Dr. Dhawan seeks income tax incentives for exporters of Kashmir Valley
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The state government of Jammu & Kashmir should provide tax incentives to facilitate the return of Kashmiri exporters to the Valley, said FIEO’s Northern Region Chairman Dr. R. K Dhawan. He was addressing a three-day Export Marketing Development Programme (EMDP) organized by FIEO at Srinagar from 7 to 9 July. The programme was organized in association with Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, J&K Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) and Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI). The programme |
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Dr R K Dhawan, Chairman, FIEO(NR) (left) addressing the meet. On his left are Dr M I Parray, Director, JKEDI, Srinagar; and Mr. Sunil Agnihotri, Jt. Dy. Director General, FIEO(NR). |
was in continuation to the series of EMDP programmes organized by FIEO at various export clusters in Northern India.
"If the exporters of wood products from Saharanpur and Jodhpur are getting tax exemption under section 10A and 10B of Income Tax Act, then why are the exporters of such products from Kashmir deprived of this exemption when 90% of wooden handicrafts in India are manufactured in the Kashmir Valley? Said Dr Dhawan.
Dr. Dhawan advocated for promoting Kashmir brand of handicrafts and other crafts across the world and assured the participants that FIEO would take up this matter with the central government. He identified, items like saffron and kashmiri carpets for branding.
Dr Dhawan further advocated opening alternate international trade routes for Kashmiri exporters. He strongly favoured barter trade between Kashmir and Pakistan saying India is having such trade with all neighbours.
Speaking further, Dr. Dhawan laid emphasis on setting up Special Economic Zones (SEZ) in Kashmir for generating additional employment in the Valley. Kashmiri exporters are deprived of various incentives offered under SEZ scheme, he said.
Dr Mubeen Shan, President, KCCI favoured opening international airport in the Valley to facilitate quick movement of export merchandise saying that currently trucks laden with fruits and other merchandise were parked on the Srinagar-Jammu highway and not allowed to move further. He also informed that the KCCI had forwarded a proposal to the government for establishing a jewellery complex in the valley to promote the export of gems & jewellery.
Dr M I Parray, Director, JKEDI, during his address lauded the cooperation extended by Chief Secretary Mr. S S Kapur for completion of various study projects on export items undertaken by the Institute.
Prof. Harkirat Singh, IIFT, New Delhi informed the exporters about how to source loans in foreign currencies at very low rate of interest.
Mr. Riyaz Ahamd Khan, Course Coordinator, IIFT and other faculty members from IIFT like Prof. Madan Lal and Prof. S P Sharma made presentations covering aspects such as WTO, export and import policy, risk management, export documentation, global marketing framework selection of markets etc.
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Prof Nilanjan Chattopadhyay from S P Jain Institute of Management informed the participants about various search engines for sourcing international buyers through internet. Through internet, Indian exporters can approach their overseas buyers while sitting in their own offices, he said. While concluding the programme, Mr. Sunil Agnihotri, Jt. Dy. Director General, FIEO explained the role of Federation in export promotion and invited the participants to become the members of the FIEO. |
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One of the participant receiving the certififcate from Dr. R K Dhawan |
More than 40 participants, who attended the Programme, were given away certificates by Dr R K Dhawan.
Srinagar is a major export centre in Jammu & Kashmir. Its chief exports are saffron, walnuts, handicrafts, sports goods, silk carpets and embroidery.
