DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF FOREIGN TRADE

Department of Commerce
Government of India

KEY HIGHLIGHTS
FOREIGN TRADE POLICY
2023
Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20

FTP 2015-20 which was to end on

31.03.2020 was extended due to
COVID pandemic and volatile geo-
political scenario till 31.03.2023.

India has reach record high Export

Performance in Merchandise and
Services Exports during this period.
India's Merchandise and Services
exports is expected to cross record
USD 760 Billion in FY2022-23. FTP
2015-20 contributed to this illustrious
export performance.

India's Exports

US$ 760 Bn**

US$ 676 Bn

55.4%
US$ 435 Bn

74.7%

FY 2016 FY 2022 FY 2023

** Projected
 New Foreign Trade Policy 2023

Policy changes were being

undertaken since 2015 even without
announcement of a new FTP
responding dynamically to the
emerging situations.

The Foreign Trade Policy 2023 is

being announced to provide the
policy continuity and a responsive
framework.

Subsequent revision(s) in the FTP

shall be done as and when required
and shall not linked to any date.

Continous feedback from Trade and

Industry to streamline processes and
update Policy & procedures.

New FTP Approach

From Incentives to Tax Remission

Greater Trade facilitation through

technology, automation, and
continuous process re-engineering

Export promotion through

collaboration: Exporters, States,
Districts

Focus on Emerging Areas – E-

Commerce Exports, Developing
Districts as Export Hubs,
Streamlining SCOMET policy et al.
 Key FTP Highlights

Ease of Doing Business, Reduction in

Transaction Cost and e-Initiatives

1.1 Online approvals without Physical Interface

Automatic approval of various permissions under Foreign Trade Policy based
on process simplification and technology implementation.
Reduction in processing time and immediate approval of applications under
automatic route for exporters-

Automatic route
Permission type Current processing time
processing time

Advance authorization issuance 3 to 7 days 1 day

EPCG issuance 3 to 7 days 1 day

Revalidation of authorizations 3 days to 1 month 1 day

Extension of Export Obligation period 3 days to 1 month 1 day

1.2 Reduction in user charges for MSMEs under AA and EPCG

Application fee being reduced for Advance Authorization and EPCG Schemes
Will benefit 55-60% of exporters who are MSMEs.
Fee structure as shown below-

(In Rupees)

User charges for non- Reduced User charges for

Licence Value in Rupees
MSMEs MSMEs

Up to 1 crore 1 per 1,000 100

1 crore to 10 crores 1 per 1,000 5,000

Above 10 crores Cap at 1,00,000 5,000

1.3 E-Certificate of Origin
Revamp of the e-Certificate of Origin platform proposed- to provide for self-
certification of CoOs as well as automatic approval of CoOs, where feasible.
Initiatives for electronic exchange of CoO data with partner countries
envisaged.

1.4 Paperless filing of Export Obligation Discharge Applications

All authorisation redemption applications to be paperless – This is in addition

to application process for issuance being already paperless. With this, the
entire lifecycle of the authorization shall become paperless.
 Export Promotion Initiatives

2.1 Status Holder Export Thresholds Rationalised

Export performance threshold for Recognition of Exporters as Status Holders
rationalized. Enabling more exporters to achieve higher status and reduced
transaction cost for exports.

(In USD Million)

Status House Existing Export Revised Export

Category  Performance Threshold performance Threshold

One Star  3 3

Two Star  25 15

Three Star  100 50

Four Star  500 200

Five Star  2,000 800

2.2 Merchanting Trade Reform

To boost merchanting activities from India – Merchanting trade involving
shipment of goods from one foreign country to another foreign country without
touching Indian ports, involving an Indian intermediary is allowed subject to
compliance with RBI guidelines, except for goods/items in the CITES and
SCOMET list.

2.3 Rupee Payment to be accepted under FTP Schemes

Effective step towards internationalisation of Rupee
FTP benefits extended for rupee realisations through special Vostro accounts
setup as per RBI circular issued on 11 July 2022

2.4 Towns of Export Excellence

• Four new towns of export excellence declared.
 Town of Export Excellence Product Category

Faridabad Apparel

Moradabad Handicrafts

Mirzapur Handmade Carpet and Dari

Varanasi Handloom & Handicraft

These 4 new towns of export excellence (TEE) are in addition to the already
existing 39 towns of export excellence.
This scheme gives thrust to cluster based economic development.
TEEs are industrial clusters that are recognized based on their export
performance
Recognition to these industrial clusters is granted with a view to maximize
their potential and enable them to move up the value chain and to tap new
markets.
Benefits under TEE Scheme are:
Recognition -
Helps in getting recognition/credibility attached to industrial units of the
region/town while exploring/expanding into newer markets.
Puts such industrial units/town on the global stage.

MAI Scheme -
Recognized associations of units are provided financial assistance under
Market Access Initiative Scheme on priority basis, for export promotion
projects for marketing, capacity building and technological services.
Through this scheme such units can get financial assistance to visit various
trade exhibitions/fairs for exploring more marketing avenues.

Common Service Provider facility -

Common Service Providers in TEE are
entitled for Authorisation under EPCG
Scheme which can help in increasing the
competitiveness of the cluster and provide
enabling environment.
This arrangement gives facility to exporters
to not own all the infrastructure for
conversion from inputs to final export
products.
 Districts as Export Hubs Initiative

3.1 States and Districts as Partners in Export Promotion

Districts as Export Hubs aims to boost India's foreign trade by decentralizing

export promotion.
Bring a greater level of awareness and commitment regarding exports at the
district level.
Identification of products/services in all the districts.
Create institutional mechanisms at the State and District level to strategize
exports (State Export Promotion Committee & District Export Promotion
Committee).
Preparation of District Export Action Plans (DEAPs) outlining the action plan
to promote identified products and services.
Make States and Districts meaningful stakeholders and active participants.

