India 2018

100 India 2018
their net foreign exchange earnings. These SEIS scrips are transferrable and can
also be used for payment of a number of central duties/taxes including the basic
customs duty. The scheme is designed to make our exports globally competitive.
Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)
India has signed comprehensive bilateral trade agreements, including trade in
services, with the Governments of Singapore, South Korea, Japan, and Malaysia.
A Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in services and investment was signed with the
Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2014. Among others, the
following has been achieved from the existing FTAs in Services- substantive
WTO plus commitments obtained from all FTA partners.; commitments made
by India are within the existing policy/autonomous regime.; and substantive
commitments in Cross Border Supply (Mode 1); computer and related services
and business services obtained.
Trade-Related Infrastructure
Launch of Trade Infrastructure for Export Sector (TIES)
Assistance to states for developing export infrastructure and allied activities
(ASIDE): Department of Commerce has worked with states to fill infrastructure
gaps through ASIDE. Therefore, a new scheme was formulated and launched
in 2017 for strengthening of export infrastructure namely; TIES. TIES would be
implemented from 2017-18 onwards and would focus on filling the gaps in
terms of provision of export infrastructure and would support projects with
direct linkage to exports such as: trade facilitation centres; common facility
centre; technology upgradation; and testing and certification Labs, etc.
Central/state government agencies or their joint ventures having majority
stake are eligible for financial assistance up to 50 per cent of the total equity of
the project under this scheme. PPP projects are also eligible.