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Mysore exporters need to expand product range
Brand Mysore is known all over the world for sandalwood, silk, handicrafts like fine inlay-work using ivory, incense sticks (agarbathi), etc., but this brand image has not helped the industries in Mysore to develop their product range, as there are no concerted efforts in this direction on the part of the industries or the Government. Mr. H N Ramathirtha, President, Mysore Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Mysore made this observation during a one-day Workshop on ‘Foreign Trade Policy and Indirect Taxation’ at Mysore on 20 January 2007. The Workshop was organized by the Karnataka Chapter of FIEO in association with Mysore Chamber of Commerce & Industry and it was attended by more than 85 exporters from Mysore. Speaking further, Mr. Ramathirtha also spelt out the need for developing agro industries, including food processing, in Mysore by providing necessary infrastructure like storage facilities and said "it will not only provide food security to the region but also help employment generation." Talking about the recent spurt in software exports from Mysore, he said, Mysore has now started attracting information technology companies and software export from Mysore has shown an impressive performance at Rs. 400 crore during 2005-06, 25% up from the last year’s figure of Rs. 319 crore. He, however, added that Mysore had to go a long way in products exports, as estimated product exports from Mysore was only to the tune of Rs 350 crore during the year 2005-06.
Mr. P M Salim, IRS, Commissioner of Central Excise, Customs and Service Tax in his inaugural address stressed the need for updating the knowledge of entrepreneurs on the latest changes in taxation laws to avoid disputes and litigations. "Although the basic principles had not changed, the procedures and rules of taxation had undergone a sea change in the last few years," said Mr. Salim. While talking on the modernization in his commissionerate, he said that the Mysore Commissionerate of Central Excise and Customs had launched its website www.centralexcisemysore.kar.nic.in to keep the industry update with day-to-day changes in the provisions of central excise, service tax and customs. The website carries wide-ranging information and provides links to various other websites related to trade facilitation measures, claimed Mr. Salim. During the technical session, Mr. Vaibhav Gupta, Head SME, HSBC made a presentation on trade solution products launched by HSBC focusing SME sector. "These products are aimed at helping small and medium enterprises in export finance, export & import bill collections, L/C advising, payment management options, risk management, etc." said Mr. Gupta. An exclusive trade branch with trained personals is functioning at Mysore to handle exporters and importers, he added. Mr. G Shivadas and Mr. Anil Kumar, senior advocates representing M/s. Lakshmi Kumaran & Sridharan gave detailed insights into various issues related to customs, central excise, service tax and, cenvat credit. Presentations were also made on the operation of various schemes under the FTP and documentation requirements related to them.
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