Press Releases
Myiris New Delhi, 26 March 2014
Expanding usage of ATA carnet system benefit Indian exporting community
Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) along with World ATA Carnet Council (WATAC), ICC Asia and Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce & Industry (CACCI) jointly organized a workshop in New Delhi on 'Why should India expand the ATA Carnet System'.
This initiative is one of multiple steps and initiatives taken by FICCI and the Indian government recently to encourage greater usage of the ATA Carnet.
ATA Carnet is an internationally accepted customs document used by members of the exporting community from India, to travel abroad with commercial samples for participating in exhibitions, trade fairs or business promotion tours. ATA Carnet is a temporary admission document, which simplifies the customs procedures and clearances in a foreign country, without paying duty or a bank guarantee for temporary import into that country. Like a passport for goods, ATA Carnet allows for the goods for which it was issued to enter any of the participating countries for up to one year. In India, FICCI is the sole National Guarantor for ATA Carnets.
The Indian Government is actively considering to expand the scope of ATA Carnet convention. At present, India is a signatory to convention on exhibitors and fairs only. It is proposed to expand the same to cover commercial samples, professional equipment, private exhibitions, film shootings, musical troupes, sports, media coverage etc.
The prime objectives of the current workshop are:
- To expand India's participation in the ATA system to cover professional equipment and commercial samples for the benefit of all national guaranteeing organizations affiliated to the international ATA Carnet guarantee chain
- To enhance Customs-Business Partnership
- To create awareness amongst Indian exporting fraternity about the benefits of ATA Carnet
- To discuss and review the practical operation of ATA Carnet System in India
At present 73 countries recognize ATA Carnet, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Spain, UAE, UK and USA. To facilitate Carnet like mechanism for temporary movement of goods/ exhibits between India and Taiwan, a protocol was signed between FICCI in India and TAITRA in Taiwan.