Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) in India, initially designed to enhance exports, are often viewed as ineffective by many exporters who see their involvement as obligatory rather than beneficial. Despite their diligent efforts in training and information dissemination, these councils struggle with their dynamism and are left to operate independently. The document investigates whether they are fulfilling their intended purpose and maintaining the trust of the exporters they represent.

1. Originally conceptualised as 'catalysts' to boost
India's exports, Export Promotion Councils are
today perceived by many exporters as agencies
that lack dynamism to revitalise India's exports.
The Dollar Business investigates whether these
councils are doing justice to their existence and if
sceptics are only looking at the glass half empty.
www.thedollarbusiness.com Vol.3 Issue 07 July 2016 100 $2
K. T. RAMA RAO
Minister for IT, Industries & Commerce,
Government of Telangana
NIANKORO YEAH SAMAKE
Ambassador, Republic of Mali to India
M. RAJAGOPALAN
Director – Market Dev. (Middle East & Asia),
Wärtsilä India Ltd.
JULIAN MICHAEL BEVIS
Senior Director – South Asia, Maersk Group
R. K. DALMIA
Senior President and CFO, Century Textiles
& Chairman, TEXPROCIL
AMIT DAWAR
Director (VAS), DHL Global Forwarding
...AND MORE!
EXCLUSIVE INSIDE
INDIA'S
EPCs:
A GLASS
HALF
FULL?
FOREIGN TRADE . EXPORTS . IMPORTS
Mango
The king of 'profitable' exports!
Limited by circumstances, not by potential
Pigeon Peas
Low domestic production = High imports
Watch out for price volality. And be patient.
24x7 Customs Clearance
A great idea largely on paper still!
Need to align all stakeholders first

2. 8 THE DOLLAR BUSINESS II JULY 2016
Volume: 3 Issue: 07 July 2016
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COVER STORY40
Originally conceptualised as
‘catalysts’ to boost India’s
exports, Export Promotion
Councils (EPCs) have for long
been perceived to be agencies
that lacked dynamism
to effectively impact
exports across
industries. Many
exporters still perceive their
association with EPCs as a
matter of policy compulsion.
The Dollar Business
investigates whether across
industries, India’s EPCs
are doing justice to their
existence and the trust
of lakhs of exporters in the
country.
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EPCsARE THEY
PLAYING
THEIR PART?
JULY 2016 II THE DOLLAR BUSINESS 9
INBOX
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Readers’ feedback, criticism, and
appreciation that hit our mailboxes
in June 2016
MONOLOGUE
PEOPLE SPEAK
From David Cameron on Brexit to
Narendra Modi on India-US
relationship and more...
GLOBAL TRADE
The impact of UK leaving the EU;
China’s ambition to grow its robot
density through a German acquisi-
tion and much more...
INDIA TRADE
From Raghuram Rajan’s decision
to step down as Governor of RBI,
to India opening up more sectors
for FDI and more...
SPOTLIGHT
THE REPUBLIC OF MALI
This West African economy
relies heavily on gold and cotton
exports
IMPORTO’NOMICS
PIGEON PEAS
Even as retail prices increase,
importers make thin margins
SECRET INGREDIENT
MANGOES
This juicy fruit has found many
markets despite restrictions
CASE STUDY
WAKRO ORGANIC TEA
A startup that has won accolades
and brought several social changes
POLICY FOCUS
24X7 CUSTOMS CLEARANCE
Is it a distant dream or a sweet
reality? The Dollar Business finds...
DOCKYARD
KAKINADA CONT. TERMINAL
The Dollar Business surveys
the new terminal to figure out
what it means to Kakinda
Seaport.
TDB FORUM
Questions about foreign trade that
hit our mail box in June 2016
DATEBOOK
Some trade shows you shouldn’t
miss out in India and abroad in
July and August 2016
BORDERLINE
EDITOR’S COLUMN
Will the new 0/20 rule help Indian
airlines spread their wings?
TDB POWER SERIES CONCLAVE 2016-17
The inaugural edition of TDB Power Series Conclave, held on
June 23, in Hyderabad, discussed the ways & means to develop
the country as the next global export-manufacturing hub
NIANKORO YEAH
SAMAKE
THE REPUBLIC OF MALI’S
AMBASSADOR TO INDIA
On his hopes to strengthen
bilateral trade and beyond
K. T. RAMA RAO
MINISTER FOR IT E&C, MA & UD, INDUSTRIES
& COMMERCE, PUBLIC ENTERPRISES, MINES
& GEOLOGY, AND NRI AFFAIRS, TELANGANA
Talks about his government’s vision and aspirations
for India’s youngest state
36
10
12
14
20
74
78
86
92
94
98
68
62
32
22
M. RAJAGOPALAN
MARKET DEVELOPMENT
DIRECTOR (MIDDLE EAST
& ASIA) AT WÄRTSILÄ
Talks about the future of
energy in Indian subcontinent
82
26

3. 40 THE DOLLAR BUSINESS II JULY 2016
COVER STORY EXPORT PROMOTION COUNCILS
ARE THEY
PLAYING
THEIR PART?
BY THE DOLLAR BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE UNIT
EPCs
Originally conceptualised as 'catalysts' to boost India's exports,
Export Promotion Councils have for long been perceived to
be agencies that lack dynamism to effectively impact exports
across industries. Many exporters still perceive their association
with EPCs as a matter of policy compulsion. But little known is
the fact that while these EPCs are diligently carrying out their
mandated roles of training and disseminating information to
India's exporters, they – despite being government agencies –
are literally, left to survive and thrive on their own.
The Dollar Business investigates whether across industries,
India's EPCs are doing justice to their existence and the trust
of lakhs of exporters in the country.
JULY 2016 II THE DOLLAR BUSINESS 41
FIEO
APPAREL EXPORT PROMOTION COUNCIL
CARPET EXPORT PROMOTION COUNCIL
BASIC CHEMICALS, PHARMACEUTICALS & COSMETICS EPC
CASHEW EXPORT PROMOTION COUNCIL OF INDIA
THE COTTON TEXTILES EXPORT PROMOTION COUNCIL
CAPEXIL
COIR BOARD
COFFEE BOARD
SPICES BOARD
TEA BOARD
TOBACCO BOARD
THE RUBBER BOARD
MARINE
PRODUCTS
EXPORTDEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY
COUNCIL FOR LEATHER EXPORTS
ENGINEERING EXPORT PROMOTION COUNCIL
HANDLOOM EXPORT PROMOTION COUNCIL
IOPEA
SERVICES EXPORT
PROMOTION COUNCIL
ELECTRONICS & COMPUTER
SOFTWARE EPC
PHARMACEUTICALS
EXPORT PROMOTION
COUNCIL
EXPORT PROMOTION
COUNCIL FOR
HANDICRAFTS THE INDIAN SILK
EXPORT PROMOTION
COUNCIL
JUTE MANUFACTURERS DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
THE PLASTICS EXPORT PROMOTION COUNCIL
THE GEM & JEWELLERY
EXPORT PROMOTION COUNCIL
PROJECT EXPORTS PROMOTION COUNCIL OF INDIA
WOOL INDUSTRY EXPORT PROMOTION COUNCIL
EXPORT PROMOTION
COUNCIL FOR EOUS & SEZ UNITS
THE SPORTS GOODS EXPORT PROMOTION COUNCIL
SYNTHETIC & RAYON TEXTILES
EXPORT PROMOTION COUNCIL
POWERLOOM DEVELOPMENT & EXPORT
PROMOTION COUNCIL

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