Tariq Anwar, minister of state for food processing
industries (MoFPI) and agriculture, has assured the food processing
industries in the country of all help with regard to tax issues. He
revealed this while delivering the inaugural address at a seminar
organised by the All India Food Processors’ Association (AIFPA) on the
occasion of its 69th annual general meeting here on Thursday.
Anwar added that the ministry was in talks with the finance ministry on various issues pertaining to tax relaxation and rebate.
He said that the government made representations about issues raised by the industry about fiscal incentives, including income tax rebate, relaxation in service tax, custom duties, and central excise.
Anwar informed that the ministry had suggested tax rebate not only for new units, but for existing ones as well. He also urged the industry to come up for improving farming in the country and source the raw material directly from farms.
Expressing regret for not utilising the overall budget allocated for the food processing sector, he urged the industry to come forward and invest in the sector to utilise the maximum benefit out of the schemes run by the ministry.
Meanwhile, Piruz Khambatta, chairman and managing director, Rasna Pvt Ltd, has called for industry’s initiative for taking up the issue of single-window system for all the clearances needed by the processing sector.
Anwar added that the ministry was in talks with the finance ministry on various issues pertaining to tax relaxation and rebate.
He said that the government made representations about issues raised by the industry about fiscal incentives, including income tax rebate, relaxation in service tax, custom duties, and central excise.
Anwar informed that the ministry had suggested tax rebate not only for new units, but for existing ones as well. He also urged the industry to come up for improving farming in the country and source the raw material directly from farms.
Expressing regret for not utilising the overall budget allocated for the food processing sector, he urged the industry to come forward and invest in the sector to utilise the maximum benefit out of the schemes run by the ministry.
Meanwhile, Piruz Khambatta, chairman and managing director, Rasna Pvt Ltd, has called for industry’s initiative for taking up the issue of single-window system for all the clearances needed by the processing sector.
He suggested the setting up of a facilitating centre
hosted by the organisations like AIFPA to take up the charge to help the
entrepreneurs get all sorts of clearances required.
Khambatta
was speaking on the issue of need for a single-window system for all
clearances to attract prospective entrepreneurs. He added that at least
35 different regulations, at both the Central and state level, the
industry needs to clear for setting up the units.
So instead of
waiting for the government to come up with some kind of solution, the
industry should set up a facilitating centre headed by somebody from the
processing fraternity.
“He also emphasised on the role of food
processing industries for lowering the inflation in the country. He said
that the average prices for processing products are less than raw
produce available in market. And therefore, the processing industry
could well spearhead the drive that could help people combat inflation,”
he said.
On this occasion, the first Dr A G Naik Kurade
Memorial Lecture was hosted by AIFPA. It was delivered by Dr V Prakash,
former director, Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI),
Mysore.
Present on the occasion were M A Tejani, president, AIFPA, P L Kaul, former president, AIFPA, and others.
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