New Delhi, Apr 18 (KNN)  Following are the salient features of Annual Supplement (2013-14) to the Foreign Trade Policy 2009-14, announced today by Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma here:    

1. The exporters who have availed benefits under Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS) administered by the Ministry of Textiles can also avail the benefit of zero duty Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) Scheme.
2. The import of motor cars, SUVs, all purpose vehicles for hotels, travel agents, or tour transport operators and companies owning or operating golf resorts will not be allowed under the new zero duty EPCG Scheme.
3. The quantum of specific Export Obligation (EO) in the case of domestic sourcing of capital goods under EPCG authorizations has been reduced by 10 per cent to promote domestic manufacturing of capital goods.
4. It has been decided to reduce the specific export obligation (EO) to 25 per cent of the normal EO in order to encourage manufacturing activity in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
5. The Interest subvention scheme had been widened to include 134 sub-sectors of the engineering sector. Government had also announced that the benefit of this scheme of 2 per cent interest subvention could be available upto March 31, 2014.  At present, 2 per cent interest subvention scheme is available to certain specific sectors like handicrafts, handlooms, carpets, readymade garments, processed agricultural products, sports goods and toys.
6. It has been decided to further widen the scheme to include items such as textile articles, sets, rags and additional specified tariff lines of engineering sector items under the scheme. These sectors would be able to avail benefit under this scheme during the period from May 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014. 
7. Approximately, 126 new products have been added under Focus Product Scheme. These products include items from engineering, electronics, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and textiles sector.
8. About 47 new products have been added under Market Linked Focus Product Scheme (MLFPS). These products are from engineering, auto components and textiles sector. Two new countries that is, Brunei and Yemen have been added as new markets under MLFPS.
9. MLFPS is being extended from April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014 for exports to USA and EU.
10. Exports of high tech products would be incentived and it would be separately notified by June 30, 2013.
11. The towns of Morbi (Gujarat) and Gurgaon (Haryana) have been added to the existing list of towns of export excellence for ceramic tiles and apparel exports respectively. These towns shall be eligible to get benefit under Assistance to States for Developing Export Infrastructure and other Allied Activities (ASIDE) Scheme.
12. Second Task Force on Transaction Costs has been constituted. The Committee would submit its report in six months.
13. Reconciliation of export and bank documents at the time of closure of an Advance or EPCG Authorisation involved manual submission of many documents. Transmission of two key documents (Shipping bill from Customs and e-BRC from Banks) relating to Advance Authorization and EPCG Authorizations in secured electronic format to DGFT has established. Accordingly, DGFT has introduced the system of online Export Obligation Discharge certificate (EODC). Exporters can file EODC applications online. DGFT will also transmit all EODCs to DG Systems through a secured message exchange. This will obviate the need to have re- verification at the Custom’s end. Reconciliation of export import or closure of an authorization was document heavy process. With online EODC exporter can complete the formalities at DGFT online and may get quick clearances at the Customs on account of e-transmission of EODC from DGFT to Customs. (KNN)