Bill to remove hurdles in agri, marine products exports introduced

New Delhi, May 15 (UNI) The government today introduced the Cess Laws (Repealing and Amending) Bill, 2005, aimed at removing major irritants in the exports of agriculture and marine products.

In his opening remarks, Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh said the bill was aimed at removing cesses on five categories of items -- processed food, tobacco, spices, coffee and marine products, which engaged gave employment to at least nine million families in the country.

The Bill, when passed, would go a long way in making these products more competitve in the world market, he said.

''The move was necessiated in the backdrop of the major disadvantages our exporters faced with countries like Vietnam having entered the world market,'' Mr Ramesh said.

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