Logistic hubs to be set up near sea ports to promote exports

Logistic hubs were proposed to come up nearer the sea ports to address the immediate concerns of the exporters, the minister said at a conference on ‘Strategies for double digit growth in exports’ here. But, she was not able to specify the number for now. The Centre is making efforts to make electronic data interchanges at major ports that are under its control to overcome logistic challenges.  “In 36 landing areas, the regional authorities representing the DGFT (Director General of Foreign Trade) office have initiated a two-day intensive workshop with them to see how best to reach out and how best to engage with exporters. The CBEC (Central Board of Excise and Customs) is also part of this exercise,” she said. 

On the need for 24x7 presence of DGFT and Customs authorities, she said efforts would be made to not waste a day on imports or exports. In case an authority had to step in to clarify or certify, it would be done so that trade does not suffer, was the assurance given by her. The review of Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) is underway, she said, recalling the decision to conduct mid-term review to give a sense of stability in the minds of exporters’ last year. Conceding that taxation was an issue hampering exports’ growth, Sitharaman said, “You cannot be paying tax over tax and exporters cannot be taxed for exporting. We recognize that difficulty. I know the GST (Goods and Services Tax) alone cannot give us the solution.” 

She also said her Chinese counterpart was forthcoming on the trade imbalance issue as the point highlighted was access to markets rather than lack of competitiveness. On raising the issue of India’s IT sector facing experience related issues in every region, Sitharaman said “you enter a country and not each region and that has been held against us. We have highlighted the fact that they could give us some pilot projects through which we can prove our capability.”