOVEMBER, 2015

## DECLINE IN EXPORTS

## 154. SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT:

SHRI JOSE K. MANI:

SHRI MAHEISH GIRRI:

SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA:

SHRI GOPAL SHETTY:

SHRIMATI VANAROJA R:

SHRI MALLIKARJUN KHARGE:

SHRI RAVNEET SINGH:

SHRI BHARATHI MOHAN R.K.:

SHRI RAHUL SHEWALE:

SHRI PONGULETI SRINIVASA REDDY:

SHRI A.T. NANA PATIL:

SHRI R. GOPALAKRISHNAN:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- a) the quantum and value of export vis-a-vis export target fixed during each of the last three years and the current year, commodity/sector and country-wise;
- b) whether there is a decline in the exports of major sectors during the said period resulting in increase in trade deficit;
- c) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  reasons  therefor,  sector-wise  and  its  impact  on employment generation:
- d) the  details  of  the  problems/  challenges  being  faced  by  Indian  exporters  and  the  steps taken by the Government to address them; and
- e) the measures taken to boost exports and explore new markets, minimize the impact of the trade deficit and achieve the export targets?

## ANSWER

वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग राज् य मंत्री )णीमीी स मलमा नीीारमि((स्वींत्र प्रभार )

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

(SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

(a,b&c) The export target fixed during each of  the last three years along with value of exports and trade deficit is given in the table below.

Value (US$ Billion)

|               |   2012-13 |   2013-14 |   2014-15 | 2015-16 (April-October)*   |
|---------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|----------------------------|
| Export Target |     350   |     325   |     340   | ………                        |
| Export        |     300.4 |     314.4 |     310.3 | 154.3                      |
| Trade deficit |     190.3 |     135.8 |     137.7 | 77.8                       |

*Provisional

Quantum and the value of exports country, commodity/sector-wise  are available in the DGCI&S publication in CD form namely 'Monthly Statistics of Foreign Trade of India' Vol. I (Exports). Such CD's are regularly sent to Parliament Library by DGCI&S, Kolkata.

In value terms, the merchandise trade deficit has decreased from US$ 86.27 Billion in Apr-Oct 2014 to US$ 77.76 Billion for the same period in 2015. The major sectors which are showing fall are PETROLEUM PRODUCTS, TELECOM INSTRUMENTS , PLASTIC RAW MATERIALS,ORGANIC CHEMICALS, BULK MINERALS AND ORES SILVER, INORGANIC CHEMICALS,CONSUMER ELECTRONICS ,PULSES,PROJECT GOODS FRESH FRUITS,DYE INTERMEDIATES,RAILWY TRNSPRT EQUIPMNTS, PRTS OTHER CRUDE MINERALS,SURGICALS,TIN  AND  PRODUCTS  MADE  OF  TIN,  BOOKS,  PUBLICATIONS  AND PRNTNG.

The main reasons for the fall in exports are,

(i)  The major global slowdown during 2014 and 2015 which  has impacted Global Trade and India's Trade adversely. (ii) World Economic Outlook forecasts for import  has  been revised specially from emerging markets and developing economies from 3.5% to 1.3% for the year 2015.(iii)Moderate  but  uncertain  recovery  in  the  US  Economy.(iv)  The  significant  slowdown includes  the  Chinese  Economy  (v)  Sharp  fall  in  Crude  and  Petroleum  product  prices,(Brent crude declining from about USD 98 per barrel last year to USD 47.57 at present).(vi) fall in other commodity prices (Gold prices fell by 7.2 % high grade copper by about 26% in last one year (vii) Currency Fluctuations

According to Ministry of Labour & Employment Quarterly Survey, in comparison to Dec 2013 the employment in 2014  has increased by 196000 in exporting units. There is an increase in all other  sectors  except  in  leather  and  handloom/power  loom  exporting  units  where  employment has come down by 7000 and 4000 respectively.

