GRCCI gears up to facilitate trade in Rajkot

Greater Rajkot Chamber of Commerce and Industries (GRCCI) gears-up with the agenda to address business fraternity issues from Rajkot.

"Our prime agenda would be to address issues related to VAT, seizing of Octroi Duty, accessing and assisting in matching feasibility parameters of proposed Automobiles Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Rajkot and showcasing products of Rajkot make in a permanent display centre," claimed Dhansukh Vora, secretary of GRCCI.

He was addressing media about their new office which is scheduled to be inaugurated by Governer of Gujarat Naval Kishor Sharma on February 3, 2006.

Reviving dead Inland Container Depot (ICD) project in Rajkot and educating fraternity by bringing awareness among them in vernacular format on government policies and procedures, will be the novel task endeavored by the chamber, he added.

President of Chamber Rajni Bavishi talked on various activities and issues addressed by the chamber from time to time, what pivotal role chambers has played in addressing few issues which were later followed by other states as well.

"Whenever need arised we have made necessary representations to the ministry of finance and affiliated government offices; like in context to the CONCOR and they have assured us of providing extended railway facilities of mobilising containers on daily basis atleast to the nearest Sabarmati ICD in Ahmedabad, from where movement of cargo is scheduled twice a week, he added.

"We are also planning to outsource entire ICD services to a private party who would take care of the other services like logistics, infrastructure etc. We are working on the expected traffic once the ICD operations kick-off from Rajkot, once we are ready with the practical feasibility of ICD, the days are not far that ICD Rajkot would revive," he added.

Despite excellent craftsmanship and precision engineering skillset, majority of Rajkot based manufacturers fail to enter directly into the international trade.

This results into plenty of indirect exports from the region.

Considering the situation alarming, the Chamber is serious to remove the bottle-necks.

"As most of the policies and procedures imposed on the trade and business fraternity from time to time including the exim policies, provisions in fiscal budget and taxation details, are all published in English and so majority of the manufacturer from the region fail to interpret advantages and disadvantages, therefore we have finally decided to go for a seminar or workshop explaining the fraternity the detailed aspect of policy in a vernacular language. We are also in process of translating this literature and furnishing it to the members of our Chamber and fraternity across the region with an objective of educating and bringing awareness regarding this policies," explained Vora.

Chamber which marked its operations in year 2001 started with 841 members and today has a base of 1,600 plus members and is all set to tap the business-potential of the region and the city as there are 75,000 shop license holder in Rajkot city itself, said Vora.

Information centre for common masses to understand the business dynamics is also in proposal at the Chamber venue, added Vora.