EEPC INDIA :: Info Bulletin

My dear fellow exporters,

With the COVID 19 pandemic looming large, a quick revival of the global trade and economy remains bleak in the coming months of 2020-21. While engineering exports increased slightly in the last two months, the exporting community remains mostly skeptical regarding trade bouncing back to the pre-COVID scenario any time soon. The skepticism clearly emanates from the uncertain future regarding the pandemic. Closure of manufacturing activities and disruption of global supply chains due to the pandemic have affected business. Unavailability of adequate support services and other logistic related issues only added to the exporters’ woes as they struggled to meet up with the existing order. At the same time increasing raw material prices have rendered them uncompetitive to other exporting countries such as China.

In such a scenario, EEPC India has urged the government to bring stable policies in terms of export promotion such as reinstatement of the MEIS benefits until the implementation of RODTEP. Such steps will go a long way in making exporters price competitive. Additionally quicker disbursal of GST and DBK reimbursement would also ease the financial load on the exporters to a certain extent. Another important point that needs to be looked at is stabilizing India’s position with respect to its FTA partners. The exporting community feels that the government needs to revisit the FTAs especially those with ASEAN countries to identify areas where those countries are at a greater advantage than India. Such steps may go a long way in bolstering India’s position in global exports in the near future.

Mahesh Desai

Amidst India’s faltering merchandise export growth and prolonged contraction in export credit growth, exporters have at least seen some silver lining as both the domestic government and the monetary regulatory authority RBI have been in consultation to ease priority sector lending norms for exports in order to ensure higher flow of credit towards export sector, according to news source. The Commerce and Industry minister has very recently held a meeting with senior public-sector bankers to push for easier and higher flow of credit disbursalfor exporters at cheaper rates. The government is expected to announce a slew of measures to boost export growth very soon while the RBI is also likely to change credit norms in favour of the exporters.

The measures to reinvigorate export credit has been the demand of the exporters as many MSME exporters have already been forced to go out of business due to excessive financial crunch and many are facing the same threat. To ensure availability of hassle-free credit to small exporters is a priority for the commerce minister.According to the latest RBI data, export credit of scheduled banks shrank as much as 36.1% year-on-year as of June 21, even on a low base of 42.7% contraction a year earlier.

The interest subvention provided to the exporters to the extent of three to five percent on bank credit has to make way for suitable alternative as WTO has raised objection to this kind of schemes on the ground of non-compliance. An alternative mechanism to facilitate export credit is desperately required. EEPC India has already suggested refund of embedded taxes for the exporters.

EEPC India, as a premiere trade and investment promotion body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, wholeheartedly thank the government for its initiative to revive exports from India.

Egypt
(Source : Embassy of India, Cairo)

Potential products of Imports from India

Automobile and auto components (8708) - Egypt is strategically located close to many developing countries with open markets for car imports. The Egyptian automotive Market Volume in 2018 reached 19,804 vehicles (15088 are passenger cars, 1586 buses and 3130 trucks) compared to 14,673 vehicles in 2017 (with increase of 35.6 %).

All auto majors like GM, Toyota, BMW, and Hyundai have presence in Egypt. Our exports of automobiles during 2018-19 were USD 136.2 million and auto components were USD 77.5 million in the same period (Total 213.4 Million USD).

Following the implementation of zero tariffs for automobile imports from EU to Egypt early this year, as per provisions of Egyptian – European Partnership Agreement, there were some concerns among local auto component manufacturers on likely adverse impact on them. However, the Egyptian Government has recently come up with customs incentive scheme to protect local manufacturing while at the same time keeping the doors open for imports.

Bajaj has a partnership with Ghabbour of Egypt for CKD assembly of two and three wheelers for Egyptian markets. TVS and Mahindra also have presence in the market.

IT and IT enabled services (Information technology Items: (85) - Egypt has a significant ICT and business processes outsourcing industry in place serving international customers. Given the huge population, rising economy and relatively low PC penetration, the country will continue to be an important market in the coming years. Egypt also offers easy access to markets in Middle East and Europe. More than 27.37 million Egyptians regularly surf the internet — more than the population of many European countries from which over 4.20 million subscribers has ADSL line.

Project exports in railways, construction, renewable energy, infrastructure etc.(Railway Items: 86) (Electrical Machinery: 85) - Egypt has announced various mega projects which have created opportunities for the project exports by the Indian companies. Some of the major projects are: Suez Canal Economic Zone, High Speed Trains and new Metro lines, Housing units’ project, 1.5 million feddan (acre) land reclamation project, Renewable Energy projects and new Administrative Capital.

