Traders meet DGFT, raise state exporters’ issues
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, August 5
The Association of Trade and Industrial Undertakings (ATIU) organised an interactive session with the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) to raise awareness among members about the government’s export policy.
At the meeting, the president of the association, Pankaj Sharma, raised several issues with the officials regarding exports. Utpal Acharya, Joint DGFT, and Sandeep Rajoriya, Assistant DGFT, listened to the concerns and proposed feasible solutions.
Sharma encouraged young entrepreneurs to export goods and contribute to the country’s economic growth. Several young exporters expressed their opinions to department officials on the occasion. Acharya announced short-term courses for exporters in which DGFT staff would teach young entrepreneurs how to start exporting units in various parts of the country while also advising them on the country’s foreign policy and export potential of products.
The ATIU members highlighted exports could increase if the government closes the payment gap and takes the necessary steps. Second, the exporters stated that they were suffering from a lack of containers at the ports due to which their stocks were piling up in the corridors.
The members also complained about the government’s delay in releasing customs drawbacks. The members stated that due to a shortage of containers, dispatching was delayed, resulting in fund blockage and additional interest costs that the MSMEs could not bear because they had limited funds. They also requested the government to provide a goods subsidy to exporters in Punjab to address the issue of delayed shipments to Mumbai, due to the state’s distance from the port.
