CITIZEN’S CHARTER
DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF FOREIGN TRADE
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
NEW DELHI -110011
ORGANIZATIONAL SET-UP:
Directorate General of Foreign Trade is an attached office of the
Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The
headquarter is in Udyog Bhavan, New Delhi. There are four Zonal
Offices at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai headed by Additional
Director General of Foreign Trade. There are 24 Regional Authorities
(RAs) all over the country.
OUR VISION AND MISSION
The vision underpinning the Foreign Trade Policy for 2015-2020 (as
extended upto 30.09.2021) is to make India a significant participant in
world trade by the year 2020 and to enable the country to assume a
position of leadership in the international trade discourse.
1. Strong trade relations will help India to forge stronger relationships
in its immediate neighbourhood and in new directions, both bilaterally as
well as through regional forums;
2. The policy of market diversification which has stood India in good
stead during the global economic downturn will continue to be a key
determinant of the country’s trade policy, together with product
diversification;
3. High quality products are their own best advertisement.
Recognizing the increasing role of standards in global trade and the
steps India needs to take both to strengthen its own standards as well
as to meet the challenges posed to its exports, a roadmap has been
developed on measures required to protect consumers, raise the quality
of the merchandise produced and greatly enhance India’s capacity to
export to discerning markets;
4. The increasing challenge of Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) used by
various countries cannot be wished away. India will have to adopt a
multi-pronged strategy to deal with NTMs and to increase overseas
market access. Equally, there is a need to put in place measures to keep
out sub-standard products by strengthening monitoring and surveillance
systems;
5. Further, in an increasingly competitive world, branding plays an
indispensable role in global positioning and the FTP addresses this issue
as well. Branding campaigns are being planned for promoting exports
from sectors such as services, pharmaceuticals, plantations and
engineering as well as of commodities and services in which India has
traditional strengths, such as handicrafts and yoga;
6. Efforts at the operational level include the simplification of
procedures and digitization of various processes. The purpose of
Digitization in procedures is for making seamless online integration with
all government agencies, including Customs etc. reducing human
intervention and bringing in transparency. Specific measures will be
taken to facilitate the entry of new entrepreneurs and manufacturers in
global trade through extensive training programmers;
7. While the Government of India is responsible for policy on foreign
trade, much of the activity at the ground level takes place in the States.
State Governments play a crucial role in promoting exports and
rationalizing non-essential imports. Steps have, therefore, been taken to
mainstream States in the process of international trade. Further, in order
to boost exports from India, a bottoms-up approach has been adopted
under “Districts as Export Hubs” with an objective to empower
each district to focus on developing export of identified products from
the district thereby generating economic activity and employment at the
district level;
8. The FTP also recognizes the country's commitment to its
international obligations and thereby provide a framework for its
implementation through the Policy;
9. Exploring new markets and new products as well as increasing
India’s share in the traditional markets and products, leveraging benefits
of GST; close monitoring of export performances and taking immediate
corrective measures based on state-of-the-art data analysis; increasing
ease of trading across borders; increasing the realizations from Indian
agriculture based exports and promoting exports from MSMEs.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
1. A vision is best achieved through measurable targets. An ambitious
target of US $ 400 billion of goods/merchandise exports for the current
year 2021-22 has been fixed keeping in view the critical role of exports
in catalysing economic activities which were impacted by the COVID-19
pandemic;
2. The target has been set in the context of our immense export
potential, past trends, recent initiatives taken by the Government and
the need to push the economy.
3. The FTP for 2015-2020 (as extended upto 30.09.2021) seeks to
achieve the following objectives:
a. To provide a stable and sustainable policy environment for foreign
trade in merchandise and services;
b. To link rules, procedures and incentives for exports and imports
with other initiatives such as “Make in India”, “Digital India” and “Skills
India” to create an “Export Promotion Mission” for India;
c. To promote the diversification of India’s export basket by helping
various sectors of the Indian economy to gain global competitiveness
with a view to promoting exports;
d. To create an architecture for India’s global trade engagement with
a view to expanding its markets and better integrating with major
regions, thereby increasing the demand for India’s products and
contributing to the government’s flagship “Make in India” initiative;
e. To provide a mechanism for regular appraisal in order to
rationalize imports and reduce the trade imbalance.
OUR VALUES:
a. Accountability and e-governance
b. Transparency in operations and Access to information
c. Improving the performance and integrity of public services
OUR CLIENTS:
All producers and consumers of goods and services in general and
exporters and importers in particular.
OUR COMMITMENT:
To facilitate international trade in goods & services and thereby stimulate
sustained national economic growth, through coordinated efforts of the
Union and the State Governments, by providing a trade environment
that is transparent, equitable, proactive, based on consultation that
enhances the users confidence in the organization.
