Policy : Foreign trade promotion schemes, STPI, SEZ


IMPORTER EXPORTER CODE (IEC)



Update on FTP

  1. India lost the case against United States of America (USA) in World Trade Organisation (WTO).
2. USA alleged that India is violating the provisions of Subsidies and Countervailing Measurers Agreement (SCM) by giving export rewards to its exporters in form of various schemes.
3. India needs to withdraw all the export schemes where it is rewarding the exporters through various schemes like Merchandise Export from India Scheme, Export Promotion Capital Goods, Special Economic Zone, Duty Free Imports for Exporters, EOU/BTP/EHTP Schemes etc.
4. SCM doesn’t permit the countries to give rewards to exporters where the per capita income is more than USD 1000 consecutively for three years. India has crossed this threshold in Year 2015. In 2017, the WTO notified that India’s GNI was $1,051 in 2013, $1,100 in 2014 and $1,178 in 2015.
5. However, India has filed an appeal against this decision with WTO appellate tribunal and the bench is not working due to lack of quorum.
6. It is pertinent to note that Service Export from India Scheme and Advance Authorisation Scheme has not been challenged by USA.
7. Indirect tax rebate schemes, drawbacks are allowed if these does not exceed to amount of such taxes actually levied on inputs that are consumed in the production of the exported product.
Then what is the fate of these export incentive schemes?
    Government of India has announced scheme of 
    Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP)
    to compensate the exporters.  It will allow reimbursement taxes and duties paid by them such as value added tax, coal cess, mandi tax, electricity duties and fuel used for transportation, which are not getting exempted or refunded under any other existing mechanism but are incurred in the process of manufacture or distribution of exported products. It seems to be India government is doing its own preparation before the decision of tribunal by giving cabinet approval to this scheme on 13th March, 2020.
    RoDTEP seems to be replacement of Merchandise Export from India Scheme (MEIS) that was found to violate the World Trade Organization Rules. However, picture will be clearer once the draft of scheme come into existence.

  Covid -19 Impacts
Notification – 57/2015-20,
Public Notice No. -67/2015-20 and
Trade Notice No. 60/2019-20 (All dated – 31st March, 2020)
  FTP Validity extended to more one year i.e. 31st March, 2021
  RCMC validity extended from 31st March, 2021 to 30th September, 2020
  SEIS for FY 2018-19 can be filed upto 31st December, 2020
  For SEIS for FY 2019-20 – Service Category and rate of scrips to be notified separately
  SEIS for FY 2020-21 – Decision on continuation to be taken subsequently

Governing act of Foreign Trade Policy 2015-2020 is The Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992.(Hereinafter Referred As ‘FTDRA, 1992’)
  However, India has lost case against USA in WTO and the fate of all export incentive schemes are in danger. Fortunately, SEIS scheme has not been challenged by USA
  Let us understand about the Service Export from India Scheme in Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) format.
  What is ‘Service’? (Para – 9.50)
  “Service” Includes all tradable services covered under General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and earning Free Foreign Exchange
  The GATS define services in four ‘modes’ of supply: cross-border trade, consumption abroad, commercial presence, and presence of natural persons.
  Who is a ‘Service Provider’ Under Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20?
As per Para 9.51 of FTP, Service Provider means a person providing:
      (i)            Mode1- Cross border trade - Supply of a ‘service’ from India to any other country e.g. BPO/KPO/ITES services, consultancy etc.
    (ii)            Mode 2- Consumption abroad - Supply of a ‘service’ from India to service consumer(s) of any other country e.g.: tourism, educational services, medical treatment etc.
   (iii)             Mode 3 – Commercial Presence - Supply of a ‘service’ from India through commercial presence in any other countrye.g.: banking, hotel etc.
  (iv)            Mode 4- Presence of natural persons - Supply of a ‘service’ from India through the presence of natural persons in any other country like doctor, nurse, IT engineer etc. functioning as a consultant, employee, from one country to another. 
  SEIS benefit is available for Mode 1 and Mode 2 only.
  SEIS benefit is not available for Mode 3 and Mode 4.


