PRE-BUDGET MEETING: The Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, with the Commerce and Industry Minister, Mr Kamal Nath, at an interactive meeting with export promotion councils in the Capital on Thursday. - Kamal Narang

Exporters on Thursday urged the Government to ensure continuance of the duty entitlement passbook (DEPB) scheme and the Textile Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS) besides removal or rationalisation of levies that erode the global competitiveness of Indian exports.

This was conveyed at the first ever pre-Budget and pre-foreign trade policy joint interactive meeting of exporters convened by the Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Mr Kamal Nath, along with the Union Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram.

Stating that exports were a major factor in India's economic growth story, Mr Chidambaram said that he recognised the validity and merit of the exporters' suggestions. "These will be examined and appropriate decisions would be taken," he said, adding that his responsibility as the Finance Minister was to balance the interests of exporters, the industry and of revenue.

Mr Kamal Nath also underlined the need to balance exporters' requirements with the interests of the domestic industry to facilitate the growth of both the sectors. He urged the exporting community to look ahead and strategise to avoid being overtaken by emerging new competitors in the global market place.

Exporters and several export promotion councils sought the removal of 4 per cent central sales tax as it made exports less competitive. They also sought zero duty on imports for export production under the export promotion capital goods scheme to provide a level playing field.