Our Kolkata Bureau

EXPORTERS in the eastern region, already hit by mounting transaction costs and other problems, have for long been suffering because of the largely unexplained port-related charges such as terminal handing charges, charges for hooking, etc., at Haldia and Kolkata ports.

At a recent interface with Dr H. A. C.Prasad, Economic Advisor in the Ministry of Commerce, representatives of top export houses of the region such as Tata International and Philips Carbon Black, described the problems they were facing.

The exporters were given an assurance by Dr Prasad that the matter would be looked into with all the seriousness it deserved. It was decided at the meeting, organised by the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), that a detailed study of all the unexplained charges thrust on the hapless exporter would be undertaken and solutions found speedily.

The FIEO is of the view that exporters should not be made to bear such unexplained costs, which added to transaction costs, making Indian exports highly uncompetitive.

According to Mr T. K. Chatterjee of FIEO, eastern region, some useful suggestions have been made for consideration of the Commerce Ministry to ease the burden on the exporters.

Among the participants at the meet were representatives of West Bengal Clearing and Forwarding Agents and Port Logistics Solutions.

Mr Chatterjee said he was hopeful that early steps would be taken by the Commerce Ministry to tackle the problem.

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