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THE Union Commerce & Industry Minister, Mr Murasoli Maran, on Monday
rejected the plea of the domestic tyre industry for relaxing the current import regime on natural rubber.
"In the matter of natural rubber, I want to follow the US President, Mr Bush. Just as he saw merit in helping the steel workers in US, we see
merit in securing the interests of rubber growers in Kerala. The current import regime on natural rubber has been designed specifically
to help Kerala rubber growers,'' Mr Maran said at a seminar on New Exim Policy, organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and
Industry (FICCI) here.
Mr Maran also asked the entire exporting community to rise to the occasion and prove their mettle. "The ball is now in your court. You
will now have to perform and take advantage of the policy initiatives announced," he said. Mr Onkar Kanwar, Vice-Chairman and Managing
Director, Apollo Tyres Ltd, urged the Government to allow free import of natural rubber for export production. He claimed that a customs duty
of 25 per cent on imported natural rubber would in a way go against the avowed statement of the Government to allow duty-free access of raw
materials for export production.
Besides the imposition of customs duty of 25 per cent, the Centre had also designated certain ports in the country through which alone
natural rubber can be imported.
The domestic tyre industry, which is user industry, has been contending that such measures have adversely impacted export competitiveness of
the country vis-a-vis countries like China.
"As against a current export turnover of about Rs 1,000 crore, we can do much more if only we were to have suitable policy framework. There
are lot more opportunities. But our hands are tied. Efforts must also be made to bring in an export culture among us, which is currently
lacking in India," Mr Kanwar said.
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