( d & e ) The steps taken by Government to address the challenges faced by exporters are:

- (vii) New  Foreign  Trade  Policy  (2015-20)    launched  on  1 st April,  2015  with  a  focus  on  supporting  both manufacturing and services exports and improving the 'Ease of Doing Business'.    The policy has introduced two  new  schemes,  namely,  'Merchandise  Exports  from  India  Scheme'(MEIS)  for  incentivising  export  of specified goods to specified markets and 'Service Exports from India Scheme' (SEIS) for increasing exports of notified services from India.
- (viii) By way of trade facilitation and enhancing the ease of doing business, Government reduced the number of mandatory  documents  required  for  exports  and  imports  to  three  each,  which  is  comparable  with international  benchmarks.  The  trade  community  can  file  applications  online  for  various  trade  related schemes.  Online payment of application fees through Credit/Debit Cards and electronic fund transfer from 53 Banks has been put in place.
- (ix) The  Government  has  also  expanded  the  coverage  of  Merchandise  Exports  from  India  scheme  on  29 th October, 2015 by adding 110 new items to the original 4914 lines included in the scheme.  The reward rates/country coverage of 2228 items were enhanced.  Consequently the envisaged revenue outgo under the scheme was increased from Rs. 18,000/- crore earlier to Rs. 21,000/- crore per annum.
- (x) Government has infused additional Corpus (Capital) to the tune of Rs. 375/- crore into the National Export Insurance  Account  (NEIA),  raising  the  corpus  to  over  Rs.  2,100/-  crore,  and  strengthen  the  capacity  to augment Project exports from the country.  The equity capital of ECGC Ltd.  has also been raised by Rs. 50 crore to Rs. 1,300 crore enabling higher underwriting capacity to support exporters to expand their business and support banks for adequate lending to exporters.
- (xi) Recently, the government has approved the proposal for implementing the Interest Equalization Scheme on Pre  &  Post  shipment  Rupee  Export  Credit  w.e.f.  1 st April,  2015  for  5  years,  incorporating  an  interest

equalization element of 3% per annum.  This scheme will facilitate  access to export credit at competitive rate of interest, given the lower interest rate level prevailing for exporters in other countries.

- (xii) The State governments have been requested to develop their export strategy, appoint export commissioners,  address  infrastructure  constraints  restricting  movement  of  goods,  facilitate  refund  of VAT/Octroi/State level cess, and address other issues relating to various clearances etc. and build capacity of new exporters, in order to promote exports.

*********

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 159

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  NOVEMBER, 2015

## TRADE TIES WITH AFRICAN COUNTRIES

## 159.  SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN:

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:

SHRI RAHUL SHEWALE:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH:

DR. SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD:

SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( ) be pleased to state:

वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री

- a) whether  India  has  discussed  various  ways  with  African  countries  to  bolster  trade  ties during the recent India-Africa Summit;
- b) if so, the details and the outcome thereof and the main issues discussed therein;
- c) whether India has signed any agreements with African countries in this regard; and
- d) if so, the details thereof along with the benefits likely to accrue as a result thereof?

## ANSWER

वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग राज् य मंत्री )णीमीी स मलमा नीीारमि((स्वींत्र प्रभार )

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

(INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

(SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

(a) & (b): During the recently concluded India-Africa Forum Summit, India and African countries recognized that businesses of both sides through growing trade, investment and technology linkages provide a strong dimension to India-Africa partnership. Both sides  further  recognized  the  huge  potential  for  expansion  of  trade  and  investment  in Africa  and  India.  Some  of  the  major  trade  related  issues  that  were  discussed  and agreed  were:  to  fast  track  the  implementation  of  the  Duty  Free  Tariff  Preference Scheme  offered  by  India;  work  towards  creating  conducive  environment  for  trade facilitation  in  accordance  with  the  WTO  Bali  Trade  Facilitation  Agreement;    Support establishment  of  Small  and  Medium  Enterprises  (SMEs)  and  Medium  and  Small Industries (MSIs) in order to promote employment creation and income generation for people of both sides; Promote Public Private Partnership (PPP) by encouraging Indian businesses to set up skills development units in African industrial zones with the aim to train African engineers, technicians, managers and workers as well as other experts in areas such as food security and solar energy; create a mechanism to enable women groups to access credit for productive activities and markets for their products; enhance cooperation through  training and  collective negotiations on  global trade issues, including at the WTO.

