The Bengal Chamber of Commerce & Industry, in association with FIEO, ASSOCHAM, EEPC and India & Gem & Jewellery EPC, organized an “Interactive Meeting with Smt Rita Teaotia, IAS, Secretary, Dept. of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India” on 20th August 2016 at the Lalit Great Eastern.

This was a forum where sectoral issues of exporters & policy suggestions were discussed.

Mr. Ardhendu Mandal, Chairman, International Trade Cell of the Bengal Chamber of Commerce & Industry was one of the dignitaries who spoke in this forum and shared the dais with Smt. Rita Teaotia, IAS, Secretary, Dept. of Commerce, Govt. of India; Shri D K Singh, IAS, Addl. DGFT; Shri Sanjay Chadha, IFS, Joint secretary, Dept. of Commerce, Govt. of India; Ms Anita Praveen, IAS, Joint Secretary & Chairperson, APEDA; Shri Santosh Kumar Sarangi, IAS, Joint Secretary & Chairman, Tea Board; Shri Surendra Gupta, IAS, Managing Director, WBIDC; Shri Randhir Kumar, IAS, Commissioner, WB Commercial Tax; Shri N K Soren, IRS, Commissioner of Customs (port & preventive); Mr. Ajay Sahai, DG & CEO, FIEO; Mr. Ramesh Kumar Agarwal, Regional Chairman, FIEO (ER); Mr. Arun Kumar Garodia, Regional Chairman, EEPC India; Mr. Prakash Chandra Pincha, Regional Chairman, GJEPC and Mr. Sanjay Jhunjhunwalla, Chairman Eastern Region, ASSOCHAM.

As one of the key focus areas of the International Trade Cell of the Bengal Chamber is to provide advocacy and a networking platform for the EXIM Community and the Government, Mr. Mandal discussed a few issues which are very relevant for the exporters, mainly those who belong to the MSME sector.

Some of the points which Mr. Mandal spoke about, were:

1. With introduction of GST there is uncertainty about whether duty exemption would be available for GST under EPCG & Advance Authorization (AA) scheme. If such exemption is not available, it will act to additional cost for exporters. Though credit would be available, since exports are exempted from taxes, there would be blockage of funds to some extent.

2. Role of Export Inspection Councils - Most of the EIC offices are not situated in manufacturing clusters. This creates problem for inspection & adds to transaction cost. It is therefore requested that manufacturers having ISO certification should be allowed to issue Preferential Certificate of Origin on their own. If need be, selective list of items may continue under EIC.

3. Application for Advance Authorization, EPCG & Duty Credit Scrips should be completely online. Since both the documents E-BRC, & Shipping bill are available online, physical submission of documents should be dispensed with immediately.

4. There is little awareness on the impact of FTAs particularly in MSME sector. There should be a mechanism to sensitize MSME sector in this regard as this is a most vulnerable area. It is pertinent to note that MSMEs’ contribution is almost 45 % in exports & hence this should be done as top priority.