#Some Relief to EXIM - Daunting Challenges Ahead, Essenpee Business Solutions, SN Panigrahi Export - Import, Corona, EXIM Difficulties. Customs, DGFT, RBI, ECGC, Transport, Railways

1. 1

2. 2
SN Panigrahi is a Versatile Practitioner, Strategist, Energetic Coach, Learning Enabler & Public Speaker.
He is an International-Corporate Trainer, Mentor & Author
He has diverse experience and expertise in Project Management, Contract
Management, Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Strategic
Sourcing, Global Sourcing, Logistics, Exports & Imports, Indirect Taxes –
GST etc.
He had done more than 150 Workshops on above
Published more than 500 Articles; More than 60 Youtube Presentations &
70 SlideShares
He is an Engineer + MBA +PGD ISO 9000 / TQM with around 29 Yrs of
Experience
He is a certified PMP® from PMI (USA) and become PMI India
Champion
Also a Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt from Exemplar Global
Have been Trained in COD for 31/2 Yrs. on Strategy & Leadership
GST Certified – MSME – Tech. Dev. Centre (Govt of India)
ZED Consultant – Certified by QCI – MSME (Govt of India)
Member Board of Studies, IIMM
Co-Chairman, Indirect Tax Committee, FTAPCCI
Empanelled Faculty in NI MSME
He has shared his domain expertise in various forums as a speaker & presented a number of papers in various national and
international public forums and received a number of awards for his writings and contribution to business thoughts.
SN Panigrahi
9652571117
snpanigrahi1963@gmail.com
Hyderabad
SN Panigrahi, Essenpee Business Solutions, India

3. 3

4. SN Panigrahi, Essenpee Business Solutions, India 4
Trade across the world is crippled and stranded - hit severely due to coronavirus
outbreak which become a pandemic - global supply is nearly collapsed - cargo
movements are halted. The international shipping lines are affected. Entire Trade
Transactions are almost Paralysed.
Even though major countries have not put trade restrictions for Cargo movement,
operational slowdown is witnessed at land borders, seaports and airports for entry
of non-essential items. However, in some cases shipments are stuck in high sea
because of lockdown in the destination port.
In this precarious situation exporters are mostly distressed, as their orders are
either cancelled or cargos are stuck midway or even shipments getting returned or
payments are delayed or even become doubtful. This is unprecedented.
Coronavirus Outbreak Become A Pandemic

5. SN Panigrahi, Essenpee Business Solutions, India 5
Government and Concerned Departments are trying to address some of the issues. The
government, Customs, DGFT, RBI and other departments have taken a series of measures to
provide relief to the Exporters. Let’s briefly discuss various measures taken in this regard:
Facing Delay in Securing Necessary Export Inspection Certificates, Certificate of Origin and other
Documents
Most of the authorities for issuing certificate of origin and Inspection Certificates
are operating with minimal staff, therefore and also because of Lockdown
conditions exporters are finding difficult to reach out to them. Some of the
Chambers are issuing scanned copies through mail.
FIEO, for Example is Issuing online of Non-preferential Certificate of Origin
For negotiating documents through bank, however original documents are
essential for banks to honour letters of credit. This is a real hurdle for exports.
Some Relief to EXIM

6. SN Panigrahi, Essenpee Business Solutions, India 6
Online filing and Issuance of Preferential Certificate of Origin through the Common Digital Platform is
available through DGFT portal http://coo.dgft.gov.in. Exporters may avail this facility for export to Countries
with whom FTA / PTA treaties are signed by India.
Acceptance of scanned copies of pre-registration application and other documents by Local Users for
REG under the European Union’s Generalised System of Preferences (EUGSP) – DGFT TRADE NOTICE
NO. 61/2019-20; 2nd April, 2020
Under the EU GSP Self-Certification system, applicant exporters need to fill a Pre-Application form with
requisite details to pre-register themselves with the relevant Local Users for REG under the EU GSP REX
system. Subsequently, they take a printout and submit the physical copy with relevant documents to the Local
Users for REG for obtaining their REX number. In view of the closure of establishments / restrictions on moving
out of residences imposed in India due the COV1D-19 pandemic, the offices of the Local Users for REG are
either closed or working with skeletal staff and hence the applicants are unable to visit to the offices of Local
Users to physically submit the Pre-Application Form.
Acceptance of Scanned Copies for EU GSP

7. SN Panigrahi, Essenpee Business Solutions, India 7
It is therefore instructed that until the offices of the Local Users for REG open after normalcy
returns, they would accept scanned copies of the Pre-registration application and other
relevant documents submitting by the applicant exporters for processing their applications.
The REX numbers would also be issued and the scanned copy sent by email to the
exporters.
Moreover, in case of any deficiency, this would be electronically communicated to the
exporter and all additional documents would be accepted on email for correcting this
deficiency and issuing the REX number.
Indian Government also has urged the countries, with which it has free trade agreements
(FTAs), to allow imports of goods without certificate of origin for the time being as the
domestic authorities are currently not issuing the document on account of lockdown due to
COVID-19 pandemic.
Acceptance of Scanned Copies for EU GSP

8. SN Panigrahi, Essenpee Business Solutions, India 8
Japan allows post import submission of the Certificate of Origin
Exports to Indonesia - provisions on availing preferential tariffs under AIFTA
during present COVID-19 circumstances
Indonesia DG Circular No. SE-07/BC/2020 dated 30.03.2020
Provision of retroactive issue of certificate of origin under AIFTA

9. SN Panigrahi, Essenpee Business Solutions, India 9
CBIC Extends Validity of E-Way Bill
Notification No. 35/2020-Central Tax
3rd April, 2020
Where an e-way bill has been generated under rule 138 of the
Central Goods and Services Tax Rules, 2017 and its period of
validity expires during the period 20th day of March, 2020 to 15th
day of April, 2020, the validity period of such e-way bill shall be
deemed to have been extended till the 30th day of April, 2020.

