Govt assures steps to address exporters' concern

KOLKATA: Government on saturday assured that measures will be taken to address the exporters' concerns, including refunds of taxes, at the earliest.

Indian exporters were facing problems on the issue of refunds of taxes, and introduction of Goods and Services Tax in 2010 would address the problem to a great extent, External Affairs Ministers Pranab Mukherjee said.

The minister, who was speaking at the Engineering Export promotion Council India awards presentation, also said that trade infrastructure needed to be upgraded.

He said the core committee of secretaries would ensure a scheme for upgrading infrastructure for trade. Mukherjee said exports as a percentage of GDP had increased from 14 per cent in 1991 to 34 per cent in 2006-07.