Reward Rates:
  As per Appendix 3D of Foreign Trade Policy 2015 - 20, reward rates for various services are as follows: -
  What are the eligibility criteria for claiming rewards under SEIS?
  Services rendered should fall under the definition of “Service” of “Foreign Trade Policy
  Service Provider should have minimum Net free Foreign Exchange Earnings of US$ 15,000 and individual service providers and sole proprietorship US $ 10,000 in year of rendering service
  Service provider must have active IEC Code at the time of rendering of services
  Who are not eligible for claiming rewards under SEIS?
As per Para 3.09 of FTP, SEIS benefit is not allowed if the Foreign exchange remittances/sources of earnings in form of
  Other than those earned for rendering of notified Services would not be counted for entitlement.
  any other inflow of foreign exchange, unrelated to rendering of services, etc.
  Export turnover relating to services of units operating under EOU / EHTP / STPI / BTP Schemes or supplies of services made to such units.
  Related to Financial Service Sector – Foreign remittance earned through
  Export Proceeds Realization of Clients
  Issuance of Foreign Equity through ADRs/GDSRs or other similar instruments
  Issuance of Foreign Currency Bonds
  Raising all type of Foreign Currency Loans
  Sale of Securities and other Financial Instruments
  Other receivables not connected with services rendered by financial institutions
  Equity or debt participation.
  Receipts of repayment of loans.
  Donations.
  Earned through contract/regular employment abroad (e.g. labour remittances)
  Export of goods
  Clubbing of turnover of services rendered by SEZ / EOU/ EHTP/ STPI/BTP units with turnover of DTA Service Providers
  Payments for services received from EEFC Account;       
  Foreign Exchange earnings for services provided by Airlines, Shipping lines service providers plying from any foreign country X to any foreign country Y routes not touching India at all
  Service providers in Telecom Sector
  How to calculate Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEE)?
*Net Foreign Exchange Earnings = Gross Earnings of Foreign Exchange – Total Expenses/Payment/Remittances of Foreign Exchange by the IEC holder, relating to service sector in the Financial Year           
What is the effective date of scheme?
    The Rewards under MEIS/SEIS shall be admissible for exports made/services rendered on or after the date of notification of this policy.
  What is the last date of filing of application for Duty Scrips ?
  For SEIS, the last date for filing application shall be 12 months from the end of relevant Financial year of claim period.
  However, if you are late – Than don’t worry – DGFT is very much liberal, they will give you incentive with a late filing cut. Incentive will be given as per below table: -
  SEIS claim cannot be filed beyond 31stMarch 2022 for the FY 2018-19. In nutshell, a person can file claim within 3 years of end of financial year.
  For example if a Service Provider applied for SEIS within 6 months of expiry of due date, he will get 98% of the eligible claim but if applied with a more delay than the claim amount will get reduced to 95% to 90% depends upon when he has applied.
  Let us understand by an example – For the FY 2018-19, due date for filing application for reward under SEIS scheme is 31stMarch 2020
  If claim is filed after 31stMarch 2020 but before 30thSeptember 2020 – He is eligible for 98% of rewards.
  If claim is filed between 1stOctober 2020 to 31stMarch 2021 – He is eligible for 95% of rewards
  If claim is filed between 1stApril 2021 to 31stMarch 2022 – He is eligible for 90% of rewards

Government Proposal in 2020 and going forward
  • Proposal to discontinue SEIS as it has not helped India in "increase shipments positively".
  •  Proposal to discontinue this SEIS in its current form. There is view that it has not helped us to increase our exports positively,
  • He said that industry has to get out of the mind set of subsidies as they are detrimental to India's long-term interests.
  • Only 2200 Companies take that take that subsidy. Some of them are such large names, making 1000s of crores of rupees of profit, that there is no business of giving them a subsidy," he said.
  • The minister wondered that if those big companies do not get this subsidy, will they stop providing those services.
  • He suggested that the subsidy can be used to promote sectors like tourism."...tourism...has huge untapped potential... which are the areas where we need targeted support for a defined time frame to get better value addition," he added.























Where SEIS Scrip Can be Used?

In payment of taxes like customs duties, excise duties, service tax on the procurement of services, exchange duties and other.

Scrips cannot be utilized for payment of GST.

Scrips are transferable.

