The government, so far this year, has issued permits for export of 1.84 lakh tonnes of coffee, which is over 80 per cent of current year's target of overseas shipments, Parliament was informed today.
"During the current fiscal, permits have already have been issued for export of 1,84,372 tonnes of coffee which is more than 80 per cent of the target for the whole year," Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jyotiraditya M Scindia said in reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
The country had exported 2,04,174 tonnes of coffee in 2009-10.
Detailing about steps taken for improving coffee export, the minister said the Coffee board has extended financial incentives to exporters to export high value coffees to far away markets like the US, Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
Continuous high level interactions with international coffee community through participation in the deliberations of the international coffee organisations and organising flavour of India cupping competition to create market for high value coffees to enhance visibility as well as bring rosters from high value coffee consuming countries like US, Japan etc. Were the other measures, Scindia added.
In addition to the above, in the Foreign Trade Policy 2009-14, measures like extensions of DEPB (Duty Entitlement Pass Book) benefits of 4 per cent, duty draw back benefits (1 per cent) and VKGUUY (Vishesh Krishi and Gram Udyog Yojna) benefit (5 per cent) also helped in improving competitiveness of coffee export, he said.