Online India Business Forum (IBF) meeting was held on 15 April with participation of 23 members of the Indian business community in Egypt. Eng. Tarek Tawfik, Deputy Chairman Federation of Egyptian Industries, spoke on the measures taken by the Egyptian government to support the Egyptian industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. H.E. Mr. Rahul Kulshreshth, Ambassador of India, raised the Indian efforts to confront COVID-19 pandemic.

Republic of Korea
(Source : Embassy of India, Seoul)

Significant trends in trade and investment

Trade - During January-June 2020, Republic of Korea’s exports inched down -11.3 percent to USD $240.64 billion. Imports also inched down -9.0 percent to $229.85 billion. The trade surplus stood at $10.80 billion. In June 2020, South Korea’s export recorded $39.23 billion with -10.9 percent decrease and import stood at $35.60 billion with -11.2 percent decrease. South Korea recorded trade surplus of 3.63 billion alone in June 2020.

Analysis - Although exports in June decreased year-on-year due to the continued impact of the coronavirus, major indicators have improved. The trade balance also remained positive for the second consecutive month, reaching a level similar to the previous year’s average ($3.2 billion). The export volume, which had shown a sharp drop in April and May, also recovered to a level similar to that of the previous year.

Investment - Total investment made by Korea to India amounted to $251 million during January-March 2020. Majority of the investment came from real-estate activities, followed by Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply. Cumulative investment since 1980 stands at $6.67 billion.

[Samsung Display invests $700 million to build smartphone panel facility in India]

Samsung is planning to build a display plant in Uttar Pradesh by investing $705 million. Samsung Display`s Indian plant is expected to create about 1,300 jobs as it plans to operate in 2021. Previously, Samsung Electronics invested $700 million (about 800 billion won) to complete a Smartphone plant in Noida, India, in July 2018. It is the largest single plant of Samsung Electronics` mobile phones. In the following year, Samsung`s smartphone parts affiliate also established a corporation in India. Samsung Electronics plans to increase production capacity of Noida plant from 68 million units a year to 120 million units a year within this year.

New Zealand
(Source : High Commission of India, Wellington)

Minister of Trade and Export Growth David Parker spoke about the significance of keeping the supply chains open for trade of essential items with countries including India during the pandemic. While speaking to Indian Weekender on 3 June, he also spoke about his trade delegation to India this year from 24-28 February 2020. He said that NZ’s technology and products (particularly in dairy and meat) can increase bilateral trade without damaging the local producers of India. Parker also appreciated that India was quick to respond to their medicinal demand during the pandemic and indicated that post COVID-19, this could enhance bilateral trade. He stated that more funding has been given to New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) which will enable them to grow internationally.

Award of $ 20 mn contract to HCL: Fonterra, NZ’s largest dairy cooperative, awarded a $ 20 million an year IT contract to Indian IT major HCL, which won a close race with another Indian company TCS. In view of the poor economic condition because of COVID-19, many were expecting the contract to be awarded to a domestic company.

India New Zealand Business Council (INZBC) hosted India – NZ trade response webinars: INZBC, in association with FICCI hosted its third webinar on NZ – India trade relation series on 11 June 2020, which focused on the impact of COVID-19 on the Education Industry. Panel of speakers included Clare Bradley, Chief Executive of Aspire2, John Laxon, Regional Director – Asia in Education NZ, Lester Khoo, Group Director at Auckland University of Technology, Dr. Anju Kacker Executive Director and President of Aptech, Gaurav Vats from FICCI and Bharat Chawla, board member of INZBC, who hosted the event. On 25 June, INZBC in association with the High Commission of India and PHD Chamber of Commerce organised fourth and last edition of a series of webinars on post-Covid-19 economic recovery. The webinar provided guidelines for post-COVID-19 world trade and import-export regulations. The panel of speakers included Mr Ajay Poddar, Chairman, East Asia and Oceania, PHDCCI, Mr Vikram Cera, Co-Chairman, International affairs Committee for Europe and CIS, PHDCCI, and Ms Mel Poulton NZ’s special agricultural trade envoy.

Thailand
(Source : Embassy of India, Bangkok)

Webinar on Business and Investment opportunities in Uttar Pradesh
14.07.2020

A Webinar was held on Business and Investment opportunities in Uttar Pradesh on 30 June 2020. As a follow up action a Webinar was held on 14 July, 2020 between concerned officers from Government of UP and the representatives from Big C Supercenter PCL, Thailand. During the interaction and discussion Big C Supercenter PCL, Thailand shown interest in importing agriculture/ horticulture products from India.

