Spices Board, pepper exporters to meet over subsidy issue

The Spices Board will organise a meeting with pepper exporters on Wednesday to sort out issues pertaining to export subsidy.

The meeting will address complaints over the delay in disbursing subsidy to a few exporters which caused concern among the Kochi-based exporters.

Applications for subsidy have been pending with the board for a long time. However, sources at the board say there has not been any delay in disbursing subsidy to those who applied with all necessary documents.

Thomas Philip, chairman, Spices Exporters' Forum, told Business Standard that he is hopeful that tomorrow's meeting would settle the issues.

Meanwhile, the Spices Board has recommended an extension of the export subsidy to 100 per cent export oriented units (EOUs) and units in special economic zones (SEZs).

The ministry of commerce had already extended the subsidy scheme but so far not taken a decision over the extension to EOUs and SEZs.

C J Jose, chairman, Spices Board, said the issue of extending the scheme to EOUs and SEZs would be considered separately by the ministry and a decision is expected soon.