Bengaluru, Aug 19 (KNN) The backlog in issuing the export obligation certificates will be cleared in six to eight months’ time, Vijay Kumar, Additional Director General of Foreign Trade assured the MSME exporters.

Addressing a workshop on Export Obligation & EPCG Guidelines, Procedures and the Foreign Trade Policy and the Various Schemes organized at KASSIA on Thursday, ADGFT clarified that job works done in EOUs/SEZs would be accounted towards the export obligation turnover.

He said the EPCG licensee will also get a condonation of up to 20 per cent in meeting the yearly obligation in case of economic slowdown in the destination market.

Vijay Kumar outlined the many initiatives launched by the Ministry of Commerce to encourage and facilitate growth and development of exports in the face of steep decline in exports in the last two years.

He particularly mentioned the Nirayat Bandhu Scheme specially aimed at new and prospective exporters to introduce them to the policy and procedures from which to benefit while   making exports.

He said the IEC is now issued online and new schemes like MEIS have been introduced revamping old schemes cutting down layers of procedures and delays for the benefit of the exporters.

The Bangalore Office of the DGFT will organize six programmes in different parts of the State this year aimed at educating and informing the business community including the MSMEs, he said adding that the Bangalore Office is now freely accessible to trade and industry every day where they can come and settle their problems by discussing issues face to face.

He hoped all these measures would result in giving a fillip to exports from this region and the country.

A Padmanabha, President, KASSIA emphasized the need for working in close partnership between the industry and the DGFT. 

He said that MSEs now face open markets globally in which they will have to compete and survive and the best way to do that is by learning and understanding the policies and procedures of the beneficial schemes.

He hoped that the workshop would result in better understanding of export procedures and policies and further closer relationship between the stakeholders to derive the best out of the various schemes. (KNN Bureau)