Mr. Alok Chaturvedi, Director General of the Export Promotion Council for EOUs and SEZs would like to take this opportunity to thank the D/o Commerce especially following –
(i) Amendment in SEZ Rules for Hybrid working with permission for the same applicable up to 31.12.2024 vide GSR 824(E) dated 07.11.2023.
(ii) Exempting SEZs and EOUs vide DGFT Notification No. 38/2023 dated 19.10.2023 from the requirement of import authorisation for import of restricted IT hardware, and
(iii) Keeping SEZs out of purview of the Safeguard Quantitative Restrictions (QR) imposed on import of Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) vide DGFT Policy Circular No. 4/2023-24 dated 31.08.2023.
2. While EPCES does understand that D/o Commerce is taking necessary steps for further improvement in Ease of Doing Business in respect of SEZs and EOUs, EPCES would like to bring to kind attention for the following long pending issues affecting investment in and exports from SEZs and EOUs.
(i) Expediting amendment in SEZ Act/ enactment of DESH BILL.
(ii) Covering exports from SEZs and EOUs under the RoDTEP Scheme as they also have to pay for duties and taxes on inputs and in transportation of goods just as DTA exports do.
(iii) Quality Control Orders and other import restrictions such as Minimum Import Price (MIP) issued by different Ministries for enforcing standards should not be applicable to the goods imported for exports by SEZs, EOUs and Advance Authorisation holders.
(iv) Streamlining endorsement of procurement of services by SEZ units from DTA (huge pending in SEZs)
a. Doing away with the requirement in SEZs for examination of all services invoices (DTA to SEZ) before endorsement rather than examination of only 5-10% risk based invoices and rest on self-cetification basis).
b. Electronic rather than physical endorsement of invoices by SEZ Specified Officers.
c. API based integration between secion online and GSTIN
(v) Transfer of used / old laptops and other electronic goods by IT/ ITES units in SEZ to DTA without the requirement of import license.
(vi) Amendment in SEZ Power guidelines for allowing SEZ units to install solar panels with fiscal benefits for their own use.
(vii) Allowing IT/ITES SEZ developers to install solar panels with fiscal benefits for their common facilities.
(viii) Amending SEZ Rules for allowing services to DTA by units in Special Non-processing areas in IT/ ITES SEZs
(ix) Improving common infrastructure facilities in Government SEZs (24*7 customs facility, reliable electricity, interest , garbage collection, water, common effluent Treatment Plant, common business facilities, road and goods transport, etc.)
Yours,
(Alok Chaturvedi)
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