- (c); No, Madam.

(d); Does not arise.

*******

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 166

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  NOVEMBER, 2015

## EXPORT OF PRODUCTS

## 166. KUMARI SUSHMITA DEV: SHRIMATI KAVITHA KALVAKUNTLA: SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- a) whether  the  Government  has  enhanced  support  for  export  of  various  products  and
2. included some additional items under the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme;
- b) if so, the details thereof indicating the 'Global Support' and 'Higher Support' for different
4. categories of products;
- c) whether the trade gap between exports and imports has widened during the last three years and the current year;
- d) if so, the details thereof, year-wise along with the reasons therefor; and
- e) the extent to which the incentives announced by the Government for exporters are likely
8. to bridge trade gaps?

## ANSWER

वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग राज् य मंत्री )नीीारमि णीमीी स मलमा((स्वींत्र प्रभार )

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

(SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a) & (b) : The Government has enhanced support on certain products/markets and has included additional items under Merchandise Exports from India Scheme. These have been notified vide Public Notice Nos. 27 dated 14.07.2015, 28 dated 15.07.2015 and 44 dated 29.10.2015.  These Public Notices are available on the website of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade at http://dgft@gov.in. The Global Support and Higher Support can be seen in these Public Notices.
- (c) & (d) :

The trade deficit for Merchandise trade, which was US$ 190.3 Billion in 2012-13 has since declined to US$ 137.7 Billion in

- 2014-15.  Trade deficit for April to October 2015 is US$ 77.76 Billion as against the trade deficit of US$ 86.27 Billion for the period April to October 2014, which is a decrease of 9.87%.
- (e) : The reward/incentives provided by the Government makes the exporters competitive in the international market and may help in boosting the exports. This, in turn, will help in bridging the trade gaps.

*****

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 185 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  NOVEMBER, 2015

## EXPORT OF CASH CROPS

## 185(H). SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV: SHRI JASVANTSINH SUMANBHAI BHABHOR:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- a) whether  the  Government  has  formulated  a  scheme/taken  steps  to  boost  the  export  of cash crops;
- b) if so, the details thereof;
- c) the details of the export of cash crops in terms of rupees during the last three years;
- d) whether the export of cash crops from the country has not been encouraged and if so, the reasons therefor; and
- e) the reaction of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग राज् य मंत्री )णीमीी स मलमा नीीारमि((स्वींत्र प्रभार ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

(SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- &  (b):  Government  takes  regular  measures  to  boost  export  of  cash  crops  namely  tea,  coffee, rubber,  spices,  tobacco  and  cashew  which  includes,  inter  alia,  providing  financial  and  technical assistance to the growers and other stakeholders for participation in trade fairs, exhibitions, buyerseller meets, brand promotion, public relation campaigns and incentives for export of value added products.  The  Export  Policy  is  implemented  taking  into  account  the  production,  productivity, export destinations, as well as global and domestic   demand and supply of the Commodity.
- (c):    The details of the export of cash crops in term of rupees during the last three years are given below:

(Value in Rs. crores)

| Year    |     Tea |   Coffee |   Natural Rubber | Spices    |   Tobacco |   Cashew Kernel |
|---------|---------|----------|------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------------|
| 2012-13 | 4005.93 |  4552.75 |            468.5 | 12,112.76 |   4979.05 |         4046.23 |
| 2013-14 | 4509.09 |  4539.89 |             85.2 | 13,735.39 |   6092.86 |         5058.73 |
| 2014-15 | 3823.64 |  4947.1  |             11.5 | 14,899.68 |   5652.17 |         5432.85 |

*****

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 191 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  NOVEMBER, 2015