3.2 Capacity Building at District level

Capacity building to create new exporters and identification of new markets.

Training, handholding, and outreach programs by DGFT field offices in
coordination with District Industries Centers.
Regional Authorities of DGFT working with the States/UTs to prepare
District specific Export Plans.
Export promotion outreach programs in districts to focus on branding,
packaging, design and marketing of identified product & services.

3.3 Infrastructure and Logistics Development Intervention

To address Infrastructure and Logistics bottlenecks impeding exports.

Districts to focus on development of logistics, testing facilities, connectivity
for exports and other export-oriented ecosystem.
Convergence of ongoing schemes to support these initiatives
 E-Commerce Exports

4.1 Facilitation for E-Commerce Exports

All FTP benefits to be extended to e-Commerce exports.
Necessary enablement of IT systems in Department of Commerce, Post, CBIC
to be undertaken in the six months.
To streamline e-Commerce export facilitation - Guidelines being formulated
in consultation with other ministries to facilitate further exports under
e-Commerce.
Special outreach and training activities for small e-commerce exporters
Handholding through industry and knowledge partners
Value limit for exports through courier is increased to Rs.10,00,000 per
consignment.

4.2 Dak Niryat Facilitation

Dak Ghar Niryat Kendras shall be operationalised throughout the country to
work in a hub-and-spoke model with Foreign Post Offices (FPOs) to facilitate
cross-border e-Commerce and to enable artisans, weavers, craftsmen, MSMEs
in the hinterland and land-locked regions to reach international markets.

4.3 E-Commerce Export Hubs

Designated hubs with warehousing facility to be notified, to help e-commerce
aggregators for easy stocking, customs clearance and returns processing.
Processing facility to be allowed for last mile activities such as labelling,
testing, repackaging etc.
 Steps to Boost Manufacturing

Prime Minister Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel Parks (PM
MITRA) scheme has been added as an additional scheme eligible to claim
benefits under CSP(Common Service Provider) Scheme of Export
Promotion capital Goods Scheme(EPCG).
Dairy sector to be exempted from maintaining Average Export Obligation –
to support dairy sector to upgrade the technology.
Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) of all types, Vertical Farming equipment,
Wastewater Treatment and Recycling, Rainwater harvesting system and
Rainwater Filters, and Green Hydrogen are added to Green Technology
products – will now be eligible for reduced Export Obligation requirement
under EPCG Scheme
Special Advance Authorisation Scheme extended to export of Apparel and
Clothing sector under para 4.07 of HBP on self-declaration basis to facilitate
prompt execution of export orders – Norms would be fixed within fixed
time-frame.
Benefits of Self-Ratification Scheme for fixation of Input-Output Norms
extended to 2 star and above status holders in addition to Authorised
Economic Operators at present.
Fruits and Vegetables exporters are being included for double weightage for
counting export performance under eligibility criteria for Status House
certification. This is in addition to existing MSME sector who also get double
weightage.
 Special One-time Amnesty Scheme for
Default in Export Obligations

Government is strongly committed to reducing litigation and fostering trust-

based relationships to help alleviate issues faced by exporters.
In line with the "Vivaad se Vishwaas" initiative, which sought to settle tax
disputes amicably, Government is introducing a special one-time Amnesty
Scheme to address non-compliance in Export Obligations by Advance
Authorization and EPCG authorization holders.
All pending cases of default in Export Obligation (EO) of authorizations
mentioned can be regularized by the authorization holder on payment of all
customs duties exempted in proportion to unfulfilled Export Obligation and
maximum interest is capped at 100% of such duties exempted. No interest is
payable on the portion of Additional Customs Duty and Special Additional
Customs Duty.
Amnesty scheme shall be available for a limited period, up to 30.09.2023.
Cases under investigation for fraud and diversion are not eligible for this
scheme.

Emphasis on Streamlining SCOMET

Licensing Procedure

Focus of FTP 2023 on Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment

and Technologies (SCOMET)
Policy for export of dual use items under SCOMET consolidated at one place
for ease of understanding and compliance by industry.
SCOMET policy emphasizes India’s export control in line with its
International commitments under various export control regimes (Wassenaar
arrangement, Australia group and Missile Technology Control Regime) to
control trade in sensitive and dual use items including software and
technology
Recent policy changes introduced such as general authorizations for export of
certain SCOMET items to streamline licensing of these items to make export
of SCOMET items globally competitive.
Focus on simplifying policies to facilitate export of dual-use high-end
goods/technology such as UAV/Drones, Cryogenic Tanks, Certain chemicals
etc.
Way Forward
Foreign Trade Policy to be dynamic and responsive to the emerging trade
scenario.
Wider engagement with States and Districts to promote exports from the
grassroots.
Focus on e-Commerce exports to streamline processes and make it easier for
exports to grow in e-commerce space.
Sector specific targets to achieve the goal of one trillion-dollar merchandise
exports and one trillion-dollar services exports by 2030.
Consultative mechanism to resolve issues of trade and Industry.
Work towards making Indian Rupees a global currency and facilitating
International Trade settlement in INR.
Restructuring of Department of Commerce to make it future ready.

Website: https://www.dgft.gov.in
Address: Directorate General of Foreign Trade,
Vanijya Bhawan, Akbar Road, New Delhi 110001