EXPORT PROMOTION COUNCILS (EPCs)

MEANING
The EPCs are non profit organizations registered under the Companies Act or the Societies Registration Act,
as the case may be. Theyare supportedbythe financial assistancefromtheCentralGovernment.The basic
objective of EPCs is to promote and develop the export of the country. Each EPC is responsible for the
promotion of a particular group of products, projects and services.
At present, there are 24 EPCs operating in India. The various EPCS are as follows:
1. Apparels EPC
2. Basic Chemicals, pharmaceuticals & cosmetics EPCS
3. Chemicals and Allied products EPC
4. Cotton Textiles EPC
5. Carpet EPC
6. Cashew EPC
7. Engineering EPC
8. Germs & jewellery EPC
9. Hand loom EPC
10. Indian silk EPC
11.Council for leather export
12.Plastics and linoleum EPC
13.Synthetic and rayon textiles EPC
14.Sports goods EPC
15.Shellac EPC
16.Wool and wollens EPC
17.Electronics and computer software EPC
18.Handicrafts EPC
19.The power loom development and EPC (PDEXCIL)
20.Export promotion council for EOUs and SEZ units
21.Project export promotion council of India
22.Pharmaceutical export promotion council
23. Jute manufacturers development council
24.Wool industry EPC.
There are three organizations considered as EPCs
25.Agricultural and Processed Food Product Export
Development Authority (APEDA)
26.Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) and
27.The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA)
ROLE / FUNCTIONS OF EPCS
The main role of EPC is to project good image of Indian products. The EPC performs its role by performing
the following functions.
1. Issue of Certificate of Origin:
Certain counties demand certificate of origin from the exporters. In India EPCs can issue certificate of origin
to the exporters certifying the origin of goods.
2. Collection of Information :
It collects valuable information on overseas imports, import regulations, about competitions, customer
preferences, market demand and other developments in foreign trade
3. Supplying Information:
It provides information on latest developments in the field of export trade. It may relate to various aspects of
foreign trade. Such information is vital to the exporters to take export marketing decisions.
4. Organizing Seminars:
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It organizes seminars, workshops discussions, meeting, and conferences on various aspects of foreign trade.
Exporters are invited to take part in such seminars and to know the latest developments in foreign trade.
5. Trade Fairs &Exhibitions :
It may also assist the concerned authorities in organizing trade fairs and exhibitions in India and abroad. It
may also arrange buyer seller meets, so as to promote Indian exports.
6. Recommendations to Government:
It provides recommendations to the government authorities to solve export problems and suggest measures
for export growth. It may advise the government in framing people export import policies. It may
recommend certain modification in the existing government policies and programmes.
7. Inviting Trade Delegations:
It may invite trade delegations from abroad, both at private level and at governmental level. Such trade
delegations are very important to promote export trade of India. Foreign delegation visit India and sign
contracts with Indian exporters.
8. Sending Delegations Abroad:
It may undertake the responsibility of sending trade delegations abroad comprising Indian businessmen,
Indian delegations, may visit abroad and enter into contracts with overseas buyers. Thus, foreign trade of
India can be expanded.
9. consultancy Services:
It may offer professional advice to exporters in areas such as technology up gradation, quality and design
improvement, innovation etc. Such advice goes a long way to improve product and organizational efficiency
of the exporter.
10.Exploration of Overseas Markets:
It may assist the exporter in exploration of overseas markets and identify items having export potential. It
may also assist the exporter to open offices or branches abroad. It may guide the exporter in setting up of
joint ventures abroad.
11.Developing Export Consciousness:
This organization makes all the possible efforts to develop export consciousness in our country. This is
because there is great need for a country like ours so as to earn foreign exchange.
12.Other Functions:
It may allocate or distribute quotas in respect of certain items. It may fix minimum floor price or may advise
the government in such fixation of floor prices.EPC may undertake publicity through schemes like joint
foreign publicity in export markets.