## EXPORT OF TEA

## 191. DR. P. VENUGOPAL:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- a) whether only 95 million kg of tea is exported from the south as against the production of 240 million kg of tea every year in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- b) whether the increase by 10 million kg is likely to make a big difference in south Indian tea prices and if so, the details thereof;
- c) whether the United Planters Association of South India has suggested the Government to form  a  body  with  representatives  from  the  Government  and  the  Industry  that  will  fix targets for exports and work towards it; and
- d) if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग राज् य मंत्री )णीमीी स मलमा नीीारमि((स्वींत्र प्रभार ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a) Tea production vis-à-vis exports from South India during the last three years are given in the following table :

| Year              |   Production (M.Kgs) |   Exports (M.Kgs) |
|-------------------|----------------------|-------------------|
| 2012-13           |               241.69 |             84.78 |
| 2013-14           |               243.71 |             92.48 |
| 2014-15           |               241.36 |             87.49 |
| 2015-16 (Apr-Sep) |               129.83 |             45.42 |
| 2014-15 (Apr-Sep) |               130.37 |             43.45 |

Approximately  35%  of  South  Indian  tea  produced  is  exported.  The  quantity  exported  from South India region has ranged from 85 million kilograms to 93 million kilograms during the last three years.

- (b) A verage export price fetched vis-à-vis auction price of tea for both All India and South India are given in the following table:
- (c) & (d): The United Planters Association of South India (UPASI), in a representation,  has expressed their willingness to work closely with the Government and Tea Board to promote South Indian tea in the important markets viz Russia, Pakistan, USA, UAE and Egypt, Iran and South East Asia. Suggestions of stakeholders including UPASI for increasing export of Indian tea in the coming years have been noted.

| Year    |   All India Export price (Rs/Kg) |   All India Auction Price (Rs/Kg) |   South India Export price (Rs/Kg) |   South India Auction price (Rs/Kg) |
|---------|----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| 2012-13 |                           185.26 |                            127.91 |                             129.58 |                               93.75 |
| 2013-14 |                           199.73 |                            126.12 |                             140.98 |                               95.82 |
| 2014-15 |                           192.07 |                            125.59 |                             135.69 |                               81.15 |

*****

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 193 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  NOVEMBER, 2015

## TRADE WITH IRAN

## 193(H). SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- a) whether the Government has agreed to sign any free trade agreement with Iran;
- b) if so, the benefits likely to be accrued as a result thereof along with the time by which it is likely to be implemented;
- c) whether Iran has shown interest in the trade of tea, pharma and edible items with India;
- d) if so, whether trade of all these items are likely to be covered under oil agreement; and
- e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग राज् य मंत्री )णीमीी स मलमा नीीारमि((स्वींत्र प्रभार ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

(SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

(a)&(b): No,  Sir . However, in  the  17 th   Session  of  the  Joint  Commission between India and Iran held in  May, 2013, it was agreed to commerce preliminary  consultation between the concerned  Ministries of both sides for a Preferential Trade Agreement(PTA). In the first meeting of Joint Working Group on Trade and Commerce held in April, 2015 in Tehran, both sides agreed to examine the scope and the feasibility of entering into a PTA. In the second meeting of the Joint Working Group held on 18-19 November, 2015 in New Delhi both sides agreed, inter-alia, to open up a channel for exchange of information, etc for this purpose.

- (c) : Yes Sir.
- (d)  &(e):  The  Rupee payment arrangement with Iran is  in place to (i) ease payment in respect of imports of oil and (ii)  help facilitate payment to exporters in rupees.

****

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 206 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  NOVEMBER, 2015

## TRADE POTENTIAL OF MINERAL DEPOSITS

## 206(H). SHRI C.R. CHAUDHARY:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- a) whether the Government has taken steps to identify the trade potential of major mineral deposits in the Nagaur District in Rajasthan;
- b) if so, the extent of progress made in this regard; and
- c) if  not, the reasons therefor and the time by which the work is likely to be started in this regard?

