The Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts organised an Interactive Session on ‘Facilitating MSMEs for Export Markets’ at New Delhi on 19th January, 2023.
Shri Raj Kumar Malhotra, Chairman EPCH and Chairman, Northern Region – FIEO, Shri Saurabh Goyal, Deputy DGFT, DGFT RA New Delhi; Shri Ravi Passi, Past Chairman, EPCH and Convenor (Northern Region); CA Manoj Kumar Goyal, Managing Partner, M/s RHMS Company; Team from Intertek India Pvt Ltd led by Shri Garish Malhotra; Shri Saurabh Srivastava, AGM ECGC, New Delhi, Shri Vishal Dhingra, Chairman, Sourcing Consultants Association (BAA), New Delhi; Shri Arshad Mir, Member COA – EPCH & Chairman – Handicrafts & Carpet Sector Skill Council; Shri Prince Malik, Member COA – EPCH, Shri Simrandeep Singh Kohli, Member COA – EPCH; Shri Rajesh Rawat – Addl. Executive Director EPCH and leading exporters from New Delhi were present – informed Shri Rakesh Kumar, Director General EPCH.
Shri Raj Kumar Malhotra, Chairman EPCH and Chairman, Northern Region – FIEO welcomed all the senior officials from various agencies such as DGFT, ECGC, Intertek, Sourcing Consultants Association (BAA), GST and the leading exporters from Delhi. He informed that today’s seminar organized jointly by EPCH and FIEO facilitated the exporters to address their issues related to ECGC, GST, DGFT, international compliances for boosting exports. EPCH has always been at the forefront of organizing awareness-raising seminars led by expert faculty across India.
Shri Malhotra further added that international market standards and compliance are becoming a key factor in the competitiveness of Handicraft exports and access to a wide range of export opportunities. About 70% of India’s handicraft exports are destined for compliance-conscious markets, and global brands and buyers prefer to order with Indian suppliers that comply with better working conditions, environment friendly workplace and production standards.
Shri R. K. Verma, Executive Director – EPCH informed that today’s seminar organized jointly by EPCH and FIEO facilitated the exporters from Delhi to address their issues related to ECGC, DGFT, compliance, testing and quality for further boosting exports from this world-famous Indian production clusters. By making their businesses ready for Compliance, Inspection and Testing according to International Standards, the exporters can give upper edge to their present business to increase domestic, online and international presence.
Shri Ravi Passi, Past Chairman, EPCH and Convenor (Northern Region), said ECGC plays a very important role in securing the export payments of the exporters thus giving confidence to them to explore markets across the globe.
Shri Saurabh Goyal, Deputy DGFT, DGFT RA New Delhi said that DGFT schemes & incentives have played a pivotal role in promotion of India’s exports. Schemes like Interest Equalisation Scheme, EPCG scheme, MAI scheme, DFIA other schemes are available for exporters to help them increase their exports. He also referred to schemes like Dak Niryat Kendra scheme, Committee on Quality Complaints and trade disputes (CQCTD) for dispute resolution.
Shri Garish Malhotra, the technical experts from Intertek India made detailed presentation and informed; it is believed that compliance requirement for global market also adds a significant cost burden on manufacturers, but this valuable investment actually helps to win export orders, increase turnover and profitability.
CA Manoj Kumar Goyal informed about the latest amendments undertaken in recent past to make the GST ecosystem robust in the years ahead. He stressed the need to be GST compliant so as to avoid any notices or penalties issued by the department.
Shri Saurabh Srivastava – AGM, ECGC, New Delhi made detailed presentation on the ECGC’s schemes and benefits available to exporters.
Shri Vishal Dhingra, Chairman, Sourcing Consultants Association (BAA) informed exporters can give their current business an advantage by preparing for compliance, inspection, and testing in accordance with international standards. This will allow them to expand their domestic, online, and international presence. He further said, the fundamental skill of the trade is sourcing, or the process by which buying agents interact and establish business relationships with product suppliers. The trade also aims to keep its exporters informed of any recent developments in the sector and educate them on the nuances of strategic sourcing.
EPCH is a nodal agency for promoting exports of handicrafts from the Country to various destinations of the world and projecting India’s image abroad as reliable supplier of high quality of handicrafts goods & services. The Handicrafts exports during the year 2021-22 was Rs. 33253.00 Crores (US $ 4459.76 Million) registering a growth of 29.49% in rupee term & 28.90% in dollar terms over the previous year, informed by Mr. Rakesh Kumar, Director General, EPCH.
