In an exclusive interview with PTI video, the minister also said an extensive risk-based analysis is done continuously to ensure the production of quality medicines in the country, and the government and regulators are always alert to ensure that no one dies due to spurious medicines.
India's exports may have touched an all-time high of $422 billion in 2021-22 but recession in key western markets and geo-political crisis due to the Russia-Ukraine war are expected to impact the growth of the country's outbound shipments in 2023. All the global trade promoting factors like political stability, movement of goods, adequate availability of containers and shipping lines, demand, stable currency and smooth banking systems are in disarray. Adding to the woes, COVID cases have again started rising in countries like China, Japan, South Korea and the US.
Mallya's airline is the second domestic carrier to have received DGFT approval for ATF import after budget carrier SpiceJet.
The government has withdrawn the 'export licence' restriction for overseas sale of onion, as the prices of commodity have started to soften in domestic market. The Director General of Foreign Trade has notified that the export of onions could be undertaken after getting the no-objection certificate from NAFED and 12 other state trading agencies.
Job-oriented sectors such as tea, cashew, apparel, carpets, leather, textiles and handicrafts continue to face weak demand in traditional markets such as Europe and the US.
Indian Council of Medical Research Director General Balram Bhargava had on Monday recommended the use of hydroxychloroquine for treating healthcare workers handling suspected or confirmed coronavirus cases.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday welcomed a host of world leaders, including United States President Joe Biden and United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, at the Bharat Mandapam, the venue of the G20 Summit.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry denied having imposed any blanket ban on the import of food products from Japan even as it has imposed some strict measures.
India has banned wheat exports with immediate effect as part of measures to control rising domestic prices, according to official notification. However, the export shipments for which irrevocable letters of credit (LoC) have been issued on or before the date of this notification will be allowed, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification dated May 13. "The export policy of wheat ... is prohibited with immediate effect...," the DGFT said. It also clarified that wheat exports will be allowed on the basis of permission granted by the Government of India to other countries to meet their food security needs and based on the request of their governments.
The exporters will get duty benefits for shipments to 15 countries, including Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, China and Japan.
The domestic drug industry has expressed serious concern over the central government's decision to make it mandatory to carry a barcode on every medicine pack meant for exports from July 1.
The government has banned import of CDMA mobile phones that lack unique electronic serial number and mobile equipment identifier, which help authorities identify and track users.
Modi campaigned on the issue of national security, which cannot be ensured without a strong economy.
Onion production in the country is likely to be around 10.5 million tonnes in 2010-11, down from 12 million tones last year.
Reports suggest at least four infants died in China after consuming the contaminated milk. The adulterated whitener led to several thousands falling sick. Melamine, used for making plastics and fertiliser, was found in infant formula and other milk products of 22 Chinese dairy firms.
India on Tuesday protested to Pakistan over the unprovoked firing from across the border to give cover to infiltrators when its Deputy High Commissioner was summoned for the fourth time in just over a week over alleged "unprovoked ceasefire violations".
Exports to Greece from India are $360 million a year.
Expanding for the fourth straight month, exports surged by 34.8 per cent in February to $16.09 billion against $11.94 billion in the year-ago period on the back of revival in the Western economies.
A high level committee to revamp the Directorate General of Foreign Trade is mulling giving the directorate more teeth to undertake anti-dumping investigations and monitor imports of sensitive items.
Thanks to an ambiguous law on the import of platinum alloys, some bullion importers are making big profits. A handful of them are importing refined gold cloaked as platinum alloy. Gold attracts 15 per cent import duty, as opposed to platinum alloy that invites a duty of 10.75 per cent. Industry sources say this is a case of mis-declaration and duty violation.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade on Monday notified Duty Entitlement Pass Book Scheme (refund of local taxes) on cement exports. The commerce ministry had lifted the 46-day old ban on cement exports on May 27. However, it had allowed shipments only through ports in Gujarat. The state accounts for 95 per cent of the total cement exports.
The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal on Wednesday directed Google to pay 10 per cent of the Rs 1,337.76-crore penalty imposed on the tech giant by fair trade regulator CCI. A two-member bench, however, declined to grant any immediate stay the operations of Competition Commission of India (CCI) penalty and said it would pass any order after hearing out other parties. The appellate tribunal has issued notices to CCI and directed to list the matter on February 13, for hearing over interim stay.
Taking yet another measure to check inflation through improving domestic supplies, the government today stopped export incentives on basmati rice. "Export of basmati rice shall not be entitled for DEPB (Duty Entitlement Pass Book) benefits," the Directorate General of Foreign Trade said in a notice. Government has already banned export of non-basmati rice & revised upward the minimum export price for basmati rice. Inflation for the week ended March 22 has touched the 7% mark.
Export-Oriented Units (EOUs) in the country are likely to continue to enjoy income-tax benefits even after the ensuing deadline of March 2009.
To cut transaction costs for traders, the government has launched an online facility for issuing Importer-Exporter Code Number.
The government on Thursday tweaked curbs on imports of laptops and computers as it allowed importers to bring in shipments of IT hardware from overseas on a mere 'authorisation' upon detailing quantity and value. The new 'import management system' is aimed at monitoring shipments of laptops, tablets and computers into the country without hurting market supply or creating a cumbersome licensing regime. The announcement is likely to provide relief to companies in the IT hardware segment in India as they had flagged concerns over the imposition of a strict licensing regime for importers.
The summit is being attended by more than 30 heads of state and top officials from the European Union and invited guest countries and 14 heads of international organisations.
The current total installed capacity of the seven manufacturers of remdesivir is 38.80 lakh vials per month, the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers said in a statement.
After staging a strong recovery from COVID-induced slowdown in 2021, India's exports are likely to extend the growth story to the New Year also on increased demand in the global markets, boost in domestic manufacturing due to production-linked incentive schemes and implementation of some interim trade pacts. Expectations of positive growth in the country's exports are also backed up by the outlook of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) which predicts a 4.7 per cent expansion in the global merchandise trade volume in 2022. Exporters believe that the outbound shipments would cross $400 billion mark in this fiscal going by the current momentum and may reach $475 billion in 2022-23.
Barely days after imposing a 40 per cent export tax on onions to cool down soaring prices, which, in turn, triggered widespread protests across the main growing belts, the Centre on Tuesday sought to mitigate both political and economic tensions gripping parts of Maharashtra. It decided to procure an additional 200,000 tonnes of onions at Rs 2,410 per quintal for its buffer stock from farmers, a rate that is strikingly close to the price at which they were being exported before the 40 per cent duty was levied on August 19. The export price before the imposition of the duty stood at around $320 per tonne free on board (approximately Rs 2,650 per quintal).
India is heading for a major rise in food prices especially rice and pulses. Following the global trend and anticipating a shortage, Central government has raised the minimum price for non-Basmati rice exports. Other countries like Egypt and Cambodia have imposed restrictions on export of rice. With rice being staple food in many countries export restrictions will affect prices in the importing countries. These countries are already facing social unrest over high food prices.
In 2006, FCI's procurement fell sharply to 9.2 million tonnes from 14.8 million tonnes in the previous year, forcing the government to import 5.5 million tonnes.
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