Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has concluded an Agreement dated September 1, 2011 with the Government of the Republic of Mozambique, making available to the latter, a Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 13 million (USD thirteen million) for the purpose of financing of Solar Photo Voltaic Module Manufacturing plant in Mozambique. The goods, machinery, equipment and services including consultancy services from India for exports under this Agreement are those which are eligible for export under the Foreign Trade Policy of the Government of India and whose purchase may be agreed to be financed by the Exim Bank under this Agreement.
On a review of the Scheme, it has been decided as under :- a) 50% of the balances in the EEFC accounts should be converted forthwith into rupee balances and credited to the rupee accounts as per the directions of the account holder. This process may be completed within a fortnight from the date of the circular and compliance reported to the Chief General Manager, Foreign Exchange Department, Central Office, Trade Division, Amar Building, Sir P.M. Road, Fort, Mumbai 400 001
On a review it has been decided to fix the intra-day open position / daylight limit of the Authorised Dealers at five times the Net Overnight Open Position Limit available to them or the existing Intra-day open position limit as approved by the Reserve Bank, whichever is higher, for positions involving Rupee as one of the currencies.
Funds representing deposit liabilities may be utilised for making loans to resident constituents for meeting – their foreign exchange requirements or for the rupee working capital/capital expenditure needs of exporters /corporates who have a natural hedge or a risk management policy for managing the exchange risk subject to the prudential/interest-rate norms, credit discipline and credit monitoring guidelines in force. Authorised dealers may be guided accordingly.
Circular No. 158/9/2012 –ST The rate of service tax has been restored to 12% w.e.f. 1st April 2012. Representations have been received requesting clarification on the rate of tax applicable wherein invoices were raised before 1st April 2012 and the payments shall be after 1st April 2012. Clarification has been requested in case of the 8 specified services provided by individuals or proprietary firms or partnership firms, to which Rule 7 of Point of Taxation Rules 2011 was applicable and services on which tax is paid under reverse charge.
The extant policy for foreign investment in commodity exchanges, has since been reviewed and it has been decided that prior approval of the Government (FIPB) would be required only for FDI component and Government approval would not be required for investment by registered FIIs in commodity exchanges. All other conditions contained in A.P (DIR Series) Circular No.41 dated April 28, 2008 shall remain unchanged.
Circular No. 13/2012-Customs, I am directed to invite your attention to the Notification No.51/2010-Customs (N.T.) dated 30.6.2010 and Board’s Circular No. 41/2007-Customs dated 29.10.2007 prescribing certain conditions and procedures in implementation of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) such as trade mark, design, patent, geographical indication and copyright under the IPR (Imported Goods) Enforcement Rules, 2007. In this regard, certain representations have been received in the Board from the trade as well as the field formations seeking clarification on the matter of import of original/genuine products (not counterfeit or pirated) which are sold/ acquired legally abroad and imported into the country, by persons other than the intellectual property right holder without permission/authorisation of the IPR holder, which in trade parlance is known as ‘parallel imports’.
Attention of Authorised Dealers Category – I (AD Category – I) banks is invited to the A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 74 dated June 30, 2011, and A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 55 dated December 09, 2011, on issue of equity shares/ preference shares under the Government route by conversion of import of capital goods / machineries / equipments (including second-hand machineries) and pre-operative / pre-incorporation expenses (including payments of rent, etc.), subject to the terms and conditions stated therein.
With a view to further liberalizing the documentation requirements, the limit for foreign exchange remittance for miscellaneous purposes without documentation formalities, has been raised from USD 5000 to USD 25000 with immediate effect.
On a review, it has been decided that henceforth NRI as defined in Foreign Exchange Management (Deposit) Regulations, 2000 contained in Notification No. FEMA.5/2000-RB dated 3rd May 2000, as amended from time to time, shall be eligible to transfer funds from NRO account to NRE account within the overall ceiling of USD one million per financial year subject to payment of tax, as applicable (i.e. as applicable if funds were remitted abroad). Such credit of funds to NRE account shall be treated as eligible credit in terms of paragraph 3(j) of Schedule-1 of Notification No. FEMA.5/2000-RB dated 3rd May 2000.
