Handicraft exporters demand incentives in Budget

Handicraft exporters have demanded incentives like removal of service tax on courier services in the Budget in order to provide relief to exporters and help boost shipments from the sector.
In a meeting with Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman last week, the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) suggested measures which can be announced in the Budget.
"We have asked the government to remove service tax on courier services which is around 14-15 per cent now, as it will be a huge relief to the exporters," EPCH Vice Chairman Raujesh Kumar Jain said.
"We have also requested the government to give merchant exporters 5 per cent incentive which was given earlier in 2009-2014. The incentive was being given under the Krishi Yojana but has been removed from lot of places and reduced to 3 per cent under the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme," he added.

India's handicraft exports grew 10 per cent to Rs 14,782 crore during the first nine months of 2015-16. In comparison, the handicraft shipments stood at Rs 13,460 crore during April-December period of 2014.