- Exports in 2004-05 touch $80 billion.
- Imports climb to $105 billion in 2004-05.
- Export target for 2005-06 at $92 billion.
- Inter-state trade council proposed for boosting exports.
- Export cess on agri and plantation to be removed.
- No safeguard and anti-dumping duty on inputs under advance licence.
- Export obligation reduced in agri, manufacturing and SSI.
- EPCG benefit operationalised for retail sector.
- Poultry and dairy products granted 5% duty credit.
- Package for marine sector developed.
- For jewellery, imports of samples enhanced to Rs 3 lakh.
- Supply of gold of 0.995 and above purity allowed for export.
- Procedure for debonding from EOUs simplified.
- Procedure for transfer of capital goods from EOU simplified.
- EOUs can claim IT exemption within 12 months of exports.
- Size of Aayaat-Niryaat form reduced.
- Three categories of advanced licence merged.
- Annual advance licence to be available to all exporters with record.
- Bank guarantee reduced for units in agri-export zones.
- Bank guarantee reduced for service providers and exporters.
- Clubbing norms in advance licence and export promotio credit gurantee (EPCG) simplified.
- Served From India Scheme made more liberal.
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Nath said the popular duty entitlement passbook (DEPB) scheme will continue for the time being and the replacement scheme was was being finalised.
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| Under the re-oriented EPCG scheme, farm and SSI sectors will get additional benefits, Nath said, adding the scheme has also been operationalised for the retail sector.
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| "It has also been extended to minor ports, inland container depots and container freight stations," Nath said.
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| Nath proposed to set up an inter-state trade council for improved co-ordination between states and the centre with regard to trade.
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| Unveiling a major initiative towards procedural simplification and cutting transaction costs, he launched a single common application form Ayaatniryat in place of the bulky 104-page form for traders.
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| In services exports, Nath said goods imported under the Served From India Scheme will be transferable within group companies and managed hotels to enable service providers to upgrade infrastructure in their associated companies.
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| This provision will allow bulk sourcing and better utilisation of entitlement, he added.
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| In order improve quality and prevent copying, Nath announced a trademark for the handloom sector on the lines of Woolmark and Silkmark.
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| To encourage allied agri sector, the minister proposed to grant 5% duty credit for exports of dairy and poultry products under the Vishesh Krishi Upaj Yojana.
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| Nath announced a special package for export-oriented units (EOUs) under which a simplified procedure has been put in place for units debonding from EOUs.
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| Similarly, capital goods can be transferred to other units by simply intimating central excise and the development commissioner. EOUs can also claim IT exemption within 10 months from the date of exports.
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| Nath also outlined a number of concrete measures to enhance competitiveness of manufacturing.
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| "Hereafter, no safeguard and anti-dumping duty would be levied on inputs under the advance licence for deemed exports supplies made to international competitive bidding projects," the policy said.
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| To promote accelerated export performance, balance export obligations will be waived for exporters completing 75% of their export obligations in half the period. |
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