There is no GST on sale of scrips.
   What is the validity of the Scrips?
   These credit Scrips are valid for a term of 24 months from the date of its issuance.(Public Notice No. 33/2015-2020 dated 23.10.2017)
    Issuing hard copy of physical duty credits scrips had been discontinued w.e.f. 10.04.2019 and made it online for easy of doing business as per Trade Notice No.03/2015-2020 dated 03.04.2019
  What are the points to be Ponder?
  Directorate General Foreign Trade (DGFT) Headquarter randomly select 10% of cases through computer system for each Regional Authority (RA) where scrips have already been issued, under each scheme.
  Documents to be maintained for the period of three years from the issuance of scrips as Regional Authority may ask for original proof of landing certificate, annexures attached to the application form or any other document.
  Government views on SEIS –
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal Proposes to discontinue export incentives for services exports under SEIS in present form

  • Proposal to discontinue SEIS as it has not helped India in "increase shipments positively".
  •  Proposal to discontinue this SEIS in its current form. There is view that it has not helped us to increase our exports positively,
  • He said that industry has to get out of the mind set of subsidies as they are detrimental to India's long-term interests.
  • Only 2200 Companies take that take that subsidy. Some of them are such large names, making 1000s of crores of rupees of profit, that there is no business of giving them a subsidy," he said.
  • The minister wondered that if those big companies do not get this subsidy, will they stop providing those services.
  • He suggested that the subsidy can be used to promote sectors like tourism."...tourism...has huge untapped potential... which are the areas where we need targeted support for a defined time frame to get better value addition," he added.



Foreign trade policy for 2015-2020 


The government has unveiled its foreign trade policy (FTP) for five years from 2015 to 2020 on 1st april 2015.

 Unveiling the policy, Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the new policy would boost exports and create jobs while supporting the Centre’s 'Make In India' and 'Digital India' programmes. “Export obligation under the export promotion capital goods scheme will be reduced by 25% to promote domestic manufacturing."
FTP would focus on defence, pharma, environment-friendly products and value-added exports, she said, adding: “The govt will continue to incentivise units located in special economic zones... With a focus on employment-creating sectors, the government will promote e-commerce."

Later in a series of tweets, Sitharaman said the latest FTP was introducing two new schemes — "Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) and "Services Exports from India Scheme (SEIS). Under MEIS, a higher level of support would be provided to processed and packaged agricultural and food items. And, agricultural and village industry products would be supported across the globe at the rates of 3% and 5%.



Major Highlights are 


> Merchandize exports from India (MEIS) to promote specific services for specific Markets Foreign Trade Policy

> FTP would reduce export obligations by 25% and give boost to domestic manufacturing

> FTP benefits from both MEIS & SEIS will be extended to units located in SEZs

> FTP 2015-20 introduces two new schemes, namely "Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS)" and "Services Exports from India Scheme (SEIS)" .. 

Branding campaigns planned to promote exports in sectors where India has traditional Strength.

> SEIS shall apply to 'Service Providers located in India' instead of 'Indian Service Providers'.

> Business services, hotel and restaurants to get rewards scrips under SEIS at 3% and other specified services at 5%.

> Duty credit scrips to be freely transferable and usable for payment of customs duty, excise duty and service tax.

> Debits against scrips would be eligible for CENVAT credit or drawback also.

> Nomenclature of Export House, Star Export House, Trading House, Premier Trading House certificate changed to 1,2,3,4,5 Star Export House.

> The criteria for export performance for recognition of status holder have been changed from Rupees to US dollar earnings.

> Manufacturers who are also status holders will be enabled to self-certify their manufactured goods as originating from India.

Reduced Export Obligation (EO) (75%) for domestic procurement under EPCG scheme.

> Online procedure to upload digitally signed document by Chartered Accountant/Company Secretary/Cost Accountant to be developed.

> Inter-ministerial consultations to be held online for issue of various licences.

> No need to repeatedly submit physical copies of documents available on Exporter Importer Profile.

> Validity period of SCOMET export authorisation extended .. 

Export obligation period for export items related to defence, military store, aerospace and nuclear energy to be 24 months instead of 18 months

> Calicut Airport, Kerala and Arakonam ICDS, Tamil Nadu notified as registered ports for import and export.

> Vishakhapatnam and Bhimavarm added as Towns of Export Excellence.

> Certificate from independent chartered engineer for redemption of EPCG authorisation no longe .. 



