The Federation of Indian Export Organisations represents the Indian entrepreneurs's spirit of enterprise in the global market. set up in October, 1965, the Federation, known popularly as "FIEO", has kept pace with the country's evolving economic and trade policies, and provided the content, direction and thrust to India's expanding international trade. As the apex body of all Indian export promotion organisations, FIEO works as a partner of the Government of the India to promote Indian exports.
Today, FIEO expresses all the dynamism and resurgence that are the hallmark of India's open, liberal and progressively market-friendly economic and trade regime, representing the Indian export promotion effort in its entirely. Its membership, largely comprising professional exporting films or long experience called Government recognised Export Houses, Trading Houses, Star Trading Houses and Super Star Trading Houses and Consultancy exporting firms, contributes 72 % of the total exports of India.
In essence, FIEO represents directly or indirectly, over 100,000 exporters across India. Exports by FIEO members comprise a wide spectrum of products including Gems & Jewellery, Textiles, Garments, Engineering Goods, Leather and Leather Products, Handicrafts, Chemicals and allied products, Cosmetics, Drugs and Pharmaceuticals, etc. as well as a wide range of Consultancy Services covering Infrastructure, Engineering, Industries, Cement, Leather, Paper & Rubber Industries. Agro-based Industries, Small Scale Industries etc. The activities of our members also include manufacturing, international trading, investment and joint ventures etc. To any foreign investor, user or seller, FIEO is the one-stop organisation which will put him in touch with a trade partner or high repute, backed by its own credentials as an organisation of excellence in India.
FIEO has forged strong links with counterpart organisations in several countries as well as international agencies to enable direct communication and interaction between India and world businessmen. It is registered with UNCTAD as a national non-Government organisation, and has direct access to information/data originating from UN bodies and world agencies like the IMF, ADB, ESCAP, WORLD BANK, FAO, UNIDO and others. In addition, it has bilateral arrangements for exchange of information as well as for liasioning with several overseas chambers of commerce, and trade and industry associations.
Today the Federation is proud of the fact that its members accounts for an estimated exports of US$ 24.3 billion out of the total India's export of US$ 33.0 billion. It shows for itself an achievement which notes that approximately 73.6 % of the total exports from India emanate from FIEO members. This enviable position has been reached rapidly in a very short span, albeit with a long legacy behind it. It was in the year 1965 that this Federation came into being with the support of Ministry of Commerce. Government of India and private trade and Industry. It has now graduated to a level of organisation providing global link to exporters and working as a 'nerve centre' of Indian exports.
What FIEO Specifically achieves The Federation keeps its members posted with the latest developments in the field of Export / Import by organising Seminars and Workshops, Inviting delegations, organising Buyer-Sellermeets in India and abroad. Trade Fairs, providing advisory and consultative services and bringing about constant interaction between member exporters and various Government departments. The end result of such activity is discussion of issues in depth, evolving of suitable action plans to promote Indian exports, formulation and dissemination of government policies pertaining to all sectors in manufacturing and merchant exporting and apprising Government on problems and suggesting remedial measures.
When Federation was constituted in 1965, certain economic realities had taken shape in India. There was greater industrialisation, centralised planning and Government controls. Side by side, there existed a buoyant and thriving private sector. Thus there was an urgent need for :
* Wider exchange of views between allied industies in public as well as the private sectors.
* Apprising all concerned bodies of Status of exports.
* Monitoring the effects of Government policies on Exports - Imports.
* Interacting with the Government on behalf of the exporting community.
Basically, the Federation fulfills the above needs in these three ways
* Sending representations on policy matters to Central and State (Regional) Governments.
* Providing a wide range of services designed to help member companies
* Creating and setting up contracts between Government and Commercial Bodies both in India and overseas.
These needs are achieved through the following departments :
The TQM department is dedicated to help industries to launch quality initiatives. It organises workshops/ seminars on TQM, ISO etc.
It has a well established database and provides useful information on India's Export sector both at the company and industry level,Indian city-wise, state-wise etc. India's Imports commodity-wise, port-wise etc. is also made available. Assistance to buyers abroad in sourcing the right product from India is also provided.
The Government of India has targeted January1998 to implement EDI with all the departments engaged in international trade. The task of this department has thus increased manifold in its effort to provide awareness and education on EDI to India's private trade and industry. Training, consultancy and host of other services on EDI is also provided. As a part of the awareness and educational programme, FIEO has launched an electronic network, viz. FIEONET for the India's private trade and industry. It facilitates fast and low cost communication facilities. Non-members can also avail of the facility.
The Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, through FIEO, reimburses to a certain percentage, expenses incurred by the recognised exporters, viz. Super Star Trading Houses / Star Trading Houses / Trading Houses / Export Houses on account of Sale-cum-Study Tour. Participation in Exhbitions / Fairs abroad, Bringing out publications for use abroad and advertisement in foreign media (Brand Publicity). The Market Development Assistance Department takes care of the grant disbursement.
The department offers advisory services on India's Export-Import Policy, Customs and Excise rules and regulations. Takes up the problems of the exporters on this areas with the appropriate authorities. Monitors and suggests the Government of India on the various policies, laws, rules and regulations.
The Market Research Department as a part of its business facilitation effort offers the exporting community
i) Meetings with diplomats, incoming delegations and buying missions
ii) Inviting delegations
iii) Organising trade fairs abroad to project Indian Products (recently organised fairs in Morocco, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Tunisia)
iv) Opening of foreign offices and warehouses
v) Organising seminars for promotion of International Trade
vI) Preparation of country notes / studies
vii) Opening of new FIEO Chapters / Offices abroad
viii) Signing Memorandum of Understandings (MOU) with International Chambers & Institutions for trade
promotion
The Banking and Direct Taxes Division offers advisory services to exporters on matters related to exchange Control and Foreign Exchange Dealers Association of India (FEDAI). It also provides information to exporters regarding benefits available under Income-tax Act, 1961 such as section 80 HHC for merchandise exports 80 HHC for software, etc. 80 HHB for projects.
It also takes up problems of exporters regarding exports finance, and issue related to Exchange Control and FEDAI. It organises open houses / workshops etc. with the concerned Government officials of RBI, Banker etc. for exporter to have a face to face interaction to resolve their problems on the spot.
