Export Promotion Council for EOUs & SEZs (EPCES) is playing a pivotal role in bringing all stakeholders from EOUs & SEZ sector & Government on one platform and participating actively to promote EOUs & SEZ sector in India and abroad.

EPCES has always been proactive in raising and addressing the issues of EOUs & SEZs which oppose the seamless growth of the EOUs, SEZ units & SEZ Developers.

Though the EOU & SEZ sector has been growing and contributing approx 34% in the country’s export basket, they still face lot of challenges & issues.

Over the years, EPCES has made an endeavor to facilitate consultations between different stakeholders including industry, policy makers, bank, financial institutions and multilateral agencies to facilitate greater competitiveness in the Indian MSME sector.

From technology up-gradation to adoption of clean technology, new age marketing to innovative financing, EPCES has tried to supplement through focused capacity building programmes. EPCES has also been continuously organizing awareness programmes across various parts of the country and has acquired in-depth knowledge on issues and challenges that confront the sector.

In order to empower members, EPCES has engaged experts who are supporting members by giving valuable and timely guidance/ advice. While the advisers provide advisory services to the members, EPCES facilitate its members with an array of services in multiple domains.

EPCES is committed for the growth and development of the sector and will continue to strive in this direction. A brief of EPCES activities is given below:

1. EPCES organises Open Houses of EOUs, SEZ Units and SEZ Developers with Hon’ble Commerce & Industry Minister and Commerce Secretary, Government of India and other senior officers from Central and concerned State Governments at different parts of the country from time to time for resolving the issues/problems of EOU/SEZ Sector and to take suggestions from its members for submission to Ministry of Commerce & Industry for formulation of Foreign Trade Policy, SEZ Act and SEZ Rules. The Council has so far organized more than70 Open Houses all over India. As a result, a number of issues of EOUs and SEZs have been resolved and the concerned Ministries have also issued various notifications/ circulars in this regard. The members have also been informed about the same from time to time.
2. EPCES, along with its members, has been regularly participating in trade fairs/exhibitions abroad for promoting exports from the country and for building a strong image of Indian products overseas. In this regard, EPCES also provides financial assistance in the form of Market Access Initiative (MAI)to member participants in the fairs. This scheme plays an important role for exploring new markets and promoting export oriented activities for commodities and services form India. At these fairs, Council organize one-to-one meetings with foreign buyers and members get immediate export orders during these fairs. The members of the Council have also appreciated the efforts of the Council in this regard.

3. EPCES in association with High Commissions of India has organized successful seminars in Singapore, Taiwan & Indonesia by taking high power delegations from India, for bringing foreign investments in SEZ Scheme in India. These seminars provided an excellent opportunity to our delegates and SEZ developers to have interactions with businessmen and investors. These seminars have also provided good opportunity for businessmen and investors in these countries to know about Indian SEZ scheme, various SEZs and meet various SEZ developers. EPCES has received a very good feedback from its members that such type of events will definitely give very fruitful results for attracting investments in SEZs in India.

   EPCES in order to keep its members informed about the potential international markets and its benefits also organizes interactive meetings with Foreign Ambassadors in India and Foreign High power delegations in India.

4. EPCES also keeps its members abreast of the latest developments in relation to issuance of notifications, circulars by Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Finance, RBI etc. by way of issuance of EPCES Circulars to all members of the Council.
5. EPCES is continuing the process of recognizing the export efforts of EOUs and SEZ units by presenting EPCES Export Awards to best EOUs and SEZ Units for Outstanding Export Performance every year. The awards are presented by the Hon’ble Commerce & Industry Minister. On this occasion, supplements in leading national newspapers are issued publishing messages received from Hon’ble President of India, Hon’ble Vice-President of India, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Hon’ble Commerce & Industry Minister along with photographs of awardees etc. This encourages EOUs and SEZ Units to increase their efforts for promoting exports from the country.
6. EPCES has been publishing Book on Notification every year, which incorporates Notifications/Circulars, relating to EOUs and SEZ Units, issued by Central Board of Excise & Customs, Central Board of Direct Taxes, Director General of Foreign Trade and Reserve Bank of India updated SEZ Act & updated SEZ Rules. A complimentary copy of this book is sent to all the members for their smooth day-to-day functioning. In the last 16 years this book has been of immense help to EOUs, SEZ Units, SEZ Developers as well as field formations of Development Commissioners, Customs and Central Excise authorities.
7. EPCES News - EPCES has been regularly publishing its Newsletter magazine “EPCES News”. EPCES through its Newsletter has been projecting Trade & Economic Policies and covering mega events and success stories of EOUs & SEZs in the country since last 16 years with success, remarkable achievement and has been appreciated in India &aborad. EPCES News has constantly and continuously been bringing up and highlighting the issues and problems relating to the EOU & SEZ community. The Newsletter also provide suitable projection on the performance, achievements and contribution of EOUs, SEZ Units and SEZ Developers in India. EPCES News is widely distributed to members, senior government officials of different ministries, State Governments, important trade associations, Indian missions overseas & overseas missions in India, in trade fairs & exhibitions in India & abroad where EPCES participates, to potential new members etc.