Commerce And Industry Ministry favour Imposition Of Import Duty On Cement

02 March, New Delhi

The Commerce and Industry Ministry has sought imposition of import duty on Cement in order to boost exports from the country.

Addressing the 53 Annual Session of Cement Manufacturing Association in New Delhi Monday , Secretary in Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, DIPP, Amitabh Kant said that his department will raise this issue with revenue secretary to reimpose the duty to provide level playing field to domestic manufacturers of the commodity.

The cement sector wants imposition of 2 to 2.5 percent basic customs duties on Cement. He also said to drive India on high growth trajectory the infrastructure sector need to take-off and for that the Cement industry aimed to grow at high rate.

Kant said that Cement industry should focus on increasing their growth rates to 15-20 per cent per annum to help boost manufacturing sector of the country. Measures announced in the Budget to modernise infrastructure will further give a boost to the Cement industry, he said.