(a) whether the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry has recently criticised the Government for ignoring interests of exporters and submitted a detailed representation to boost exports;
(b) if so, whether the Government have since examined the representations submitted by ASSOCHAM; and
(c) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY ( SHRI OMAR ABDULLAH)
(a) : Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM) has not criticised the Government for ignoring the interests of the exporters. On the contrary, the Chamber has complemented the Government on the recent announcement of the EXIM Policy. ASSOCHAM has also suggested a six-point strategy to achieve the target of reaching 1% share in the global market.
(b) & (c) : ASSOCHAM has suggested reduction in the interest rate for export credit, higher MDA assistance, timely payment of duty drawback/DEPB, reduction of transaction costs, long term Agri export Policy, etc. In the recently announced credit Policy, RBI has reduced the pre/post shipment export credit rate. A scheme for Market Access Initiative has been agreed to by the Planning Commission to assist the industry in conducting market research and specific market/ product studies. Pending cases of Drawback/DEPB are being cleared expeditiously. To boost agriculture exports, a scheme of Agri Export Zone has already been notified in the new EXIM Policy. For reduction of transaction costs, various offices of DGFT and Customs have been computerised and procedures have been simplified.