Mumbai, April 08, 2016: The All India Liquid Bulk Importers and Exporters Association (AILBIEA) celebrated its 15th Anniversary on 1st April 2016 with glittering presence of officials like Mr. Prakash Mehta, Mr. Najib Shah, Mrs. Shobha Chary and Corporate dignitaries like Padma Bhushan Mr. Adi Godrej, Mr. M.P. Taparia of Supreme Industries, Mr. Rupesh Aggarwal of HUL, Mr. Sudhir Malhotra of Aegis Logistics Ltd., Mr. Himanshu Sanghvi of Overseas Polymers Pvt. Ltd, and many other dignitaries.
The highlight of this event was conferring lifetime achievement award on Mr. Nadir B. Godrej, MD-Godrej Industries Ltd., along with presentation of AILBIEA Stellar Awards 2016 to Star Performers.
On the receipt of award Mr. Nadir Godrej said, “AILBIEA under the leadership of Jayyannt Lapsiaa has played an excellent role in bringing together the trade, service providers and the government. It has been my pleasure to work hand in hand with AILBIEA to facilitate India’s global trade over the last twenty years. I am honoured to receive this award and I am sure that AILBIEA will continue to facilitate India’s global trade.”
AILBIEA, an association of traders, manufacturers, importers, exporters and service providers engaged in the business of liquid bulk, which has an whopping volume of 180-200 Million Tons with a revenue of over Rs. 6.5 Lakh Crores, has called for an urgent need for various taxes and policies to be rationalized, with removal of antiquated policies and systems, as also for Mumbai and JNPT Ports to be modernized in order to make this industry a globally competitive one.
Padma Bhushan Mr. Adi Godrej, a captivating orator said, “ India is a country with immense potential for growth and AILBIEA is playing a significant role from the front. Let us all work towards this metamorphosis of our nation, economy and international trade.
The association also called for removal of operational constraints, stamp duty on transfer of shipping documents, rationalization and systemization of customs / excise procedure and a complete overhaul of the available infrastructure.
India is set to become a major importer of a wide variety of liquid bulk commodities such as biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel in the near future. In such a scenario, it is imperative for our ports infrastructure to be upgraded with state of the art technology. Changes in the infrastructure along with change in mindset of process owners is equally important, e.g., the customs department to change their drive into ‘Facilitation’ gear.
According to Mr. Jayyannt Lapsiaa, President, of AILBIEA, “Any country’s economic growth is intertwined with its infrastructure development. High transaction cost arising from inadequate and inefficient infrastructure, delays and hassles due to antiquated procedures and systems, is one of the major hurdles that our economy is unable to attain its full growth potential regardless of progress on other fronts. Port connectivity is still the soft underbelly of the port sector. Efficient infrastructure combined with quality and expeditious clearance procedures will help reduce costs and sharpen the competitive edge.”
Mr. Jayyannt Lapsiaa added, “In addition, the association strongly believes in taking along other likeminded associations and trade bodies who pursue fostering of EXIM TRADE, so as to create a conducive and friendly environment for ensuring better results.”
In addition to infrastructure development, the Association has identified 3 issues which require urgent remedial attention for the Liquid Bulk industry particularly imports and exports to match global scales and standards. It is time that Government at the Centre and State modifies its out-dated policies and procedures and gives the right encouragement to trade.
Octroi levy, sales tax, stamp duty on import / export of cargo, removal of antiquated procedures and systems, and, facilitation to trade by revenue departments, other governmental departments and Port are a few issues which have to be addressed immediately, if “Make in India” and ease of doing business have to succeed.
Ever since its inception, AILBIEA has striven to address various technical, legal, infrastructural, administrative and procedural issues of liquid bulk trade. The stakeholders include importers, exporters, clearing and forwarding agents, shipping agents, installation owners, Surveyors, Barge operators and intermediaries connected with liquid bulk trade.
The primary objective of this association continues to be that of playing a significant role of ‘Catalyst’ between various Port Authorities, Governmental and Revenue Departments and provide more solidity and clarity in ensuring smooth and fair operations.
AILBIEA’s anniversary events are aimed at providing an ideal platform to Trade and Revenue and Port Departments to have healthy interactions and also bring in closeness so that various issues could be amicably understood and settled.
Corporate Comm India (CCI Newswire)
