39 Towns recognized as Towns of Export Excellence under the Foreign Trade Policy, none in Assam

Feb. 4: Thirty-Nine (39) Towns have been recognized as Towns of Export Excellence (TEE) under the Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20 (extended up to 31.03.2022). The list of Towns of Export Excellence (TEE). However, it’s an irony that not a single town from Assam could make a place in this list. From North East, only the town of Agartala in Tripura (for Bamboo Cane & Other Handicrafts products) could feature among these 39 towns of the country.

Towns of Export Excellence (TEE) can avail benefits under Para 1.35 (b) of Foreign Trade Policy i.e.,

(i) Recognized associations of units in Towns of Export Excellence can avail financial assistance under Market Access Initiative (MAI) scheme, on priority basis, for export promotion projects for marketing, capacity building and technological services.

(ii) Common Service Providers in the Towns of Export Excellence are entitled for Authorisation under Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) Scheme.

Towns producing goods of Rs. 750 Crore or more can be recognised as Towns of Export Excellence (TEE) based on potential for growth in exports. However, for Town of Export Excellence (TEE) in Handloom, Handicraft, Agriculture and Fisheries sector, the threshold limit is Rs.150 Crore. The notification of Towns of Export Excellence (TEE) is done in Appendix 1B of Foreign Trade Policy based on the proposals received from the Industry Association and in consultation with other stakeholders.

The 39 towns have been recognized as Towns of Export Excellence (TEE) are: Tripur in Tamil Nadu, Ludhiana in Punjab, Panipat in Haryana, Kanoor in KeralaKarur in Tamil Nadu, Madurai in Tamil Nadu, AEKK(Aroor, Ezhupunna, Kodanthuruthu & Kuthiathodu) in Kerala, Jodhpur in Rajasthan, Kekhra in Uttar Pradesh, Dewas in Madhya Pradesh, Alleppey in Kerala, Kollam (Quilon) in Kerala, Indore in Madhya Pradesh, Bhilwara in Rajasthan, Surat in Gujarat, Malihabad & Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, Ambur in Tamil Nadu, Jaipur in Rajasthan, Srinagar & Anantnag in Jammu & Kashmir, Barmer in Rajasthan, Bhiwandi in Rajasthan, Agra & Firozabad in Uttar Pradesh, Bhubaneshwar in Orissa, Agartala in Tripura, Ahmedabad in Gujarat, Kolhapur in Maharashtra, Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, Morbi in Gujarat, Gurgaon in Haryana, Thoothukudi (Tuticorin) in Tamil Nadu, Visakhapatnam & Bhimavaram in Andhra Pradesh, Panipat in Haryana, Bhadohi & Noida in Uttar Pradesh and Pollachi in Tamil Nadu.

This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Smt. Anupriya Patel, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.