Import/Export Industry Notifications

Businesses registering under GST can opt for Aadhaar authentication, in absence of which registration would be granted only after physical verification of the place of business. In a notification, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) said when an applicant for GST registration opts for authentication of Aadhaar number, he shall, with effect from August 21, undertake the said authentication while submitting an application.

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The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) in cooperation with the Saudi Customs announced the abolishment of the requirement to issue permits to load transhipment containers and goods. This was announced as part of a series of initiatives seeking to facilitate procedures for transhipment in the Saudi port sector. This decision aims to facilitate procedures for handling containers and reduce operational costs, which will contribute to attracting the largest international shipping lines. It will stimulate the movement of goods transhipment by raising the efficiency of handling and logistical operations in the port sector.

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There seems to be some good news for the Curtis as Indonesia has shown its interest for starting a direct flight to the city. Consul general of the Republic of Indonesia, Agus P Saptono, had visited the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) along with the Indonesian delegation. Saptono stated that Indonesia is keen to start the flight service to Surat for the promotion of trade, commerce and tourism in the next couple of months.

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Overstaying shipments in all ports under the Bureau of Customs have been subjected to stricter inspection in an attempt to get rid of smuggled goods possibly staying in the ports unchecked. Customs Commissioner, Rey Leonardo Guerrero has ordered all-district and sub-port collectors to examine all overstaying shipments within their jurisdiction to check whether smuggled items have been staying in the ports.

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Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC) has announced the enhancement of its Indus service with a new port call at Colombo in Sri Lanka. The first vessel on the revised rotation will be Seamax Bridgeport, ETA Abu Dhabi on August 23, 2020. As a major international transhipment hub, the addition of Colombo will reinforce its offering for cargo shippers in South-East India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, and facilitate new business in these markets, emphasised a release. The new rotation will offer the line’s US customers the possibility to import cargo from anywhere in India on a single MSC service, boosting predictability for effective supply chain planning.

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In order to overcome the shortage of empty containers for exports, Container Corporation of India Ltd (CONCOR) will allot its containers for export purpose to the ports of Chabahar, Bandar Abbas (Iran) and Jebel Ali with immediate effect. Vessel connectivity would be from the ports of Nhava Sheva and Mundra. B/L would be issued by CONCOR. Ex Chennai, the laden boxes would be connected by rail ex ICD-Tondiarpet, Chennai to Nhava Sheva and Mundra with trains at short notice.

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The West Bengal government is contemplating to grant industry status to the state’s USD 20 billion logistics sector for seamless development of various infrastructure projects. The state is working on framing a logistics policy and it may require about Rs 1,000 crore to implement it in the short term. The Union government too has been formulating a national policy aiming to reduce logistics cost from the present 14 per cent of Gross Domestic Product to less than 10 per cent by 2022.

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Hong Kong reported 31 local coronavirus cases while extending social distancing restrictions for another week as new clusters emerged. It included a main container shipping port where essential food and supplies are brought in to the city. Eleven of the new local cases were of unknown origin. Infections linked to Kwai Tsing Container Terminals rose by two, bringing the cluster to 65. Hong Kong’s death toll stood at 69.

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Protein exporters are facing bigger hurdles as a result of fresh discoveries of the Covid-19 virus on packaging. Last week, Chinese officials announced tightened controls and inspection requirements on meat and seafood imports after traces of the virus were found on packages of imported frozen food. Inspections last Wednesday also discovered the virus on frozen chicken wings from Brazil, extending concerns about frozen meat as a potential repository of the virus to poultry.

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