New FIEO Chief
vows to focus export marketing, especially by SMEs
On taking over as the new President of FIEO, Mr. Ganesh Kumar Gupta called on Mr. Kamal Nath, the Hon’ble Commerce & Industry Minister, Mr. Shankersinh Vaghela, Hon’ble Textile Minister, Mr. Jairam Ramesh, Hon’ble Minister of State for Commerce, Mr. G K Pillai, Commerce Secretary and Mr. D P Singh, Textile Secretary, Chairman, CBEC, Mr V P Singh and had separate meetings with them to apprise them of his views on raising exports from the country. The Director General of FIEO, Mr. Ajay Sahai accompanied him during these meetings.
Mr. Gupta told them that his priorities as the President of the Federation would be to focus on the marketing efforts of the exporting community, particularly of SMEs who hardly have resources to venture in overseas markets but have great potential for generating employment in rural and semi-urban areas. He said that in the current year FIEO would focus its efforts on setting up warehouses abroad and organising trade delegations to GCC, CIS, and African countries. The latter two regions are also being focused by the government for export promotion under Focus-CIS and Focus-Africa programmes. Mr. Gupta sought the cooperation of these dignitaries in realizing FIEO’s objectives.
FIEO President also requested the government for early introduction of GST so that all central and state taxes & levies are reimbursed to exporters. He suggested that a firm date for operationalisation of complete EDI should be fixed by Department of Commerce which would help reduce transaction cost for the exporters. FIEO Chief also expressed his concern over infrastructure saying that the existing infrastructure facilities would not be sufficient to cope with the expanding exports over a couple of years. On the issue of retrospective changes brought about by the Government affecting exporters, he said that such retrospective changes led to unnecessary legal disputes as could be seen in the cases of Target Plus and levy of Income Tax on DEPB.
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FIEO President & Director General of FIEO Mr.Ajay Sahai (right row extreme left) with the Commerce Secretary, Mr. G.K.Pillai (right row centre) meeting with Mr. Kamal Nath at his office. |
FIEO President (right) with the Minister of State for Commerce Mr. Jairam Ramesh at his office. |
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| President FIEO (centre) with the Director General of FIEO (extreme left) meeting with the Commerce Secretary Mr. G K Pillai at his office. |
FIEO President (right) meeting with the Textile Secretary,Mr. D P Singh at his office. |
