The Biz Reporter
Srinagar, Sep 23: In a startling development, the President of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCC&I), Javid Ahmad Tenga, has expressed profound shock and dismay over the recent decision by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) to de-list the KCC&I from the list of agencies authorized to issue Certificates of Origin (Non-preferential). This action was taken through Public Notice No. 31/2023, dated 20th September 2023.
The DGFT’s notice cites Trade Notice No. 22/2023, dated 16th August 2023, which had been issued to agencies listed under Appendix 2 E of FTB 2023, urging them to complete their on-boarding onto the e-CoO platform for the issuance of Certificates of Origin (Non-Preferential) by the 31st of August. Shockingly, the notice claims that 32 agencies, including the KCC&I, failed to respond or take any action for on-boarding on the e-CoO platform despite follow-ups and reminders.
However, the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce strongly disputes the contents of the DGFT’s notice, asserting that it never received any communication or notification regarding on-boarding on the DGFT platform. According to the KCC&I, the first notification regarding this matter was allegedly issued on 19th February 2021 through notice no. 42/2022-2021, followed by subsequent extension notices. Astonishingly, the KCC&I claims to have had no prior knowledge of these notifications and only became aware of them after receiving the delisting notice.
The KCC&I now believes that its delisting was predetermined, given the contents of the notice, which it contends are not factual. The Chamber has pledged to vehemently challenge this decision at all levels and has already raised the matter with DGFT and other relevant authorities.
In the interim, the KCC&I has taken proactive steps to assist exporters in obtaining Certificates of Origin. Any exporter seeking to obtain a Certificate of Origin is encouraged to visit the KCC&I for assistance.