STPI Registration for 100% EOU software exporters



Application to Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) has to be made to set up a 100% Export Oriented Unit (EOU).
  • STPI Registration involves –
  • Preparation of application for Custom Private Bonded warehouse u/s 58
  • Permission for manufacturing u/s 65
  • Obtaining licenses under respective sections of custom Act 1962
  • Filling bond B-17 for import / indigenous duty free purchases
  • Registration for Import clearance under S-16
  • Preparing paper work involving clearing of import consignments from Docks /Cargo /ICDS/CFS under duty exemption schemes
  • Central Excise registration under rule 9 of C. E. Rules – 2002
  • Obtaining necessary NOC from STPI for consignment on every import/indigenous purchase of goods
  • Preparation & obtaining of CT-3 for duty free indigenous purchases
  • And other incidental matters as well as paper work as needed from time to time

Documents to include:
1.     Application Form in the prescribed form.
2.     Memorandum and Article of Association.
3.     Board Resolution for setting up STP Unit and persons authorized to sign and submit the application form.
4.     Resume of person heading the operation/CEO.
5.     Detailed project report/ Business plan consist of:
a.     Company profile.
b.     Promoters background.
c.     Units Area of expertise/Services offered.
d.     Marketing Strategy / marketing Arrangements.
e.     Manpower plan.
f.      Future plans.
g.     Brief write up on the parent Company and the activities proposed to be carried out by the Indian entity. (In case foreign equity participation)
h.     List of Capital goods proposed to be procured from abroad and within India.
i.      Details of foreign collaborator (whether financial or technical)
j.      Copy of floor plan of the Unit certified by an architect.
k.     Copy of the rent agreement if any.
l.      Copy of invoice of the Internet service provider.
6.     Financials statement like.
a.     Cost of project & Means of finance.
b.     Projected P&L A?C.
c.     Projected Balance Sheet.
d.     Projected Cash flow/fund flow statement.
e.     Export workings- (As per Transfer Pricing guidelines where ever applicable)
f.      Financials for a 5 year period projecting income from operations, Capital expenditure & cash Flows.
g.     Detail for aggregate foreign exchange comings & outgo for first 5 years.
h.     Detail for estimated numbers of employees and wage bill for first 5 years.
7.     Other documents like
a.     Copy of service agreement signed with parent company / clients/ PO with clients/ Master service Agreement.
8.     Initial application processing fee of INR 2,500
Advances services charges of INR 50,000 at the time of executing the legal agreement. Service to be paid annually as per the following slabs.
1.
Exports upto Rs.50.00 lacs per annum
Rs 15,000/ per annum
2.
Exports above Rs.50.00 lacs per annum but upto Rs.300.00 lacs
Rs.50,000/ per annum
3.
Exports above Rs.300.00 lacs per annum
Rs.1,00,000/ per annum

Annual charges for 3 years are payable in advance. At the time of signing the Legal undertaking, the unit is required to pay additional fees as per the turnover achieved if achieved if achieved turnover in more than the projected turnover. Note: Once the legal agreement has been executed then a request letter has to be sent to the STPI for issue of the Green Card.




ANNUAL RETURN TO BE FILED WITH STPI











The mismanagement of SEZ approvals leading to a country of nearly thousand SEZs ..an example of a good policy and bad execution reflecting the Indian State

 In India Special Economic Zones are setup with the main objectives to generate additional economic activity, promote export of goods and services, promote investment from domestic and foreign sources, create employment opportunities, develop infrastructure facilities and backward regions, attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), earn foreign exchange and contribute to exchange rate stability, single window clearance for setting up of a SEZ and an unit in SEZ , stimulate sectors such as electronics, information technology, create backward & forward linkages to increase the output and raise the standard of local enterprise that supply goods and services to the zone.

Comparison with China

Th e impact of Chinese SEZs in propelling China’s exportled growth has been impressive, with the SEZs now account for 12% of the country’s GDP.

India’s experience with SEZs actually predates that of China. In 1965 the fi rst Special Export Processing Zone was set up in Kandla in Gujarat state, seven more later began operations. Th e Indian SEZ model, however, has been far less successful than the Chinese model. The Indian zones have had difficulty in attracting foreign and domestic investors for a variety of reasons. An important diff erence has been the lack of a natural gateway that could serve as a source of capital and a conduit for the movement of goods in the manner that Hong Kong and Taiwan function for China