STATE TRADING CORPORATION (STC)

State Trading Corporation of India Limited (STC)
STC was set up on 18th May, 1956, primarily with a view to undertake trade with East European
Countries and to supplement the efforts of private trade and industry in developing exports from the country.
STC has played an important role in countrys economy by arranging imports of essential items of mass
consumption (such as wheat, pulses, sugar, etc.) into India and developing exports of a large number of
items from India. The core strength of STC lies in handling exports/ imports of bulk agro commodities.
During past 4-5 years, STC has diversified into exports of steel raw materials, gold jewellery and imports of
bullion, hydrocarbons, minerals,metals, fertilizers, petro-chemicals, etc. Achieving record breaking
performances year-after-year, STC is today able to structure and execute trade deals of any magnitude, as
per the specific requirement of its customers.
STCL Ltd. is a subsidiary of STC. It was initially established in 1982 as Cardamom Trading
Corporation Ltd., a Government of India undertaking under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry. The
company developed from a solely cardamom trading corporation to become Spices Trading Corporation
Ltd., in 1987. With globalization and opening of trade world over, Spices Trading Corporation Ltd. was
renamed as STCL Ltd. STCL became a wholly owned subsidiary of the State Trading Corporation of India
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Ltd. in 1999. STCL is involved in import, export and domestic trading of a varied range of products, both
agricultural as well as non-agricultural. STCL, headed by a Chairman, is headquartered in Bangalore.
Over the years STC has become the premier international trading organization. If offers a wide range
of services and handles exports of almost everything that India produces from coffee to compressors,
tobacco to textile machinery and roses to rolling shock. It imports wide range of products from raw materials
to equipment. The role of STC as path-finder for the Indian industry has been quite praise worthy. As
international marketing agency, its services, relating to negotiating, contracting, financing, product
development, quality control, market intelligence, shipment and settlement of trade disputes has been quite
significant. In addition to earning foreign exchange for the country, it has added stability to the industrial
sector. STC continuously look for the new products and new markets. STC has excelled in marketing nontraditional commodities aboard. One of the major achievements of STC relates to formation of joint
marketing groups of the manufactures of engineering equipment, drugs and pharmaceuticals to bid for
international business. STC had done commendable work in promoting difficult to sell products overseas.
STC imports scarce commodities through the foreign exchange earned under different marketing strategy.
After the introduction of the policy of economic liberalization in 1991, STC has reoriented its strategies by
putting emphasis on:
1. To provide new areas of exports for diversification.
2. To achieve economies of scale through high volume exports.
3. To buy and sell directly to cut down overhead costs and achieve competitiveness
4. To practice professionalism and specialization in its operation by employing best talents.
5. To upgrade information technology to obtain latest commercial intelligence.
6. To undertake financial planning and result oriented trade investment.
OBJECTIVES OF STC:
1. To organize and affect export from and imports into India of all such goods and commodities, as the
corporation may from time to time, determine.
2. To organize and affect the purchase, sale and transport of such general trade in such goods and
commodities in India and abroad.
3. To do all such other acts and things, which may be help but in achieving the above objectives.
4. Exploration of new markets for existing and new products, expansion of long term export operations and
of difficult to sell
items the specific objectives in relations to export promotion
FUNCTIONS (SERVICES) OF STC:
1. To arrange for exports where bulk handling and long term contracting are advantageous.
2. To promote the production of nontraditional items and opening up new fields for the export of traditional
items.
3. To provide development finance for the production of export oriented goods and boost export of small
scale sector.
4. To facilitate bulk purchasing for bulk selling abroad.
5. To undertake internal trades as and when the situation warrants it and to ensure adequate and regular
supplies at reasonable
prices of essential commodities to meet local demand.
6. To facilitate the implementation of trade agreements and bilateral deals.
7. To organize production to meet export demands and to help production unit to overcome difficulties of
raw materials and other essential requirements.
8. To act as vehicles for the implementation of Governments trade policies and trade plans.
9. To undertake price support operations to protect the interest of growers.
10.To look after buffer stocking to ease the problem of shortage of some essential items.
