GST has been one of major taxation reforms undertaken in the country paving way for one tax one nation. There have been certain procedural and facilitation issues, which have been causing problem for the exporters and also the GST rate for many items have been on the higher side.
EPCH has regularly been representing to the GST council for the smooth transition of exporters into the new taxation regime and for the reduction in the GST rates. The 28th meeting of the GST council held recently, proposed reduction of GST rates on various items. The demands of the handicraft sector have also been considered and rates have been recommended to be reduced on many handicraft items.
OP Prahaladka, Chairman EPCH hailed the decision of the GST council and said, the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of integrating the entire nation into one taxation regime is taking shape and this rate reduction will help further result in rationalization of the GST rates. He thanked Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Minister of finance for his consideration of the handicrafts sector in the GST rate revision.
Lauding the support of Smriti Zubin Irani, Hon’ble Minister of Textiles in getting the GST rates reduced for the handicrafts sector, Chairman EPCH said that she has been a strong supporter of the sector and hope that this initiative would certainly help over 11,000 member exporters and over 1 mn craftsperson’s in enhancing production capacity, employability and achieve exports growth in the future.
Rakesh Kumar, ED EPCH while welcoming the decision said it would certainly help the craftpersons engaged in the production of the Handicrafts and would go a long way in encouraging the production of handicrafts in the country.
