Small and medium exporting units in India may soon heave a sigh of relief once the much-awaited interim foreign trade policy is announced this month. The export sector has pinned its hopes on the interim foreign trade policy.
It feels that the policy would help the exporting units strengthen their position in the global contracting market. The sector is now eagerly hoping that its issues are addressed and demands are met by the government.
Exporters are positive that the government would offer benefits and extend sops and tax incentives to help the sector mitigate the impact of the financial crisis.
The impending interim foreign trade policy is expected to include measures that would simplify procedures and cut down transaction costs for exporters and importers in India.
These moves are likely to ease the burden on the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that are facing fierce competition in the export-import business. Moreover, measures like extending the time limit for meeting export obligations against duty-free imports of machinery and raw materials, and allowing revalidation of expired licences are also on the anvil.
The announcement of such policies can help revive the export sector, which is perhaps going through its worst crisis.
Though the interest rate subvention scheme was extended for the export sector in India last week during the interim budget announcement, SME exporters sought additional sops from the government.
Exporters are hopeful that the government will not disappoint them and consider their demands this time around. They are expecting interim foreign trade policy of 2009 to include benefits under duty reimbursement schemes and steps that would reduce the average export obligation of exporters.
A delinking of grant of benefit under the duty entitlement pass book (DEPB) scheme is another incentive which the export segment can expect from the interim foreign trade policy.
Though the government may not offer more fiscal sops to exporters, by implementing some procedural simplifications and incorporating crucial measures, it can certainly make the going easier for them during these tough times.
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