New Delhi: Union Minister Piyush Goyal today launched the Foreign Trade Policy 2023 saying that it is dynamic and has been kept open-ended to accommodate the emerging needs of the time. He stated that the policy had been under discussion for a long time and had been formulated after multiple stakeholder consultations. India’s overall exports, including services and merchandise exports, have already crossed US$ 750 Billion and are expected to cross US$ 760 Billion this year, he said.
Goyal stressed that every opportunity for export must be captured and utilised effectively. He also mentioned that in the next 5 months during India’s G20 presidency, there should be a massive concentrated outreach with the world both sector-wise and country-wise.
The key approach to the policy is based on these 4 pillars: (i) Incentive to Remission, (ii) Export promotion through collaboration – Exporters, States, Districts, and Indian Missions, (iii) Ease of doing business, reduction in transaction cost and e-initiatives and (iv) Emerging Areas – E-Commerce Developing Districts as Export Hubs and streamlining Export of Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment and Technologies (SCOMET) policy.
The Government said that the Foreign Trade Policy (2023) is a policy document which is based on principles of ‘trust’ and ‘partnership’ with exporters. It aims at process re-engineering and automation to facilitate ease of doing business for exporters. It also focuses on emerging areas like dual-use high-end technology items under SCOMET, facilitating e-commerce export, and collaborating with States and Districts for export promotion.
The new FTP also introduced a one-time Amnesty Scheme for exporters to close the old pending authorizations and start afresh.
The FTP 2023 encourages recognition of new towns through the “Towns of Export Excellence Scheme” and exporters through the “Status Holder Scheme”. The FTP 2023 is facilitating exports by streamlining the popular Advance Authorization and EPCG schemes and enabling merchanting trade from India.
Process Re-Engineering and Automation
Greater faith is being reposed on exporters through automated IT systems with risk management systems for various approvals in the new FTP. The policy emphasizes export promotion and development, moving away from an incentive regime to a regime which is facilitating, based on technology interface and principles of collaboration. Considering the effectiveness of some of the ongoing schemes like Advance Authorisation, Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) Scheme etc. under FTP 2015-20, they will be continued along with substantial process re-engineering and technology enablement for facilitating the exporters. FTP 2023 codifies implementation mechanisms in a paperless, online environment, building on earlier ‘ease-of-doing-business initiatives. Reduction in fee structures and IT-based schemes will make it easier for MSMEs and others to access export benefits.
Duty exemption schemes for export production will now be implemented through Regional Offices in a rule-based IT system environment, eliminating the need for a manual interface. During the FY23-24, all processes under the Advance and EPCG Schemes, including issue, re-validation, and EO extension, will be covered in a phased manner. Cases identified under risk management framework will be scrutinized manually, while a majority of the applicants are expected to be covered under the ‘automatic’ route initially.
Towns of Export Excellence
Four new towns, namely Faridabad, Mirzapur, Moradabad, and Varanasi, have been designated as Towns of Export Excellence (TEE) in addition to the existing 39 towns. The TEEs will have priority access to export promotion funds under the MAI scheme and will be able to avail of Common Service Provider (CSP) benefits for export fulfilment under the EPCG Scheme. This addition is expected to boost the exports of handlooms, handicrafts, and carpets.
Recognition of Exporters
Exporter firms recognized with ‘status’ based on export performance will now be partners in capacity-building initiatives on a best-endeavour basis. Similar to the ‘each-one-teach-one’ initiative, 2-star and above status holders would be encouraged to provide trade-related training based on a model curriculum to interested individuals to “help India build a skilled manpower pool capable of servicing a $5 Trillion economy before 2030”. Status recognition norms have been re-calibrated to enable more exporting firms to achieve 4 and 5-star ratings, leading to better branding opportunities in export markets.
Promoting export from the districts
The FTP aims at building partnerships with State governments and taking forward the Districts as Export Hubs (DEH) initiative to promote exports at the district level and accelerate the development of the grassroots trade ecosystem. Efforts to identify export-worthy products and services and resolve concerns at the district level will be made through an institutional mechanism – State Export Promotion Committee and District Export Promotion Committee at the State and District level, respectively. District-specific export action plans would be prepared for each district outlining the district-specific strategy to promote the export of identified products and services.
