Date:06/01/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/01/06/stories/2005010602660300.htm

Back Closure of ECOM password system extended

K.R. Srivats

New Delhi , Jan. 5

THE Government has extended the last date for abolition of ECOM password based system to January 31. This system was to come to an end on December 31, 2004.

Exporters are now permitted to obtain licences from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) through the ECOM password route or by adopting the digital signature/electronic fund transfer route.

As part of its e-commerce initiatives, the DGFT had early last year allowed exporters to use digital signatures for obtaining licences.

The main difference between the ECOM password route and the digital signature route is that the need for a hard copy of the licence would not arise in the latter route.

As a number of companies/exporters are yet to obtain digital signatures, sources said that it has now been decided to extend the last date for abolition of ECOM password route to January 31.