RBI extends interest subsidy scheme for exporters until September

The RBI on Thrusday, said a scheme providing interest subsidy for post and pre-shipment export credit has been extended by three months till September, a move that will provide relief to exporters. Exporters get the subsidy under the ‘Interest Equalisation Scheme for pre and post-shipment Rupee Export Credit’. Earlier in April, the scheme was extended till June 30.

Interest Equalization Scheme for Pre and Post Shipment Rupee Export Credit, with the same scope and coverage has been extended by the government of India for furthur three months till September 30, 2021,” the RBI said in a circular. The extension takes effect from July 1, 2021, and ends on September 30, 2021, covering three months. Consequently, the extant operational instructions issued by the Reserve Bank of India will continue to remain in force up to September 30, 2021.

Consequently, the extant operational instructions issued by the Reserve Bank of India will continue to remain in force up to September 30, 2021.

In November 2018, the interest subsidy was increased to 5 per cent from 3 per cent to boost MSME sector exports. Later, the government included other merchant exporters too under the scheme and allowed them interest equalisation at the rate of 3 per cent on credit for the export of certain products.

Commenting on the extension of the scheme, the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) President A Sakthivel said the timely extension will provide competitive rates for exports and bring it near international benchmarks particularly for MSMEs.

FIEO also requested the government to provide stability of the scheme by extending it for 3 years.
India’s merchandise exports in May were $32.27 billion, as compared to $19.05 billion in the year-ago period, exhibiting a growth of 69.35 per cent.

Welcoming the government’s decision, A Sakthivel, president of the Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO), an apex body of exporters, said in a statement, “It will help the identified export sectors of the country to increase their competitiveness, capacity and competence in the international market. They will be able to increase exports.

He thanked Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das for this. He also appealed to them to extend the interest subvention scheme for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). FIEO President said that the MSME sector units are still facing the lack of credit for doing business at remunerative rates.