CANALIZING AGENCY
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STC is operating as an important canalizing agency for the export and import of certain items. Canalization
means that the item can be exported or imported through the concerned state agency like STC or its
subsidiaries. Such canalized items account for a major part of STC or its subsidiaries. Such canalizing items
for export include sugar, castor, oil, molasses, and groundnut extractions, canalized items include edible oil,
writing and printing paper, non-edible oil etc. Associates desiring to take help from STC can obtain
marketing assistance in the form of distribution of samples, market surveys, product design, tender,
packaging advice, assistance in participation and general sales promotion. Such associates must route their
exports though STC. For effective marketing STC has opened branch offices in many countries and has
associates in other parts of the world. These offices and their services extend to Tehran, Sydney, Singapore,
Paraguay, Paris, Colombo, Budapest, Berlin, Belgrade and Bangkok.
FUTURE ROLE OF STC
It is a fact that public sector trading organizations like the STC and MMTC have traditionally depended
heavily on canalized trade. However, the list of canalized items has been drasticallyreduced in recent years.
This suggests that in future, STC will have to take up new areas for its business activities. The STC will
have to be reoriented to achieve the objective of emerging asInternational Trading House capable of
operating in a competitive global environment of servicing an effective instrument of public policy and of
providing adequate support services to the small/cottage sector. In short, STC needs to be given more
purposeful role through suitable restructuring.
The following are the major State Trading Organizations in India.
I. The STC of India.
II. The Handicrafts and Handloom Export Corporation of India (HHEC), a wholly owned subsidiary of STC
III. The Minerals and Metals Trading Corporation of India Ltd. (MMTC)
IV. The projects and Equipment corporation (PEC) of India Ltd. a wholly owned subsidiary of STC.
V. The Cashew Corporation of India Ltd. (CCI) a wholly owned subsidiary of STC.
VI. Central Cottage Industries Corporation (CCIC) a subsidiary of STC.
VII. The Tea Trading Corporation of India (TTCI) a subsidiary of STC.
VIII. The Mica Trading Corporation of India (MITCO), a wholly owned subsidiary of MMTC.
IX. Spices Trading Corporation
X. The State Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Corporation of India Ltd. (SCPC) a subsidiary of STC.

MMTC Limited
The MMTC Limited (Minerals and Metals Trading Corporation) was created in 1963 as an individual entity
on separation from State Trading Corporation of India Ltd. primarily to deal in exports of minerals and ores
and imports of non-ferrous metals. In 1970, MMTC took over imports of fertilizer raw materials and
finished fertilizers. Over the years import and exports of various other items like steel, diamonds, bullion,
etc. were progressively added to the portfolio of the company. Keeping pace with the national economic
development, MMTC over theyears has grown to become the largest trading organization in India.

PEC LIMITED
The PEC Ltd (Project and Equipment Corporation of India) was carved out of the STC in 1971-72 to take
over the canalized business of STCs railway equipment division, to diversify into turn-key projects
especially outside India and to aid & assist in promotion of exports of Indian engineering equipment. With
effect from 23rd May, 1990, PEC became a subsidiary of the then newly formed Holding Company, Bharat
Business International Ltd. Thereafter, from 27th March, 1991, PEC became an independent company
directly owned by Government of India. The main functions of PEC Ltd. includes export of projects,
engineering equipment and manufactured goods, defence equipment & stores; import of industrial raw
materials, bullion and agro commodities; consolidation of existing lines of business and simultaneously
developing new products and new markets; diversification in export of non-engineering items eg. Coal &
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coke, iron ore, edible oils, steel scraps, etc.; and structuring counter trade/ special trading arrangements for
further exports.

REGISTERED EXPORT PROMOTION COUNCILS

There are at present twelve Export Promotion Councils under the administrative control of the Department
of Commerce and nine export promotion councils related to textile sector under the administrative control of
Ministry of Textiles. These Councils are registered as non -profit organizations under the Companies
Act/Societies Registration Act.