10. SN Panigrahi, Essenpee Business Solutions, India 10
Waiver of Late Fee for Filling of Bills of Entry
Late filing of bills of entry attracts late fee in terms of ‘Bill of Entry (Forms) Amendment Regulations, 2017’
vide Notification No. 27/2017- Cus.(N.T.) dated 31.03.2017 read with second proviso to Section 46(3) of the
Customs Act, 1962. Therefore, keeping in view the exigency due to outbreak of Corona Virus and, in order
to facilitate the trade for clearance of the import consignments, it is decided in the public interest to Waive
late fee for Bill of Entry in respect of IGM filed between 21st March-14th April, if BOE
filed by 17th April,2020.
Waiver of Detention / Demurrage Charge by the Shipping Lines
DG Shipping instructed waive off such charges for the period from 22nd March-14th April , 2020.

11. SN Panigrahi, Essenpee Business Solutions, India 11
Importers not clearing containers - Congestions at Ports, CFS, ICDs
Imports are not being cleared by the importers and custom house agents amidst a 21-day
lockdown to combat the spread of coronavirus – there are several constraints and shortage of
tractor-trailer drivers. This is resulting in a pile-up of large number of import laden inventory in all
the CFS’s / ICD’s, resulting in a cascading effect on port inventory and lead to congestion in ports.
To facilitate faster clearance of consignments to and from China once coronavirus subsides, a
24x7 customs clearance facility will be available at all sea ports and airports till May 2020.
24×7 clearance : CBIC Instruction 02 /2020-Customs; 20th February, 2020
DGFT Trade Notice No. 52/2019-20-DGFT; 2nd March, 2020

12. SN Panigrahi, Essenpee Business Solutions, India 12
Nodal Officers from the CBIC Customs Zones/Formations for
facilitating Customs clearances amidst the Covid-19 crisis
OFFICE MEMORANDUM; F. No. CH(IC)/RR/2020/OM-01; 1st
April 2020
Customs Houses Duty Roster to all Officers to Handle Export –
Import Consignments and also Circulated Contact Details of
Officers to attend Urgent Consignments of Life Saving
Equipment’s and other Essentials.

13. SN Panigrahi, Essenpee Business Solutions, India 13
Ministry of Home declared “transportation” as Essential Services
Transportation of exports and imports goods are covered under “Essential Service”
Container Freight Stations Association of India (CFSAI), has issued Trade Advisory and highlighted that
most of the states have categorically declared “CFS’s, Warehouses and offices CHS’s being essential
services shall be excluded from the restrictions”. The Association also assured complete support to the
trade in this difficult situation.
Running of Parcel Special trains to ensure supply of essential commodities
In view of the COVID-19 pandemic engulfing the country at present, Indian Railways is making all efforts to
ensure that the supply of essential commodities remain uninterrupted. As a means to ensure this
uninterrupted supply, Indian Railways has started 22 Parcel Special trains between different origin &
destination pairs. These trains are planned to run on fixed timings on nominated days, with commercial
(loading/ unloading) halts at important intermediate stations.

14. SN Panigrahi, Essenpee Business Solutions, India 14
Coronavirus outbreak: Commerce ministry sets up help desk to resolve
Import, export issues
The government has setup a helpdesk for Covid-19 related export and import
related issues being faced in the current situation. The helpdesk was
operationalised by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). The
directorate on Thursday said that exporters and importers can directly flag their
issues through the DGFT website, email or telephone call on a toll-free number.
All issues related to the Department of Commerce or DGFT can be forwarded at
this help desk. A proforma spreadsheet listing coronavirus-related import and
export issues can be sent to ''dgftedi@nic.in‘’.
The proforma seeks details such as data, IEC number and details of the issue
that the traders want to flag.

15. SN Panigrahi, Essenpee Business Solutions, India 15
RBI extended the time for realisation and repatriation of proceeds for exports made up to or on July 31,
2020 to 15 months from the date of export against nine months earlier.
RBI/2019-20/206 A. P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 27; April 01, 2020
The Government of India as well as the Reserve Bank has been receiving representations from Exporters
Trade bodies to extend the period of realisation of export proceeds in view of the outbreak of pandemic
COVID- 19. It has, therefore, been decided, in consultation with Government of India, to increase the
present period of realization and repatriation to India of the amount representing the full export
value of goods or software or services exported, from nine months to fifteen months from the date
of export, for the exports made up to or on July 31, 2020.
RBI issued guidelines to Banks to permit the corporates to take delivery of the overdue contract or cancel
the contract and pass the gains if any, during the period (upto3 days post maturity). This relaxation
would be applicable to all the live contracts (as on date) and the prospective contracts maturing till
April 15,2020
Realisation and Repatriation of Export Proceeds-Relaxation

16. 16
SN Panigrahi SN Panigrahi, Essenpee Business Solutions,
India

17. 17

18. Contact Details:
SN Panigrahi
9652571117
snpanigrahi1963@gmail.com 18