New Delhi, April 1 The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on Wednesday welcomed the government's decision to extend the RoDTEP Scheme for all eligible export products until September 30, 2026, and the introduction of a one-time concessional framework for Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) sales by units in Special Economic Zones (SEZs).
CII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee said, "Amidst ongoing global trade uncertainty, evolving tariff measures, and persistent supply chain disruptions, businesses, particularly MSME exporters, continue to face operational as well as demand-side challenges. The continuation of policy measures to create predictability is important in these difficult times."
According to CII, the continuation of RoDTEP at existing rates and value caps will help sustain export competitiveness, especially for sectors facing cost pressures and volatile global demand. Such timely policy support is critical to maintaining India's export momentum and enabling businesses to expand trade with new and emerging partners.
"Equally significant is the one-time relief provided to SEZ units by permitting limited DTA sales at concessional duty rates. In the current environment of subdued external demand, this flexibility will enable units to better utilize capacity, support liquidity, and safeguard employment, while retaining their export orientation," the industry lobby stated.
The government has extended fiscal benefits under the RoDTEP scheme for exporters by six months, until September 30, amid disruptions to global trade caused by the ongoing West Asia crisis.
The Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) Scheme, launched in 2021, provides for a refund of taxes, duties, and levies that are incurred by exporters in the process of manufacturing and distribution of goods, and which are not being reimbursed under any other mechanism at the Centre, state, or local level.
Refunds under the scheme range from 0.3 per cent to 3.9 per cent. The scheme was valid until March 31 this year.
Besides, the government announced a one-time special relief measure in the form of certain duty benefits for special economic zones (SEZs), a move that would provide support to units in these enclaves amid global uncertainties.
However, the exemption will be available only if the unit in the SEZ had commenced production of goods on or before March 31, 2025, the department of revenue said in a notification dated March 31.
They also have to prove that the goods in respect of which benefits of this exemption notification have been claimed fulfill all specified conditions.