EPCS under the Administrative Control of the Department of Commerce
(1) Engineering Export Promotion Council :The Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC) was set
up in1955 under the sponsorship of Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India, for export promotion of
engineering goods, projects and services from India. Initially, it started with a few hundreds of engineering
units as a small outfit, with a passage of time it has grown to be the largest Export Promotion Council
having membership of nearly 12,000 from amongst large Corporate Houses, Star Trading Houses, Small &
Medium Scale Units (SME), Trading Houses, etc.
(2) Project Exports Promotion Council of India :The Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of
India established project Exports Promotion Council (PEPC) in 1984 (as Overseas Construction Council of
India). PEPC in line with the Foreign Trade Policy of the Government of India not only undertakes the
necessary export promotion initiatives but also provides necessary technical information, guidance and
support to Indian construction and process engineering contractors and consultants in public or private
sector to set up overseas projects. Besides, PEPC also provides the necessary technical and market
information, guidance and export promotion facilitation to the traders/manufacturers of various Project
Construction items (excluding steel and cement).
(3) Basic Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics Export Promotion Council :Basic Chemicals,
Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics Export Promotion Council (CHEMEXCIL), was established in the year 1963
withthe objective of making concerted efforts to promote exports of Basic Organic and Inorganic Chemicals,
Dyes, Pesticides, Soaps, Detergents, Cosmetics, Toiletries and other products like Agarbattis, Essential,
Castor Oil, etc. The Council also has some functional committees which attend to some specialised aspects
of Council'swork like Projects, Publicity and Exhibitions, Registration and Export Assistance, Budget, etc.
(4) Chemicals and Allied Products Export Promotion Council :CAPEXIL, a non-profit making
organization, was setup in March 1958 by the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India to promote
export of Chemical and Allied Products from India. And since then has been the voice of Indian business
community. CAPEXIL has more than 3500 members across the country. One of the fascinating aspects of
CAPEXIL is the overwhelming variety of products it deals with. CAPEXIL sends trade delegation to all
major and developing markets around the world, showcases Indian exports all over the world through
exhibitions, fairs. CAPEXIL is an ISO 9001: 2000 certified organization.
(5) Council for Leather Exports :The Council for Leather Exports was set up Ministry of Commerce,
Government of India, in July 1984 under the Indian Companies Act 1956. The Council is entrusted with
export promotion activities and overall development of the Indian leather industry. The Council's activities
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also include promoting Foreign Direct Investments and Joint Ventures in the Indian leather industry. The
CLE creates a bridge between Indian leather exporters and buyers all over the world.
(6) Sports Goods Export Promotion Council :The Government of India established the Sports Goods
Export Promotion Council (SGEPC) in 1958 to promote exports of sports goods and toys from India.
SGEPC organizes trade promotion activities like Indian participation in International Trade fairs, Visits of
Business Delegations, Promotional campaigns in international markets, etc. The council also provides
important information to the members on market intelligence, standards & specifications, quality & design,
and on any other issue which may directly or indirectly affect the industry.
(7) Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council :The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council
(GJEPC) has over the years effectively moulded the scattered efforts of individual exporters to make the
gem and jewellery sector a powerful engine driving India's export-led growth. This apex body has played a
significant role in the evolution of the Indian gem and jewellery industry to its present stature. GJEPC is
continuously working towards creating a pool of artisans and designers trained to international standards so
as to consolidate the Indian jewellery industry and establish it as a prominent global player in the jewellery
segment.
(8) Shellac Export Promotion Council :Shellac Export Promotion Council sponsored by the Ministry of
Commerce, Govt. of India, to promote export of Shellac and Lac based products like Shellac, both Hand
Made and Machine Made, Dewaxed Shellac, Seedlac, Aleuritic Acid, Bleached Lac and Shellac Wax.
Shellac EPC builds a bridge between the Trade and the Government. International developments and Govt.
Policies often dictate the course of exports, Shellac EPC activates its umbrella network to monitor and
analyse these trends and accordingly Policy anomalies are either modified or changed in the interests of
exports
(9) Cashew Export Promotion Council :The Government of India established the Cashew Export
Promotion Council of India (CEPC) in the year 1955. The aim of CEPC is promoting exports of cashew
kernels and cashew nut shell liquid from India. The Council provides the necessary institutional framework
for performing the different functions that serve to intensify and promote exports of cashew kernels and
cashew nut shell liquid.
