Meeting on export of

processed food at Kolkata

Mr. Sajeev Chopra, Secretary, Food Processing Industry and Horticulture Department, Govt. of West Bengal (2nd from left) addressing the participants. On Mr. Chopra’s left are Mr. S K Jain and Mr. Pravin Saraf. At extreme left is Mr. P T Srinath, Dy. Director, FIEO(ER).

The Eastern Region Office of FIEO organized a meeting with Mr. Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries and Horticulture, West Bengal on 14th August at Kolkata. The meeting was organized with a view to identifying the incentives being offered by the Government of West Bengal for setting up infrastructure to boost export of processed food from the State. Mr. S K Jain, FIEO’s Eastern Region Chairman, Mr. Pravin Saraf, FIEO Managing Committee Member and various prominent exporters of the agri and food processing sector joined the meeting.

Mr. Chopra highlighted various issues concerning food processing industry worldwide and identified the scopes for Indian exporters. He also listed out the incentives being given by the Government of West Bengal for setting up food processing facilities in the State including food park, cold storage, infrastructure facilities for storage of food products in transit and port facilities for faster shipment of the perishables and food products to different parts of the world from Eastern India. Issues like logistical advantages of shipment from Mumbai and Tuticorin and certifications required were also discussed.

An exporter raising a point.

According to Mr. S. K. Jain, food product export is a part of the category A exports which comprises of machinery, telecom, computer, automotive & other transport equipment and fuels, amongst others. Category A accounts for over 65% of world merchandise trade. India’s share in Category A exports is merely 4% of this large market. Eastern India can immensely contribute to raising India’s share in the world trade of food products as the region has a vast stretch of fertile land which yields three different crops in a year, he said.

Pre-Budget Proposals (2008-2009)

 

The Ministry of Commerce & Industry vide its letter No.F.No.12/4/2007-TFS dated 3rd August 2007 has invited proposals/suggestions for the Pre-Budget exercise of the Union Government for 2008-2009 in the prescribed format given below:

1. Name of the Organisation:

2. Name of the Commodity/Services:

3. a. Nature of the Proposal:

b. Classification of the Product/Services:

c. Present level of duties:

d. Proposed level of duties:

e. Old or new proposal:

f. Size of the domestic industry:

g. Issue related to inverted duty structure:

h. Revenue implication:

i. Impact of change in duty structure on domestic industry, if any.

j. Custom duty of the goods in ASEAN/SAARC countries:

k. Bound Rates of India in the WTO:

4. Justification in favour of the proposal.

5. Name of Authorised Signatory with signature

FIEO requests its members to send their suggestions in the prescribed format latest by 20th September,2007 for incorporating them in the documents to be submitted to the Government.

 

Federation of Indian Export Organisations
New Delhi, INDIA.