Centre unveils scheme involving states to create export infra

The central government on Wednesday launched the Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES) for creation of export infrastructure in the country through a scheme that involves the Centre and the states on a participatory basis.

Announcing the scheme here, Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said TIES is focused on addressing the needs of exporters thorugh the creation of common facilities.

"If a state government wants to have infrastructure like border haats, land customs stations, quality testing and certification labs or SEZs (Special Economic Zones), this scheme is to facilitate it on a participatory basis," Sitharaman told reporters here.

The minister said the scheme would run from the next fiscal 2017-18 beginning April till the financial year 2019-20.

To be funded by the Centre in the form of grants-in-aid, the scheme would have a total budgetary support of Rs 600 crore, with an annual outlay of Rs 200 crore, Sitharaman said.

"The participation is on a 50:50 basis between the Centre and the states, with a top cap of Rs 20 crore per project on the Centre's contribution and a project cap of Rs 40 crore," she said.

"Only for projects in the Northeast and hilly states can this grant go up to 80 per cent of the total equity," she added.

The minister said the "receptiveness of the states to the scheme has been very high" and they have been requesting Central support ever since assistance for creating export infrastructure through the ASIDE scheme had been discontinued from 2015-16.

Sitharaman also said that there will be a monitoring group headed by the Commerce Secretary to periodically review the progress of the projects approved.

Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia said the objective of TIES is to enhance export competitiveness by bridging gaps in export infrastructure, creating focused export infrastructure, first mile and last mile connectivity for export-oriented projects and addressing quality and certification measures.

--IANS

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