Exporters urge govt to allow them to operate factories with minimum workforce, seek other measures

Exporters have demanded a host of steps such as allowing them to operate their factories with minimum workforce, subsidy on interest rates, and extension of incentive schemes in order to deal with the coronavirus crisis.

These demands were raised during a video conference meeting called by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday with representatives from various Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) from across the country, to assess the impact of coronavirus and lockdown in the country.

The councils apprised of the impact of the pandemic on their activities and businesses, and made a range of suggestions to overcome the hardships.

Goyal said in the meeting that export-import is an important activity of the country, and at the same time, lockdown was necessary for the safety and health of 130 crore Indians. So, a fine balance has to be maintained and solutions found to reduce the difficulties.

He said the suggestions made in the conference will be taken up in right earnest, and action will be taken soon.

He assured the councils that the government will try to be accommodative with their reasonable demands, and come out with practical outcomes.

During the meeting, the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) suggested that "All manufacturing companies in exports should be allowed to operate with 50 per cent of the manpower with full sanitation and safety with social distancing norms as loss in exports will result in market loss which will be extremely difficult to recover".

FIEO Director General Ajay Sahai said, "Our loss will be China's gain which is using all means to gain greater market access with increased incentives."