(a) whether the Government are aware that exporters of knitwear garments are upset by procedural wrangles and plethora of rules which cause delay in delivery schedule and lead to price escalation;
(b) whether the Government are also aware that while the exporters are equipping themselves to face the stiff international competition, these factors act as stimulating blocks; and
(c) if so, the remedial steps taken by the Government in this regard ?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES
(SHRI GINGEE N. RAMACHANDRAN)
(a) to (c) : Government has already been taking various measures, from time to time, to reduce the transaction costs and time in exports and to increase the competitiveness of textile products including knitwear garments. These include extension of zero duty EPCG scheme to textile sector, import of additional items of trimmings and embellishments on duty-free and licence -free basis, rationalisation of EOU/EPZ scheme, recognition for export of services, electronic filing of Advance Licensing Scheme, relaxation of restrictions on units working in export processing zones etc. Besides, the Government have set up a high powered Export Promotion Board (EPB) with the basic objective of co-ordinating efforts of all concerned Ministries so as to create a more favourable environment for maximising export earnings. A high level committee, set up under the Chairmanship of Secretary (Textiles), also meets periodically to redress the grievances of exporters.