(10) Plastics Export Promotion Council :The Plastics Export Promotion Council (PLEXCONCIL)
sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Department of Commerce, Government of India,
represents the exporting community of the Indian Plastics industry. The council represent exporters from the
Indian Plastic Industry and our membership comprises over 2000 manufacturers/ exporters exporting a wide
range of plastic items ranging from plastic raw materials to finished goods. PLEXCONCIL is involved in
export promotional activities like participation in international trade fairs; sponsoring delegations to target
markets; inviting business delegations from the overseas to India; organising buyer-seller meets both in
India and the overseas and servicing the needs of its members.
(11) Export Promotion Council for EOUs & SEZ Units :The Export Promotion Council for EOUs and SEZ
Units (EPCES) has been set- up to service the export promotional needs of 100% Export Oriented Units
(EOUs), Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Units and Agri Economic Zones in the country. EPCES represents
EOU/SEZ Sector, which has over 2900 EOUs/SEZ Units, spread all over the country. This Council is a
multi-product and scheme specific Export Promotion Council. The EOUs/SEZ Units cover major industrial
sectors like Textiles, Garments & Yarn, Food & Agro Products, Electronics & Software, Chemical,
Engineering, Minerals, Granite, etc.
(12) Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council :The dynamic growth of Indian Pharma Industry, and the
recommendations of four major Pharma associations made the Ministry of Commerce & Industry to realize
the need for separate export promotion council. Accordingly, Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council
(PHARMEXCIL) has been set up on 12.5.2004. It issues RCMC, organize Trade delegations/Buyer-Seller
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Meetings abroad, Organize Reverse Buyer-Seller Meetings in India, Assist members to get their MDA/MAI
claims refunded from Govt. of India, Issue of Certificate of Origin, Organizing periodical
Seminars/Interactive meetings on exports related issues, Make suggestions to Govt. of India on policy issues
relating to Pharmaexports, Make representations to Govt. of India and other agencies in India and abroad to
get amicable solutions for the common problems of the industry.
(13) Indian Oil Seeds & Produce Exporters Association :Indian Oilseed and Produce Export Promotion
Council (IOPEPC) is concerned with the promotion of various Oilseeds and Oils. Formerly known as
IOPEA, it was formed on 23 rd June 1956, at a preliminary meeting held in Bombay under the Presidentship
of late Shri Lalji Mehrotra, former President of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry
(FICCI) and India's one time ambassador to Myanmar and Japan. The formation of IOPEA was, in fact, the
first organized effort to promote and protect the interests of India 's export trade in commodities like
Oilseeds, Vegetable Oils and Oilcakes in a collective and concerted manner through a representative body.
With subsequent setting up ofsectoral Associations for different oilcakes and extraction cakes, IOPEPC
concentrated it's attention and activities mainly on productivity and export of oilseeds and vegetable oils.
IOPEPC is thus the pioneer body for oilseeds and oils in the country
(14) Services Export Promotion Council :Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, with a
view to give proper direction, guidance and encouragement to the Services Sector, has set up an exclusive
Export Promotion Council for Services in the name of Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC). SEPC
was registered under the Societies Registration Act in November, 2006. DGFT, vide Gazette Notification
dated 5/3/ 2007, included SEPC in the list of the recognised Export Promotion Councils. SEPC has been
mandated to promote export of services in the following sectors:1 Healthcare services including services by 8 Environmental Services nurses, physiotherapist and
paramedical personnel
2 Educational Services 9 Maritime Transport Services
3 Entertainment services including Audio-visual 10 Advertising Services services
4 Consultancy Services 11 Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling Services/Management Services
5 Architectural Services and related services 12 Printing & Publishing Services
6 Distribution Services 13 Legal Services
7 Accounting/Auditing and Book Keeping 14 Hotel and Tourism related services Services