DGFT Promises Enlargement of MEIS on Funds Receipt from Fin Min

[FIEO Press Release dated 20^th May 2016]

The Government is committed to help trade & industry in the best possible way and consider them as a stakeholders and partners in the economic revival process of the country said Mr. Anup Wadhawan, Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) Govt. of India. He was speaking here in an Interactive Session organized by the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) and EEPC India on April 20, 2016. The DGFT said that efforts are to move to fewer footfalls and paper work in its Offices all over India and for seamless flow of trade Government is working on a single window clearance system to ease of doing business. Regarding Merchandise Exports of India Scheme (MEIS), Mr. Wadhawan informed that after announcement of the Scheme on 1st April, 2015, Rs. 4000 crores has further been put in the Scheme covering more tariff lines and markets. As and when Government release further funds for the Scheme, more tariff lines will be considered by the Committee headed by the Commerce Secretary taking into all aspects of the Scheme. Mr. Wadhawan informed that his Department has been taking necessary steps to assist the exporters in their export efforts and announcements of several recent measures are in this direction.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. S C Ralhan, President, FIEO hoped that exports will move into positive territory from June onwards and the continuous downfall since December, 2014 will come to an end as exports data released for April, 2016, haves hown promising results. Mr. Ralhan said that the recent measures announced by DGFT like resolving landing certificate issue, etc. will make the things easy and add to the competitiveness while simultaneously reduce transaction cost. The FIEO Chief urged upon the DGFT to address the problem of simultaneous availment of EPCG and SHIS which has landed many exporters into problem for no fault of their own besides considering release of the Target Plus benefits and Incremental Exports Incentivization benefit for 2013-14 at the earliest. Resolving the issue of separate MEIS application for exports made from each EDI Port is also equally important, Mr. Ralhan added. The Session was attended by more than 80 prominent exporters from the Region who had interaction with the DGFT on the issues being confronted by them in their export efforts and deliberated the issues and suggestions which were given a patience hearing by the DGFT and assured wherever possible he shall try his best to resolve such issues hindering export growth.