Google to Invest $10 Billion in India

Tech giant looks to tighten its ties to one of the last great untapped digital markets
Bangkok Post 15.07.2020

Google is planning to invest $10 billion in India as part of plans to make theinternet "affordable and useful" for a billion people. CEO Sundar Pichai announced the investment via livestream on Monday at the annual Google for India event. "This is a reflection of our confidence in the future of India and its digital economy," he said in a statement. "India`s own digital journey is far from complete. There`s still more work to do in order to make the internet affordable and useful for a billion Indians ... from improving voice input and computing for all of India`s languages, to inspiring and supporting a whole new generation of entrepreneurs," he added. The Google for India Digitization Fund will pour money into India`s tech sector over the next five to seven years through a mixture of equity investments, partnerships, and spending on infrastructure. The investment will focus on enabling affordable access and information for every Indian in their own language, building new products and services relevant to India`s unique needs, helping businesses with digital transformation and leveraging technology and artificial intelligence for social good, in areas like health, education, and agriculture. "As we make these investments we look forward to working alongside Prime Minister [Narendra] Modi and the Indian government, as well as Indian businesses of all sizes to realize a shared vision for a Digital India," Pichai, who was born in India, said. "Our goal is to ensure that India not only benefits from the next wave of innovation but leads it."

Infosys Named as Global Service Provider Partner of the Year by ServiceNow
Newswit 22.07.2020

Infosys (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, has been awarded the 2020 ServiceNow Global Service Provider Partner of the Year for achieving overall excellence in delivery and ServiceNow pipeline growth. The ServiceNow Global Alliances and Channel Ecosystem acknowledged the achievements of its best-in-class partners by evaluating a combination of attributes such as revenue contribution, product line expansion, skill growth, and business transformation. Infosys offers a suite of offerings for IT Service Management (ITSM) and Enterprise Service Management to automate, modernize and transform enterprises` service management landscape. Equipped with an automated knowledge base, CXO dashboards, and innovative real-time service management capabilities, Infosys` ServiceNow offerings improve user experience and minimize platform customizations to deliver greater value to its customers.

DOC interaction with Mission
22.07.2020

JS(FT/ASEAN), Department of Commerce interacted through Video Conference with the Mission officers on 22 July, 2020 and discussed about the functioning of the Commercial Division of the Mission and various issues related to India and Thailand including focused areas of Trade/Investment, technology & tourism.

Nepal

(EEPC Ref. No. DB-2432)

Project	Electricity Grid Modernization Project Loan No. : 54107-NEP Financing from ADB
DB Ref. No.	ADB-P543000-08/20
Issued by	Dandakhet Rahughat 132 KV Transmission Line Project Project Management Directorate Kharipati, NEA Training Centre Bhaktapur, Nepal Tel. : +977-9857684903 E-mail : roshan_agr@nea.org.np
Bid No.	PMD/EGMP/DRTLS-077/78-01
For	Design, Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of Dandakhet - Rahughat 132 kV Transmission Line and associated Substations at Rahughat and Dandakhet.
Tender cost	Non-refundable fee of NRs. 20,000.00 or an equivalent amount in US$ by bank voucher to the Account No. 00101500014600000104 (NEA-PROJECT MANAGEMENT DIRECTORATE) at the NMB Bank Limited, Babarmahal, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Bid deadline	*12.10.2020*

Bahrain

(EEPC Ref. No. MEED-2911)

Tender No.	RFP/CSD/2020/9 (PT/CSD/MH/2020/083)
Tender for	XLPE cable
Tender details	Supply of 6.35/11kV, three-core, 61-strand, cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) underground cable.
Bid bond	BD 4,000
Cost of tender documents	BD 100
Closing date	*26.08.2020*
Issued by	Electricity & Water Authority Directorate of Central Stores P. O. Box 5325 Sitra, Bahrain Tel. : (973) 17995500 Website : www.tenderboard.gov.bh

Bahrain

(EEPC Ref. No. MEED-2913)

Tender No.	RFP/CSD/2020/16 (PT/CSD/MA/2020/087)
Tender for	Joint kits
Tender details	Supply of 11kV pre-mold joint kits.
Bid bond	BD 2,500
Cost of tender documents	BD 100
Closing date	*26.08.2020*
Issued by	Electricity & Water Authority Directorate of Central Stores P. O. Box 5325 Sitra, Bahrain Tel. : (973) 17995500 Website : www.tenderboard.gov.bh

United Arab Emirates

(EEPC Ref. No. MEED-2915)

