Press Release

Mangaluru, Dec 11: Office bearers of Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) comprising of president P B Abdul Hameed, vice-president Isaac Vas, honorary secretary Prashant C G and director Praveen Kumar Bangera attended an interactive meeting with Suresh Prabhu, central minister for civil aviation, commerce and industry in a programme that was organized by North Chamber of Commerce at Bekal in Kasaragod district of Kerala on Monday December 10.

The KCCI team discussed various issues pertaining to PPP, Mangaluru international airport, misuse of The South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) provisions by Sri Lanka and 1.5 market fee/cess on agricultural produce.

President Abdul Hameed also appraised the minister that pepper from Vietnam is being routed through Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan authorities are issuing certificate of country of origin to this product as Sri Lanka and not Vietnam because they get duty benefits under SAFTA as Sri Lanka is a member of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

Because of this duty exemption, the Indian farmers are not getting the right price for their agricultural produce. In addition, the state government of Karnataka is levying 1.5% market fee/cess through Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) on agricultural produce, whereas the neighbouring states are not levying the same. This is a burden on the farm produce of Karnataka state.

The KCCI president also appealed to minister Prabhu to direct the concerned authority/department to enlighten KCCI regarding the process of KCCI proposals for infrastructural development like PALS (Precision Approach Lighting System) and extension of ranway towards the north of old airport etc.

Minister Suresh Prabhu heard the issues raised by KCCI president and others and assured of looking into them.