EEPC India organising seminar on doing business with Canada in Ahmedabad

Part of promoting 'India Show Canada' to be held in October

"India Show Canada", an initiative of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, is being organized by EEPC India (set up by the Government of India) with the support of the High Commission of India in Canada and the High Commission of Canada, New Delhi.

The event is synchronized with the largest and most famous industrial exhibition in North America—the Canadian Manufacturing Technology Show (CMTS 2011), in Toronto, Canada from October 17-20. India is a 'Strategic Partner' for the exhibition.

With 2011 having been declared the "Year of India in Canada" by the Prime Ministers of the two countries, the Show has assumed added significance and is expected to generate considerable momentum for further enhancing India-Canada bilateral trade and investment relationship.

EEPC India is holding a number of road shows/seminars throughout the country to publicise India Show Canada. Among them is a seminar on "Doing Business with Canada" on August 3 in Ahmedabad. Interested participants can register for free by contacting EEPC India, Ashram Road, Ahmedabad at:

Contact to below mail addresses for more details:

eepcsroahd@eepcindia.net or sudhakaran@eepcindia.net

FIEO President: Policy stability and credit cost reduction can boost exports

Hailing the sharp 57 per cent increase in exports to $ 25.9 billion in May, Mr Ramu Deora, President, Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO), said it was the sign of a robust global scenario, particularly in advanced economies, coupled with effective government initiatives.

According to him, if stability in policies is maintained and credit cost lowered, the country would be able to surpass this year's export target as well.

However, Mr Deora expressed concern over the import figures, which had climbed 54.1 per cent to $ 40.9 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of $15 billion. While stressing that domestic manufacturing should be encouraged to offset the huge deficit, Mr Deora said that the government should provide a level playing field to the industry.

CONCOR’s CFS-Gandhidham implements Indian Customs EDI System

The Container Corporation of India's (CONCOR) Gandhidham container freight station (CFS) has crossed another milestone by implementing EDI facility.

Indian Customs EDI System (ICES), an automated Customs transaction processing system, has been tested and commenced at CFS-Gandhidham. Automated procedures under Customs EDI system would help in reducing the number of manual processing stages and ensure a progressive move towards e-mode implementation of various procedures. This will facilitate electronic transmission of import/export documents/declarations to Customs from importer/exporter/custom house agent offices through ICEGATE (Customs e-commerce portal).

Given the growing volume of international trade, the need for expeditious clearance of goods at the port within
the minimum possible time has been gaining importance. This goal will be achieved by the implementation of EDI.

CONCOR's CFS-Gandhidham offers ex-im services like container stuffing, de-stuffing, acceptance, transit warehousing and delivery of cargo, container parking, container/cargo survey, cargo aggregation/segregation for exports and imports. It operates in a Customs notified area of 1.02 lakh sq. m and its physical infrastructure includes a 2,000 sq. m ex-im transit warehouse and a full length rail line connecting to the pan-India hinterland, ICDs/CFSs, Domestic Container Terminals of CONCOR and gateway ports.

The facility is equipped with state-of-art heavy equipment for handling cargo and containers. It serves as an off-dock Port Side Container Terminal (PSCT) for ports like Kandla and Mundra for containerised traffic. Besides, by providing integrated ex-im services, the CFS has played a decisive role in fulfilling the objective of developing/benefiting the surrounding areas.

CFS-Gandhidham has successfully catered to the ex-im needs of shippers and consignees exporting rice, cotton, marble slabs, agro products, etc. and importing HMS and bitumen in a big way. It offers economical public tariff for handling, storage and container transportation by rail and road.

Stakeholders’ views sought on review of ‘deemed export’ policy

With a view to preventing any misuse of the 'deemed export' policy, the Union government has invited comments and suggestions from stakeholders on the review of the policy by June 28.

Literally, the term 'deemed exports' means transactions in which goods supplied by main/sub-contracts do not go out of the country and payment for such supplies is received either in Indian rupees or in free foreign exchange, with the condition that such goods should be produced in the country.

In an inter-departmental committee meeting held earlier this month, it was decided that the committee, constituted under the chairmanship of Dr Anup K. Pujari, Director-General of Foreign Trade, to review the policy, would seek the views of stakeholders by June 28.

The committee's terms of reference include the following: harmonisation of Customs notifications with the policy, improving the drafting of the policy as it exists today so that it is not amenable to multiple interpretations, and, specifically, to do away with ambiguities and repetitions and revisiting the issue of deemed exports to see whether it properly reflects the government's priorities.

The Foreign Trade Policy regards the following transactions as deemed exports: supply of goods to export-oriented units, software/hardware technology parks, projects funded by multilateral or bilateral agencies, as well as for power projects and refineries.

