| Date: |
31-03-2016
|
| Notification No: |
Trade Notice No. 22/2015
|
| Issuing Authority: |
DGFT
|
| Type: |
Trade Notice
|
| File No: |
F. No. 4/1/2016/Vig./C14 |
| Subject: |
Clarifications on Trade Facilitation Measures
|
|
Government of India
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Department of Commerce
Directorate General of Foreign Trade
Udyog Bhawan : New Delhi.
Trade Notice No. 22/2015
New Delhi, Dated the 31st March, 2016
To
All Regional Authorities
All Exporters/Importers
All Export Promotion Councils
Subject : Clarifications on Trade Facilitation Measures
Reference is invited to
Trade Notices No. 12/2015 dated 13.01.2016
and
No.
14/2015 dated 19.01.2016 wherein the endeavour of DGFT to move towards an IT
enabled paperless and personal contact free environment to achieve the
objectives of maintaining efficiency, absolute integrity and transparency in the
functioning of all the offices of the Directorate in a more comprehensive and
complete manner, was stressed.
- A number of steps were listed in para 1 (i) to (vi) of the aforesaid
Trade Notice dated 19.01.2016 in this regard. The main thrust behind
enlisting/prescribing these steps/measures being to enable and encourage
members of trade to communicate with DGFT offices through email etc. with
the assurance that their concerns would be effectively addressed without
them having to waste time and resources in physically pursuing their matters
and being assured of a response in a prescribed time frame. It was never the
intention, as should be clear from a simple reading of the notice, that
applicants would be persona non grata in DGFT offices. The notice clearly
envisaged a facility for documentary submissions at the reception desk and
personal meetings with senior officers to have concerns addressed if
applicants still felt the need to do so. In light of reports of the
unconstructive interpretation of the notice made in some quarters, it is
reiterated that no person is to be denied an opportunity to meet with an
officer in any DGFT office if he or she so desires. If the head of the
office or an officer of Joint DGFT rank or above is not available at that
time, he or she may meet the senior most officer available in the office. An
institutionalized interaction arrangement is also proposed to be instituted,
as described below.
- It is also clarified that the above arrangements introduced vide TN dated
19.01.2015 will not interfere with or in any way curtail, including in
aspects like requirements related to appearance, personal hearing etc.,
proceedings initiated under the provisions of the FT (D&R) Act.
- Further, it has been decided that there will be an open house for
applicants between 2.30 PM and 3.30 PM on every Wednesday in all RA offices
in a designated meeting room / place. The duration may be extended as
required. During this period concerns / pending issues of applicants raised
by them will be addressed by the officers / staff concerned who will make
themselves accessible in the meeting room. If the officer / staff member
concerned is not available on a particular day, the designated link officers
/ staff member shall address the concerns / issues. To the extent possible
the head of the office will preside over the open house.
- Regional Authorities may implement these arrangements on priority and
abide by the spirit of the two TNs dated 13.01.2016 and 19.01.2016, rather
than their literal wording, and ensure that official business in the offices
is conducted in an upright, fair and transparent manner.
Wadhawan)
Director General of Foreign Trade
E-mail : [email protected]
(Issued from F. No. 4/1/2016/Vig./C14)
|
|
|