Schemes extended to towns of export excellence

the government has extended benefits of all the exim policy schemes to common service providers belonging to certain towns in specific geographical locations contributing to exports. recognised associations of units in these towns of export excellence will be able to access the funds under the market access initiative scheme and will receive priority for assistance for identified critical infrastructure gaps from the scheme on central assistance to states. the units in these notified areas would also be eligible for availing of all the exim policy schemes as per their choice. common service providers in these townships will be entitled to the export promotion capital goods (epcg) scheme. while announcing the main features of the exim policy, union commerce murasoli maran said that a number of industrial cluster towns are exporting a substantial portion of their products which are world class. tirupur is exporting 80 per cent of its production of hosiery. “a beginning is to be made to consider industrial cluster towns such as tirupur for hosiery, woollen blanket in panipat, woollen knitwear in ludhiana to be eligible for the benefits,� the minister said. according to the exim policy, the state governments would be encouraged to fully participate in encouraging exports from their states. for which, the department of commerce would make suitable provisions for allocation of funds to the states from its annual plan. the allocations would be based on the twin criteria of gross exports and the rate of growth of exports from different states. the states would utilise this amount for developing complementary and critical infrastructure such as roads connecting production centres with ports, setting up of inland container depots and container freight stations. also, creation of new state level export promotion industrial parks/zones, equity participation in infrastructure projects and any other activities as may be notified.