CONCOR commissions ICD-Khodiyar, AHMEDABAD

The largest inland terminal in western India to facilitate ex-im trade under one roof

The Container Corporation of India's (CONCOR) inland container depot (ICD)-Khodiyar, part of its North West Region (NWR), was commissioned for ex-im operations last week with a slew of leading dignitaries in attendance. The facility was inaugurated by the Chief Commissioner of Customs, Gujarat Zone, Ms Lipika Majumdar Roy Choudhury, in the presence of Mr S.B. Singh, Commissioner of Customs, Ahmedabad, Mr Anil Gupta, Managing Director of CONCOR, Mr Harpreet Singh, Director (Projects & Services), CONCOR, Mr Rakesh Behal, Divisional Railway Manager, Ahmedabad Division, Mr Amit Kumar, Chief General Manager, CONCOR (NWR), Ms Saroj Ayush, Chief Manager, ICD-Khodiyar, officers of Customs, Railways, trade officials, invited guests and members of the trade.

Mr S. B. Singh inaugurated the administrative building.

ICD-Khodiyar, one of biggest ICDs in the Subcontinent and the largest in western India, is strategically located on the S. G. Highway over an area of 31.8 hectares, which will supersede the existing 12.8 hectare ICD-Sabarmati.

This state-of-art facility has been planned to cater to the growing ex-im needs of the region and offers smooth operations under one roof. It has 13,000 sq. metre transit ex-im warehousing space, besides three full length rail lines within the premises for linking major gateway ports like JNPCT, NSICT, GTIL, Pipavav and Mundra for the movement of exports and imports.

ICD-Khodiyar has been designed to handle more than 3 lakh TEUs per annum and will meet the increasing 15-20 per cent annual growth in containerised traffic in the western hinterland. Basic amenities like office space for transporters, surveyors, drinking water facility, two-wheeler parking, canteen and Sulabh public complex having bathing/toilet facilities are available at the ICD.

As part of a green drive, some of the key dignitaries planted saplings after the inauguration function.

The event saw participation from a large number of CHAs, shipping line managers, freight forwarders, LCL consolidators, members of ACHAA, ASAA and Exim Club, as well as other eminent personalities from the trade. The committee members of ACHAA, ASAA and Exim Club presented bouquets and congratulated Mr Amit Kumar, Ms Saroj Ayush and other CONCOR officials for the launch of ICD-Khodiyar.

For enhancing manufacturing exports, Government set up Panel to Plan Strategy

A government panel, headed by the Commerce Secretary, has been set up to work out a sector-wise strategy aimed at giving a fillip to the manufacturing sector exports over the next five years.

While the strategy, which will form a part of the 12th Five-Year Plan proposal, could take up to two months to formulate, the panel will focus on the engineering, leather, gems and jewellery, textiles and sports goods sectors.

Of late, the government brought to light a strategy paper on exports growth, which has set a target of about $400 billion for export of manufactured products by 2014. It may be noted that manufacturing goods accounted for about 80 per cent of the country's total exports, which shot up 56.9 per cent year-on-year to $25.9 billion in May.

Although the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, has set a goal of enhancing manufacturing as a percentage of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) to 25 per cent from the existing 16 per cent, curbs on output could act as a deterrent.

With India making forays into new regions, the growth of manufactured products exports has shot up in the past few months. Economists opine that country would have to raise its export competitiveness in order to accomplish a higher level of sustainable growth.

Exporters demand reintroduction of interest rate discount scheme Following RBI's Rate hike

Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) recent move to hike key lending rates, exporters have once again raised the pitch for reintroduction of interest rate discount scheme.

However, the government maintains that it is not likely to happen soon as it needs time to work on the funding requirement to sustain the high-cost scheme.

Acknowledging the fact that export credit costs were rising, a Commerce Department official said they had already started calculating their fund requirement for handing out subvention to exporters.

In this regard, the Department will have to prepare a list of the beneficiaries on the basis of matching the amount required with the funds available with the Finance Ministry. With regard to the need to provide interest rate discount, the official, while conceding that it certainly was on the radar, said it would take some time.

Exporters deem that frittering away time in taking such decisions impacts product pricing and could result in loss of potential buyers.

Accusing the government of not understanding the competitiveness existing in the marketplace, a senior official of the Delhi Exporters Association pointed out that even a one per cent difference between the price quoted by them and the competition was enough to cost them their customers. According to him, it is imperative to be aware of one's own costs as it could go a long way in helping quote the most competitive rates.

Apprising about the Association's plan to meet the Finance Secretary soon, the official said he would try to convince him on the issue and ask for an early announcement of the subvention scheme.