By establishing Special Economic Zones, we are trying to make India, a global manufacturing and out sourcing hub. In a country like India where the problem of unemployment is serious, SEZ is to create more employment in the country particularly to educated people. Th e Special Economic Zones policy, based on private sector financing and aimed at creating both industrial and social infrastructure is clearly an important step in this direction and deserves the incentives that are given to SEZ. But, at the same time this employment is expected to outweigh the large revenue losses and large scale displacement of farmers The recent global economic crisis has most certainly hit exports and foreign investment fl ows and will have affect on the prospects of SEZs. Th e lack of economic activity in most SEZs leads to the suspicion that many promoters were incapable of attracting economic production units to their SEZs in the fi rst place, and were merely betting on them as real estate assets and relying on loopholes in the law to realize their value at a later date. As on 2nd June, 2009, formal approval was given to 568 SEZs whereas only 315 SEZs were notifi ed as on the same date. Out of 568 formal approvals, majority of them (61%) are IT/ITES SEZs. With the outsourcing boom in western countries getting negative trend and Manila being strong competitive hub for outsourcing activities, IT/ITES SEZ units may not kick-off as expected. All in all, recent economic recession is likely to persist at least for the next two years, which will also create dent in FDI in manufacturing and IT/ITES services as well for export. It is very clear that there are too many SEZs, particularly for IT/ITES, without any business.

Owing to economic slowdown and availability funds being tight in the capital market, one of the leading developers put on hold 12 SEZs in December 2008.Since most of the SEZs are concentrated in few States for e.g. Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra having maximum number of SEZs. The unhealthy competition among other States led to mushrooming of SEZ development units and

turned into uproar by community with lot of discontent and violence against land acquisition, compensation packages for displaced farmers, changes in rehabilitation, resettlement etc..

With so many complications involved, will this SEZ concept finally achieve the intent with which they have started in India? If so, to what extent? What kind of a development goal this will achieve or will it pass on more wealth into private hands? Is the administration prepared for the huge backlash of discontent, protest and social upheaval that oppression on such large scale could trigger like the recent Nandigram (West Bengal) and Raigad (Maharastra)?

These questions are not going to be easy to answer rather a real challenge to make the SEZ concept successful. Th e controversies against SEZ started where Ministry of Finance feels that tax rebate and tax incentives would result in huge losses from direct and indirect taxes. According to sources the country would be losing Rs.1, 60,000 Crores on account of SEZ granted tax rebate by 2010, which is not a small amount. On the other hand Ministry of Commerce and Industry, is canvassing for SEZ, in order to make our industries more competitive in the global economy. This is creating discrimination between units within the same locality one being Non-SEZ area the other next to it in SEZ area. At this time of high fiscal deficit of the country is rising (Rs.3, 32,535 Crores budgeted fi scal deficit in the union budget 2009-10) is it justified that offering tax concession to SEZ units?

Another factor is the way in which SEZs are structured and designed in India. The Indian variants tend to be smaller than their Chinese equivalents, sector focused (in such sectors as handicraft s, leather products, auto parts, apparel, electronics and IT services, gems and jewellery, food processing) and separated from their surrounding communities. Chinese SEZs are large, multi-sector and no longer have formal boundaries separating them from surrounding communities. These points up another difference between the Chinese and Indian approaches: in China the SEZs have been used to test reforms that have subsequently been adopted nationwide, with the result that today there is very little diff erence in policies within the SEZs and the general economy. In India, on the other hand, reform generally has moved ahead much slower and the SEZs have not been seen as the leading edge of reforms.

Th e 100% Export Oriented Units (EOUs) are finding it tough with the advent of the SEZ Act, as SEZs enjoy more benefi ts than EOUs , resulting in an uneven level playing field when the overarching objective of both remains to achieve higher export growth The choice of place for setting up SEZs in India is not fully supported by the economic factors envisaged by Hirschman. Thereby weaknesses listed above made the SEZs non-constructive in many places. Due to the recent global recession and slow down in the economy IT, ITES and BFSI focused BPO SEZs become defunct. Hence, it can be concluded that SEZs in India are not fully successful in achieving their objectives for which they were established and the cost of establishing the SEZs in terms of social cost is very high.

1.Almost 568 SEZs were given formal approval spread across all over the country whereas in china Only seven zones selected very big in size and specifi ed areas.

2. SEZs were setup even in land locked areas based on developers convenient whereas in china these SEZs were setup near to costal areas making exports and imports easy

3. Stringent labour laws when compared to Chinese Flexible labour laws providing contract appointment for a specifi c period

4. Inadequate infrastructure and infrastructure development handed over to private real estate developers  while in china Government invested heavily in infrastructure development and modernization.

5. SEZs in India largely governed by SEZ Act, only local laws like VAT are in the hands of State Governments, while in china Powers to provinces and local authorities to frame additional guidelines in administering the zones

6. Focus was more on service sector like IT and ITeS whereas in china focus was more on manufacturing sector