SERVICES PROVIDED:
Our mandate is to formulate and implement Foreign Trade Policy of the
Government of India for delivery of efficient and quality services to our
clients. We are committed to provide integrated EDI platform for Trade.
EXPORT FACILITATION:
i.DGFT has been functioning as a facilitator of exports and imports. Our
focus is on good governance, on clean, transparent and accountable
delivery systems.
ii.Zonal/Regional offices of DGFT are also functioning as Export Facilitation
Centers and as nodal agencies to attend to the problems of trade and
industry and to coordinate with different departments.
iii.DGFT has also taken up the role of mentoring new and prospective
exporters in the arena of international trade under its new initiative of
‘NIRYAT BANDHU’ and ‘Districts as Export Hubs’.
iv.All application process for trade related documents have been made
online for convenience of the public.
STANDARDS AND QUALITY OF SERVICES TO OUR CLIENTS:
DGFT Hqrs., New Delhi is an ISO 9001:2008 awardee Organisation. Its
Regional offices at Cochin, Mumbai and CLA (New Delhi) are also ISO
Certified offices. It is the consistent endeavour of our organization to deal
with our clients in an open and transparent manner and ensure disposal
of all applications within the time schedule as prescribed in the
policy/procedures. In case of delay, the clients can
approach the concerned Addl. DGFT/Joint DGFT with prior appointment.
Cases of inordinate delay where the matter has not been resolved by
Addl. DGFT/Joint DGFT could be brought to the notice of the Director
General of Foreign Trade for taking remedial measures. DGFT also
monitors disposal of applications filed in different Regional Authorities at
its Headquarters to take remedial measures.
GRIEVANCE REDRESSAL:
Under Foreign Trade Policy 2015-2020 (as extended upto 30.09.2021),
DGFT has set-up a Policy Relaxation Committee under chairmanship of
DGFT consisting of all Addl. DGFTs and Jt. DGFTs to look into the
requests seeking policy relaxation or relief on grounds of genuine
hardship and adverse impact on trade. Every exporter/importer has a
right to seek and have an opportunity to make a representation to the
Policy Relaxation Committee.
Vide Trade Notification No. 14 dated 24.08.2016, Grievance Redressal
Committees at HQ and in the offices of Zonal Additional DGFTs have
been constituted for speedy disposal of pending grievances. All
Regional Authorities have also allotted one hour time (all
working day) to address the grievances of the
exporters/importers.
RIGHT TO INFORMATION:
We have implemented the Right to Information Act, 2005. The details of
action taken on implementation of this act, including lists of Central
Public Information Officers (CPIOs) and Appellate Authorities are given
on the DGFTs website under “Right to Information Act” icon.
TIME BOUND DISPOSAL OF APPLICATIONS
Regional Authority shall dispose of applications expeditiously. Following
time schedule shall normally be followed to dispose of applications
provided it is complete in all respects and is accompanied by prescribed
documents.
S.No Category of application Time limit
for
Disposal
(in
working
days)
1 IEC Number 2
2 Advance Authorization where Input-Output norms 3
are notified or under paragraph 4.07 of HBP,
Advance Authorization for Annual Requirement
and DFIA.
3 Fixation of input output norms 120
4 Issuance of EPCG Authorizations 3
5 All Authorizations under Gem & Jewellery Scheme 3
6 Revalidation of Authorizations and extension of 3
export obligation period by RA
7 Acceptance of BG/LUT 3
8 Redemption / EODC of Advance Authorization / 15
DFIA
9 Redemption of EPCG Authorizations and release 30
of BG / LUT.
10 Issuance/renewal of status certificate 3
11 Amendment of any category of Authorization 3
12 Miscellaneous 10
13 Refund of DBK/TED under deemed export 30
14 Fixation of Brand Rate for duty drawback 30
15 Schemes of Chapter 3 3
16 Public Grievances 60
In all the above cases, the number day is counted from the date of
submission of complete application. Cases of undue delay in disposal of
applications may be brought to notice of head of regional offices by way
of a written representation, which shall be promptly enquired into and
responded to.
NODAL OFFICER FOR DGFT:
In order to ensure effective implementation of the Charter, Nodal
Officer for DGFT is designated as under:
Shri Hardeep Singh,
Additional Director General Foreign Trade
Directorate General Foreign Trade, Udyog Bhawan,
New Delhi-110011 Ph. No. 011 - 23063466
E-mail: hardeep[dot]singh[at]nic[dot]in
Review of the Charter:
The charter will be reviewed every year to examine feedback and
suggestions, if any, as received from various stakeholders.