Tender No.	RFX-2052000057
Tender for	Gas turbine air intake filters
Tender details	Supply of pulse-type, self-cleaning air intake filters for gas turbines at H station in Al-Aweer.
Bid bond	AED 110,000
Cost of tender documents	AED 210
Closing date	*03.09.2020*
Issued by	Dubai Electricity & Water Authority Office of the Contracts Manager Zabeel East, P. O. Box 564 Dubai, UAE Tel. : (9714) 3244444 Fax: (9714) 3248111 E-mail: contracts@dewa.gov.ae Website : www.dewa.gov.ae; https://srm.dewa.gov.ae

United Arab Emirates

(EEPC Ref. No. MEED-2917)

Tender No.	RFX-2122000129
Tender for	Pump and valve maintenance
Tender details	Annual maintenance of pumps and valves in booster pumping stations and a reservoir complex (pumping stations – Najma, phases 1, 2, 3, 4, Jebel Ali Habab, phases 1, 2, 3, Hatta, phases 1, 2, 3, DIP, phases 1, 2, Emirates, Nad al-Sheeba and Mushrif; reservoirs – Mushrif, Ghaffath, Lusaily and Jebel Ali).
Bid bond	AED 75,000
Cost of tender documents	AED 630
Closing date	*10.09.2020*
Issued by	Dubai Electricity & Water Authority Office of the Contracts Manager Zabeel East, P. O. Box 564 Dubai, UAE Tel. : (9714) 3244444 Fax: (9714) 3248111 E-mail: contracts@dewa.gov.ae Website : www.dewa.gov.ae; https://srm.dewa.gov.ae
Source	MEED.com website

Steel Market Current Report

Mandi Gobindgarh
Open Market Rates of Rerollables (August 8, 2020)

(Exclusive of GST) (Trade Terms 1% Cash Discount)

(Rate Rs. per Tonne)

Ingot
Arc/Ind. Furnace
Round quality (21x25)	31,700
Structural quality (28x30)	31,900
Low carbon (12x16)	-
Semi low carbon (18x21)	31,850
5x6 Girder quality (25x30)	-
Runners/Risers	31,500
Bones/Clean	-

Billets & Squares
50x50x63x63x65x65 mm MS	-
75x75x80x80x90x90 mm MS	31,900
100x100 mm MS2	32,000
125x125 mm MS/ Concast	-
100x100 mm Concast-Billets	32,300
100x100 Concast-SAIL DSP	32,300
H.C. Billet SAIL 150x150 mm)	-
H.C. Billet-Tisco 75x75 mm)	-

Blooms
Above 251 mm Bloom (HC)	28,900
Above 251 mm Bloom (MS)	28,900
(DSP) Bloom 160x250 mm	28,900
130/135/140 mm (Tisco) MS	-
150x150 mm Concast (DSP)	32,000
150x150 mm MS (SAIL)	32,000
Bloom Cut into pcs. (MS)	33,000
Bloom Cut into pcs. (Medium)	32,200
Bloom Cut into (Patra Pass)	32,200

Slabs
Durgapur Slabs 14"x3"	-
Durgapur Slabs	-
Bokaro Slab Heavy	-
Tata Concast Slab (Heavy)	-
Skelp Tisco	-

Rails
Untested Rail - 75 lbs.	24,100
Untested Rail - 90 lbs.	24,100
Untested Rail - 105 lbs.	24,000
Rej. Wheel (Small)	24,000
Cut Tyre (Big)	30,900
Cut Tyre (Small)	24,900

Melting Scrap (F.O.R.)
Fresh Scrap (Rolling Mill End)	24,000
Old Scrap (Godown)	20,400
Turning	19,600
Tin Tapper	21,700
Mill Scale	16,700
Sponge Iron	19,900

Pig Iron (F.O.R.)
Foundry Grade	29,300
Steel Grade	22,100
C.I. Turning	15,100
Degi Scrap	22,600
Deg Casting	35,000
Ingot Moulds (Old)	21,600
Ingot Moulds (New)	33,800
Cut Ingot Moulds	20,500

Open Market Rates of Finished Goods (August 8, 2020)
(Inclusive of GST)

(Rate per Qntl.)

