Export Promotion Board To Be Formed, One-Window Clearance For
The Centre has decided to set up an Export Promotion Board (EPB), which will be headed by the Union cabinet secretary, to resolve inter-ministerial problems relating to exports.
This decision was taken by Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral at a meeting on export issues held here yesterday. The Prime Minister plans to hold such meetings at regular intervals in future.
The board will be set up in a week and will interact frequently with exporters. It will include the secretaries in the ministries of commerce, finance, textiles, industry, surface transport and electronics. The board has been set up in response to a demand by exporters to set up a single window on the lines of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB).
Gujral took several other on-the-spot decisions, including setting up a single window clearance system for the export processing zones to improve their working; setting up an inter-ministerial committee to decide value-addition norms for other items in consultation with export promotion councils; setting up a cotton technology mission and providing subsidy to state government of up to 25 per cent, to be given to tanneries to set up common effluent treatment plants.
The Prime Minister also responded favourably to the proposal to set up a technology upgradation fund for the textiles sector and directed the finance ministry to report on the proposal by July 10. A meeting to discuss the setting up of the cotton technology mission will be held tomorrow.
The Prime Minister said all pending Customs notifications related to the gems and jewellery sector will be issued within a week. All Duty Entitlement Pass Book scheme rates will also be announced by the end of the month.
Priority will be given to simplification and streamlining of Customs procedures, particularly through the electronic data system. The system is already operational in Delhi, and will become operational at all major ports by the end of the year. The remaining ports will be covered within 18 months. Steps are being taken to improve the availability of gold for exports, including sale of gold by the State Bank of India.
Speaking at the meeting, commerce minister B B Ramaiah claimed that export performance has picked up in May 1997. The meeting was attended by the Union ministers for commerce, textiles and surface transport.
The secretaries in the ministries of external affairs, commerce, revenue and surface transport also participated in the meeting.
The meeting was also attended by the special secretary, Planning Commission, several industry representatives and representatives of all the important chambers.