Question : BENEFITS TO EXPORTERS

(a) whether the Government proposes to provide benefits to the exporters on the products which have a negligible presence in India`s trade basket as reported in the `Times of India` dated February 16, 2006;

(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the other schemes existing for the promotion of exports;

(c) whether the Government intends to conduct any study prior to extending of these benefits to the exporters in order to assess the impact on the exports of these items;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether the Government is likely to introduce some more schemes to boost the exports; and

(f) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY ( SHRI KAMAL NATH )

(a) to (f): To achieve the objectives laid down under the Foreign Trade Policy 2004-09 and double our percentage share of global merchandise trade by the year 2009, the Government is committed to provide a stimulus to exports through various export promotion schemes from time to time. Details of the existing Export Promotion Schemes i.e. Duty Exemption and Neutralisation schemes like Advance Licence, DEPB etc. and Export Reward schemes like Vishesh Krishi Upaj Yojana, Served from India, Target Plus are available in the book titled `Foreign Trade Policy 2004-09` as amended from time to time. Policies laid down under Foreign Trade Policy are reviewed periodically after extensive consultations with various stakeholders viz. Export Promotion Councils, Trade Associations and Chambers of Commerce, Inter Ministerial meetings etc. Need based market assessment and feasibility studies are also carried out from time to time to assess the suitability of the export promotion proposals.