M. S. Rounds	4 mm	5 mm	6 mm	8 mm	10 mm	12 mm	16/20 mm	22/25 mm
Mild	4300	4320	4320	4330	4310	4410	4470	4330
Zindi Pass (Drawing)	-	-	-	4320	4390	4390	4490	4490

Above rates of 6 mm rounds are of length up to 14’ Above 18’ = 4360

Heavy Rounds	28 to 53 mm	63 to 100 mm	110 to 125 mm	140 to 150 mm	165 mm	180 mm	200 mm
Mild	4450	4450	4470	4470	4480	4490	4370

M. S. Squares	4 mm	5 mm	6 mm	8 mm	10 mm	12 mm	16/20 mm	22/25 mm
Mild	4520	4520	4490	4550	4550	4550	4490	4480

M. S. Angles	20 mm	25 mm	32 mm	40 mm	50 mm	65 mm	75 mm	100 mm	110 mm	150 mm	200 mm
3 mm	4340	4300	4350	4420	4420	4490	-	-	-	-	-
5 mm	–	4190	4300	4420	4420	4490	4520	4420	-	-	-
6 mm	–	4320	4380	4420	4420	4490	4520	4510	-	-	-
8 mm	-	-	-	4420	4490	4490	4510	4510	-	-	-
10 mm	–	-	-	4420	4490	4490	4510	4570	4510	-	-
12 mm	–	-	-	4420	4490	4170	4490	4500	-	4590	-
16 mm	–	-	-	4420	4490	4500	4490	4570	-	-	-

M. S. Flats	20 mm	25 mm	32 mm	40 mm	50 mm	65 mm	75 mm	100 mm
3 mm	4280	4270	4280	4310	4410	4370	-	-
5 mm	4280	4270	4280	4280	4510	4570	4510	4510
6 mm	4310	4340	4280	4280	4430	4560	4510	4510
8 mm	-	-	4160	4280	4380	4520	4490	4510
10 mm	-	-	4150	4280	4380	4510	4490	4490
12/25 mm	-	-	4150	4280	4380	4510	4490	4490
18/19 Gauge	4110	4190	4360	4280	4380	4490	4490	4490

[Prices at other stockyards may vary] Source : Steel Town (Weekly), August 8, 2020]

H.O. (Cell)	REGISTERED & HEAD OFFICE
Suranjan Gupta Executive Director EEPC INDIA Vandhna (4th Floor) 11 Tolstoy Marg New Delhi 110 001 Tel.: 91-11-23353353, 23711124/25 Fax : 91-11-23310920 E-mail : eepcto@eepcindia.net URL : www.eepcindia.org	Adhip Mitra Addl. Executive Director & Secretary EEPC INDIA Vanijya Bhavan (1st Floor) International Trade Facilitation Centre 1/1 Wood Street, Kolkata 700 016 Tel.: 91-33-22890651/52/53 Fax : 91-33-22890654 E-mail : eepcho@eepcindia.net URL : www.eepcindia.org

Contents

From Chairman’s Pen

OVERSEAS SECTION

Global Business Opportunities

DOMESTIC SECTION

Highlights

Overseas Information

OVERSEAS MARKET INFORMATION

TENDER INFORMATION

Domestic Information

PUBLIC NOTICE

EXPORT FINANCE

STEEL PRICES

Steel Market Current Report

EEPC INDIA OFFICE BEARERS

REGIONAL CHAIRMEN / CHAIRPERSON

EEPC INDIA OFFICES

REGIONAL OFFICES

SUB-REGIONAL OFFICE

Tender No.	RFP/CSD/2020/23 (PT/CSD/AA/2020/109)
Tender for	Batteries
Tender details	Supply of 2,600 2V dry-type batteries.
Bid bond	BD 500
Cost of tender documents	BD 15
Closing date	*26.08.2020*
Issued by	Electricity & Water Authority Directorate of Central Stores P. O. Box 5325 Sitra, Bahrain Tel. : (973) 17995500 Website : www.tenderboard.gov.bh

Tender No.	RFP/INT/CSD/2020/10 (IN/CSD/MA/2020/119)
Tender for	Distribution transformers
Tender details	Supply of five 11,000/415kV, 50hz, three-phase, oil-immersed distribution transformers.
Bid bond	BD 500
Cost of tender documents	BD 15
Closing date	*24.08.2020*
Issued by	Electricity & Water Authority Directorate of Central Stores P. O. Box 5325 Sitra, Bahrain Tel. : (973) 17995500 Website : www.tenderboard.gov.bh

Tender No.	RFX-2052000065
Tender for	RO plant cartridge filters
Tender details	Supply of cartridge filters for a reverse osmosis (RO) plant at G station in Jebel Ali.
Bid bond	AED 95,000
Cost of tender documents	AED 210
Closing date	*14.09.2020*
Issued by	Dubai Electricity & Water Authority Office of the Contracts Manager Zabeel East, P. O. Box 564 Dubai, UAE Tel. : (9714) 3244444 Fax: (9714) 3248111 E-mail: contracts@dewa.gov.ae Website : www.dewa.gov.ae; https://srm.dewa.gov.ae