## ANSWER

वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग राज् य मंत्री )णीमीी स मलमा नीीारमि((स्वींत्र प्रभार ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a) to (c) The information is being collected and the same will be laid on the Table of the House.

*****

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 211 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  NOVEMBER, 2015

## EXPORT AND IMPORT OF CARDAMOM AND CASHEW

## 211. SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- a) the quantum of Cardamom, and Cashew exported and imported during each of the last three years and the current year;
- b) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  research  to  increase  the  per  hectare production of Cashew during the said period; and
- c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग राज् य मंत्री )णीमीी स मलमा नीीारमि((स्वींत्र प्रभार ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

(a):  The  quantum of Cardamom (Small & Large) and Cashew exported and imported during each of the last three years and the current year (April-August) is at Annexure-1.

(b) & (c): Research on cashew for increasing per hectare production of cashew is conducted by the Directorate of Cashew  Research  (DCR),  Puttur,  Karnataka  and  All  India  Coordinated  Research  Centers  on  Cashew  (AICRP)  in various cashew growing states under the supervision of Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR). Some of the notable research achievements made by the Centers for increasing production of cashew are as under:-

1. Total of 38 high yielding varieties of cashew have been released so far from DCR and AICRP centers suitable for cultivation at different agro climatic conditions.
2. Techniques for commercial propagation of cashew by soft wood grafting has been standardized for quality planting material production.
3. Plant canopy management and top working was standardized for enhancing yield performance.
4. High density planting technology has been standardized.
5. Integrated pest management technologies for the control of major pests of cashew viz. cashew steam and root borer, tea mosquito bug have been developed.

********

## Statement showing Export and Import Figures of Cardamom (Small & Large) and Cashew during the last three years and the current year (April-August).

## Cardamom (Small )

Quantity in MT.

| Year                     |   Export |   Import |
|--------------------------|----------|----------|
| 2012-13                  |     2372 |      495 |
| 2013-14                  |     3600 |     1110 |
| 2014-15 (P)              |     3795 |     2285 |
| 2015-16 (E ) ( Apr- Aug) |     1475 |      350 |

## Cardamom (Large)

## Quantity in MT.

| Year                     | Export   |   Import |
|--------------------------|----------|----------|
| 2012-13                  | 1,217    |     3895 |
| 2013-14                  | 1,110    |     3705 |
| 2014-15 (P)              | 665      |     2750 |
| 2015-16 (E ) ( Apr- Aug) | 105      |     1200 |

## Cashew

## Quantity in MT.

| Year                | Export   | Import   |
|---------------------|----------|----------|
| 2012-13             | 1,04,092 | 8,98,521 |
| 2013-14             | 1,20,737 | 7,76,334 |
| 2014-15 (P)         | 1,34,567 | 9,40,813 |
| 2015-16 (April-Aug) | 42,348   | 6,47,653 |

******

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 220 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  NOVEMBER, 2015

## IMPORT OF PULSES

## 220. SHRIMATI VANAROJA R.:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- a) whether India is planning to barter surplus sugar for pulses from abroad;
- b) if so, the details thereof;
- c) whether  the  Government  has  made  any  discussions  with  the  countries  from  where  we import pulses and those countries which need sugar; and
- d) if so, the details thereof and the response received by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग राज् य मंत्री )णीमीी स मलमा नीीारमि((स्वींत्र प्रभार ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

(INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a) to (c) For facilitation  of  evacuation of surplus sugar from India to other countries the  Government    have  been  contemplating  on  various  options  including  trade through  counter-trade/barter,  Lines  of  Credit,  etc.  The  Indian  Missions  located  in various target countries have been requested to pursue various trade opportunities with a view  to evacuate surplus sugar.  Trade delegations too have been mounted to some of the important destination countries.
- (d) Pursing trade  Agenda with foreign  partners is  a  long  drawn  process  and  depends upon  several  factors  including  international  prices,  demand  &  supply  situation, mechanism for barter/ procurement, rules & regulations governing trade and quality of agriculture produce etc.

*****