Streamlining SCOMET Policy
India is placing more emphasis on the “export control” regime as its integration with export control regime countries strengthens. There is a wider outreach and understanding of SCOMET (Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment and Technologies) among stakeholders, and the policy regime is being made more robust to implement international treaties and agreements entered into by India. “A robust export control system in India would provide access to dual-use High-end goods and technologies to Indian exporters while facilitating exports of controlled items/technologies under SCOMET from India,” the Ministry of Commerce & Industry stated.
Facilitating E-Commerce Exports
Various estimates suggest e-commerce export potential in the range of $200 to $300 billion by 2030. FTP 2023 outlines the intent and roadmap for establishing e-commerce hubs and related elements such as payment reconciliation, bookkeeping, returns policy, and export entitlements. As a starting point, the consignment-wise cap on E-Commerce exports through courier has been raised from ₹5Lakh to ₹10 Lakh in the FTP 2023. Depending on the feedback of exporters, this cap will be further revised or eventually removed. Integration of Courier and Postal exports with ICEGATE will enable exporters to claim benefits under FTP. The comprehensive e-commerce policy addressing the export/import ecosystem would be elaborated soon, based on the recommendations of the working committee on e-commerce exports and inter-ministerial deliberations. Extensive outreach and training activities will be taken up to build the capacity of artisans, weavers, garment manufacturers, gems and jewellery designers to onboard them on E-Commerce platforms and facilitate higher exports.
Facilitation under the Export Promotion of Capital Goods (EPCG) Scheme
The EPCG Scheme, which allows the import of capital goods at zero Customs duty for export production, is being further rationalized. Some key changes being added are:
- Prime Minister Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel Parks (PM MITRA) scheme has been added as an additional scheme eligible to claim benefits under the CSP(Common Service Provider) Scheme of Export Promotion Capital Goods Scheme(EPCG).
- Dairy sector to be exempted from maintaining Average Export Obligation – to support the dairy sector to upgrade the technology.
- Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) of all types, Vertical Farming equipment, Wastewater Treatment and Recycling, Rainwater harvesting system and Rainwater Filters, and Green Hydrogen are added to Green Technology products – will now be eligible for reduced Export Obligation requirements under EPCG Scheme
Facilitation under the Advance authorization Scheme
The advance authorisation scheme accessed by Domestic Tariff Area (DTA)units provides duty-free import of raw materials for manufacturing export items and is placed at a similar footing to EOU and SEZ schemes. However, the DTA unit has the flexibility to work both for domestic as well as export production. Based on interactions with industry and Export Promotion councils, certain facilitation provisions have been added to the present FTP such as
- Special Advance Authorisation Scheme extended to export of Apparel and Clothing sector under para 4.07 of HBP on the self-declaration basis to facilitate prompt execution of export orders – Norms would be fixed within a fixed timeframe.
- Benefits of Self-Ratification Scheme for fixation of Input-Output Norms extended to 2-star and above status holders in addition to Authorised Economic Operators at present.
Merchanting trade
To develop India into a merchanting trade hub, the FTP 2023 has introduced provisions for merchanting trade. Merchanting trade of restricted and prohibited items under the export policy would now be possible. Merchanting trade involves the shipment of goods from one foreign country to another foreign country without touching Indian ports, involving an Indian intermediary. This will be subject to compliance with RBI guidelines, and won’t be applicable for goods/items classified in the CITES and SCOMET list. In course of time, this will allow Indian entrepreneurs to convert certain places like GIFT city etc. into major merchanting hubs as seen in places like Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Amnesty Scheme
Finally, the government is strongly committed to reducing litigation and fostering trust-based relationships to help alleviate the issues faced by exporters. In line with the “Vivaad se Vishwaas” initiative, which sought to settle tax disputes amicably, the government is introducing a special one-time Amnesty Scheme under the FTP 2023 to address default on Export Obligations. This scheme is intended to provide relief to exporters who have been unable to meet their obligations under EPCG and Advance Authorizations, and who are burdened by high duty and interest costs associated with pending cases. All pending cases of the default in meeting the Export Obligation (EO) of authorizations mentioned can be regularized on payment of all customs duties that were exempted in proportion to unfulfilled Export Obligation. The interest payable is capped at 100% of these exempted duties under this scheme. However, no interest is payable on the portion of Additional Customs Duty and Special Additional Customs Duty and this is likely to provide relief to exporters as the interest burden will come down substantially. It is hoped that this amnesty will give these exporters a fresh start and an opportunity to come into compliance, the Ministry stated. – global bihari bureau
