Domestic manufactures need to focus more on enhancing global competitiveness: Commerce Secretary

22 Dec 2014 Evaluate

Suggesting ways for domestic manufactures to boost exports, Commerce Ministry has stated that Indian industry must enhance competitiveness and align themselves with the modern elements of international trade by promoting and integrating with the global value chains. Commerce Secretary Rajeev Kher has asserted that the manufacturing companies should focus on developing new technology, making new strategy for product development and enhance production efficiency to make their product globally competitive instead of demanding more relaxation from the government to protect their products in global markets.

On the tax issue for Special Economic Zones (SEZs), Rajeev Kher has said that the issue of removal or lowering of minimum alternate tax (MAT) and dividend distribution tax (DDT) imposed on SEZs could be addressed in next year’s Budget. A MAT of 18.5 per cent and a DDT of 15 per cent was imposed on SEZs a few years ago despite the policy promising a tax-free regime for a fixed number of years. Meanwhile, he stressed that SEZs will soon be allowed to use infrastructure created within the non-processing areas of the zones for general use ensuring optimum utilisation.

During April-November FY15, the value of India’s overseas shipments increased by 5.02% to $215.76 billion from $205.44 billion in the same period of previous financial year. Amid raising concerns over the delay in announcement of the FTP, Commerce Ministry recently highlighted that a new foreign trade policy (FTP) is under consultation and finalization. FTP, which governs all exports and imports related activities in India, ended on March 31 and the new government will introduce new FTP for the period 2014-19. However, eight months of the current fiscal are already over.

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