Lok Sabha Question No. 3623 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-21
Subject: Meeting of Exporters
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: S. RAJENDRAN

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3623 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 ST     DECEMBER, 2015

## MEETING OF EXPORTERS

## 3623. SHRI S. RAJENDRAN:

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

- a) whether the Government has held any meeting with the exporters to discuss various trade-related issues;
- b) if so, the details thereof along with the issues discussed therein;
- c) whether the Federation of Indian Export Organisation (FIEO) has raised any issue relating to the increased transactions cost for exporters and if so, the details thereof; and
- d) whether the Government has given any assurance to FIEO in this regard and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज्् य एवं उद्योग राज्् य मंत्री ( ीीमीी ालमर्िा णीीारमि ) ( स्वींत्र प्रभार )

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

## (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

(a)  &  (b)  Government  regularly  consults  exporters  on  trade  related  issues.  Before  the announcement of Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20, government convened 41 meetings with the  Organizations  representing  exporters  from  all  sectors.  Government  also  regularly engages with exporters through the open house meetings organized by Trade Organizations.

(c ) Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO)  on Oct 7,2015 raised transactions cost related issues. Major issues raised were: High cost of credit, need for upward revision of the rates under the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS), delay in refunds of Service Tax/Central Excise Rebate claims, exempted from Service Tax etc.

( d)  Government informed FIEO of its commitment to bring down the transactions cost of undertaking exports. Government has introduced the following measures to bring down the transactions/ other cost:

- i) Introduction of the Interest Equalisation Scheme with effect from 1.4.2015- This will reduce the interest burden of all MSME and other eligible exporters,
2. ii) Consolidation  of  merchandise  exports  incentive  schemes-  Number  of  schemes  has been reduced from 6 in the earlier Foreign Trade Policy to just one. The new scheme is known as the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS).
3. iii) Increase in rates and country coverage of important products under the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) has been done on 29.10.2015
4. iv) Reduction in the number of mandatory documents to 3 each for export and import. Earlier 7 documents were required for exports and 10 for imports.
- v) Expansion of the facility of online filing of export application/payment of fees at the Directorate General of Foreign Trade.
6. vi) Extension of 24x7 Customs Clearance facility for export and imports to cover 18 sea ports and 17 air cargo complexes for specified cargo.
7. vii) Online message exchange facility for issuance of no objection certificates has been established  between  Customs  [JNPT  (Nhava  Sheva),  ICD,  Tughlakabad  and  ICD, Patparganj] and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the Department  of  Plant  Protection,  Quarantine  and  Storage  (PQIS).  This  will  help  in faster clearance of goods.

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