TNN
Ludhiana: Grappling with various problems, the city exporters organised a brainstorming session to thrash out a solution and take up major issues with the authorities. According to businessmen, their incomes have taken a hit due to the hike in charges levied by shipping companies, withdrawal of several incentives by the Centre, inclusion of genuine businessmen into the risky exporters’ list and delay in release of IGST and drawbacks.
Upkar Singh Ahuja, president of the Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings (CICU), said at the session, “Doing exports is becoming challenging as our costs have increased significantly. There is panic among exporters due to high rates charged by shipping firms and withdrawal of schemes for exporters. In addition to this, there are several other challenges like shortage of labour, delays in transportation of raw material and finished goods and increase in the number of formalities. If these problems are not resolved soon, Punjab’s exporters will be out of business and will have to look to alternative businesses. Therefore, we need immediate government intervention.”
Ahuja informed that they had formed an export promotion committee that would work closely with departments, like the directorate general of foreign trade (DGFT), ministry of commerce, customs commissionerate and banks, to keep exporters updated with the latest guidelines. “Shortly, a meeting with top official of these departments will be arranged to discuss the problems and seek a resolution,” he added.
Pankaj Sharma, another businessman, said, “There are many innocent businessmen whose names have been included in the risky exporters’ list. As a result, their GST refunds and drawbacks are blocked and they are subjected to investigations and verifications. This is leading to a huge blockage of capital and halt in business activities. It is our request to the government to adopt a standard procedure with a time-bound redressal system in the GST department to help genuine exporters.”
Speaking against a number of incentives and subsidies for exporters that have been withdrawn, Sarvjit Singh, co-convener of the Export Promotion Committee, said, “We request the government of India to at least consider the benefits available to the exporters of neighbouring countries and give us a package in comparison to those so that we can compete on a level playing field.”