export promotion council

The Government has advised exporters that in view of the crisis in Greece, exports should be carried out only against an irrevocable letter of credit. Stating this in a written reply in Lok Sabha, the Minister of State for Finance, Mr Namo Narain Mee Full Article

There is a need to focus on single window clearance for speeding up the progress of Special Economic Zones, according to Mr D.K. Mittal, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, Government of India. Addressing the participants in an open house Full Article

The likelihood of new units in Special Economic Zones losing Income-Tax exemptions in the Direct Taxes Code regime has stepped up representations to the Centre. According to the DTC revised draft, units coming up in SEZs after the implementation of the Code from April 1, 2011, would not get I-T holiday. Full Article

Even as Larsen and Toubro withdrew its proposal for an IT/ITeS Special Economic Zone (SEZ) citing uncertainty in tax treatment towards SEZs in the Direct Taxes Code (DTC), the Commerce Ministry has said the Finance Ministry is yet to consult it on the continuity of fiscal sops in the DTC to these tax-free zones. Full Article

Shri Anand Sharma, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, while addressing the media here today, has announced a series of new incentives for exporters. These are as follows: 1. New Products under Focus Product Scheme (FPS): 1.1 112 new products added under FPS at 8 digit level, eligible for benefits @ 2% of FOB value of exports to all markets. Full Article

banks have been permitted to make advance remittance without any limit and without bank guarantee or standby letter of Credit, by an importer (other than Public Sector Company or Department / Undertaking of the Government of India /State Governments) , for import of rough diamonds into India from eight mining companies, subject to certain conditions. Full Article

The gems and jewellery industry wants provisions such as search and seizure and tax on gross assets in the Direct Taxes Code to be modified.It says these provisions could be detrimental to the sector’s growth which has been showing signs of recovery afterreeling under recession. Industry representatives also appealed to the Government to incentivise units in SEZs and EOUs. Full Article

Refund scheme to exporters was introduced by notification n. 41/2007 dated 6th Oct 2007. The scope of refund was enhanced from time to time along with the procedural changes. To make the scheme simple and ensure speedier disposal, two notifications 17-2009-ST and 18-2009-ST have been issued on 7th July 2009 superseding the earlier scheme. Full Article