Establishment of Firm

For import or export of any item, Import - Export Code (IEC) is mandatory. For availing IEC, establishment needs to be registered with appropriate authorities viz. Proprietorship / Partnership / Private Limited Company / Public Limited Company / Co-operative Society / Trust etc. IEC can be availed on individual name also. Current Account in any Nationalized / Scheduled Cooperative / Multinational Bank, having a foreign exchange facility, is required in the name of establishment. Formats can be downloaded from website http://dgft.delhi.nic.in/ and download option ANF 2 A

Import - Export Code (IEC)

IEC can be obtained on submission of information in prescribed formats (Part A & Part D) completed filled and signed addressed to “The Joint Director General of Foreign Trade” (JDGFT), Pune / Mumbai.

Following SELF CERTIFIED documents should be enclosed with application.

1. Firm / Establishment registration certificate - Xerox copy
2. Permanent Account Number (PAN) from Income Tax Department - Xerox copy
3. Banker's certificate in Part ‘B’
4. Two Passport size photographs of the Chairperson / Proprietor of the establishment. Photos pasted on the Bank Certificate should be endorsed by the bankers.
5. Demand Draft for Rs. 1000/- favouring “Joint Director General of Foreign Trade” payable at Pune or Mumbai as per the jurisdiction.
6. Declaration (As per the formats)
7. Memorandum and Articles of Association for Pvt Ltd Companies, Partner Ship Deed for Partnership Companies etc.
8. A4 Size Envelope & Rs. 30/- Postal Stamp.

The forms completely filled in all respects to be submitted in ONE copy to The Joint Director General of Foreign Trade at the addresses given below, by hand or by post (Registered AD).

Addresses of JDGFT in Maharashtra State are as follows

Joint Director General of Foreign Trade
New C.G. O. Building, New Marine Lines
Churchgate, Mumbai - 400 020

Pune Office: Applications from Ahmednagar, Jalna, Beed, Kolhapur, Latur, Nanded, Osmanabad, Parbhani, Ratnagiri, Sangli, Satara, Solapur, Sindhudurg and Nasik districts.
Joint Director General of Foreign Trade
C-Block, Income Tax Bhavan,
IInd Floor, Near P.M.T. Work shop,
Swargate, Pune.

Mumbai Office: Applications from Rest of the districts.
Agricultural and Processed Food Products
Export Development Authority (APEDA)
Division Office - Mumbai
4th Floor, Banking Complex Building,
Sector - 19 A, Vashi,
New Bombay - 400 705

How to locate Importer?
An importer can be located through various searches. Following sources will be helpful to find such importers.

• Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA),
• Indian Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO)
• Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCI & A)

After getting this information, exporter can directly approach to the importer with the details of product, rate, packing etc through fax / email and negotiate further to finalize the order. If necessary samples should be forwarded to the importer and it should represent the material.

Mode of payment
Normally in the trade of agro exports (except onion, rice, other cereals, mango pulp), importer normally don’t provide Letter of Credit (L/C). Such export is done on consignment basis (payment as per actual sales). Exporters get the payment after deducting port charges, transportation and commission etc. of the importing country. In certain countries export is undertaken on fixed rates. Market Credit of the importer should be checked before entering into the trade. Importer's credit can be checked by international credit organizations viz. Dun and Bradstreet. Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India (www.ecgc.in) ECGC also undertakes such type of credit certification work along with Credit Insurance.
Trade for products like onion, rice, cereals, processed products is done through Irrevocable 100% Letter of Credit (L/C) at site. Onion commodity is Canalized (i.e. export allowed through designated agencies)

Customs / Excise Formalities and charges
For agro exports, excise duty is not applicable. Customs duty @ 1% with respect to the cost of invoice is charged while processing the documents.

Understand the importers need
Quality parameters such as size, packing, temperature requirements should be obtained from the importer before packing of the product. It is better to get requirement from the importer in writing. Pack the material strictly as per the samples provided to the importer. Confirm the standards of raw material, packaging material with the importer’s requirement.

Procedure of shipment
Services of Customs House Agents (CHAs) to be booked to carry out necessary logistics and paperwork required for export. Job like space booking for air exports, order for the container, custom clearance, certificate of origin etc. is carried out by CHA. An efficient and competent CHA should be appointed. Following is the list of documents required to be provided to CHA.

• Letter of Credit (If available)
• Invoice
• Packing List (If items are more)
• Certificate of origin.
• Phytosanitary certificate–Can be availed from Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage, Ministry of Agriculture.
• Air transport charges are normally five times costlier than sea transport. Perishable commodities like Pomegranate, Mango, Orange, Grapes can be exported through sea using 40 feet / 20 feet reefer containers. In certain commodities like mangoes, Controlled Atmosphere (CA) / Modified Atmosphere (MA) containers are also being used to enhance the shelf life of the product. Non-perishable and semi-perishable items are exported through dry containers. Incase of onion export, regular dry containers are used but their door left open when they gets loaded on vessel.

Sales Proceed:
Sales proceed gets deposited in the bank in foreign currency. Exporter gets the amount in Indian rupees after conversion of the foreign currency. Bank also deducts the commission from the converted rupees. Bank also intimated the exporter about the arrival of Foreign Exchange and generates Bank Realization Certificate (BRC). Export documents including Shipping Bills, Export Promotion (EP) copy should be retained by exporter. Credit worthiness of the importer is of most importance. If by any chance the amount gets stuck by any chance, the issue can be followed up with the help of ECGC or any private Debt Collection Agency (DCA). Such agencies are available worldwide. D&B is also working as DCA. s