In order to ensure that handicrafts sector keeps growing at a brisk pace and continue to earn much needed foreign exchange and provide livelihood to millions, it is important that the logistic system (availability and movement of containers) should support and compliment the efforts made by the artisans and exporters. Mr Ravi K Passi, Chairman-EPCH drew attention of the Railways Commerce and Shipping Ministers towards the problem of the shortage of availability of containers for exports and said that the current Covid crisis has resulted in the decline of exports of handicrafts by (–) 34.75% during the April –September of the current financial year 2020-21 and after the Government’s relaxation given under unlock-1 to 5, business activity has resumed and exports are beginning to take place, however, any disruption at this critical stage in shipments would deal a severe blow to all the export promotion efforts of all the stakeholders. Adding further, he said, handicrafts is one of the worst affected sector on account being the voluminous cargo shipments. He also raised the issue of repo charge (repositioning charge) ranging from Rs.10,000/- – Rs. 20,000/- which the exporter has to bear in case he wishes to source the container from the nearby ICDs thus incurring additional transaction cost and also the increase of 20 to 40% in shipping charges.He also raised the issue of repo charge (repositioning charge) ranging from Rs.10,000/- – Rs. 20,000/- which the exporter has to bear in case he wishes to source the container from the nearby ICDs thus incurring additional transaction cost and also the increase of 20 to 40% in shipping charges. Shri Rakesh Kumar, Director General – EPCH urged the Government to consider establishment of a Regulatory Authority through enactment of the Parliament to control and monitor the pricing, terms & conditions and other provisions relating to the shipment of goods. The current shipping lines are arbitrarily deciding the pricing and imposing conditions at their whims and fancies.
Mr. Passi has requested all the concerned ministries to urgently look into the matter, so that exports from the country can continue without any hindrance as the interventions of the concerned Minister’s would certainly help facilitate timely shipments of the export consignments and thereby promote exports from the country.
