EPCH acquaints Piyush Goyal with issues pertaining to Handicrafts sector, urges him to enhance RoDTEP rates
New Delhi – 19th August, 2021 – Minister of Textiles, Commerce & Industry, Piyush Goyal convened a meeting with the Export Promotion Council’s on Thursday wherein Heads of around 35 Export Promotion Councils, Commodity Boards along with the senior Government officers were present. The meeting was convened to have a feedback on the export performance of the sectors and also seek inputs regarding various issues, informed Dr. Rakesh Kumar, Director General –EPCH.
Raj Kumar Malhotra, Chairman-EPCH presented the exports overview of the handicrafts sector and strongly raised the issue of enhancement of rates under Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) scheme. In his address, he requested the Minister to intervene in the matter as handicrafts exporters who used to get higher MEIS rates, factor in the MEIS incentive in their pricing and such low RoDTEP rates will make their products uncompetitive.
He also raised issues like restoration of provision of duty free import of essential embellishments, trimmings, tools consumables for handicrafts sector; restoration of MAI provision for opening of showrooms, warehouses and marketing offices abroad and display in international departmental stores; High Container Charges levied by Shipping Lines; Policy framework for B2B e-Commerce and others.
The Minister patiently heard the issues raised. Chairman EPCH specially stressed on the need for enhancement of RoDTEP rates for the handicrafts sector as the handicrafts sector engages 7 million artisans and any increase or decrease in exports effects their livelihood, informed Dr. Kumar.
The export figures for April-March of the current financial year 2020-21 are at Rs. 25679.98 crores (USD 3459.75 million) registering a marginal growth of 1.62 % (Rupee terms) and (-) 2.93 % (dollar terms) over the same period last year. However, the provisional figures for the April-July of the current financial year 2021-22 are at Rs. 7792.14crores (USD 1053.34 million) registering a growth of 62.38% (Rupee terms) and 66.07% (dollar terms).
