Centre allows International Trade Settlements in Indian Rupees for Export Promotion Schemes under the Foreign Trade Policy

Decision to facilitate and ease international trade transactions in Indian Rupees

The Government of India has made suitable amendments in the Foreign Trade Policy and Handbook of Procedures to allow for International Trade Settlement in Indian Rupees (INR) i.e., invoicing, payment, and settlement of exports / imports in Indian Rupees. Accordingly, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) had earlier introduced Para 2.52(d) vide Notification No. 33/2015-20 dated 16.09.2022 to permit invoicing, payment and settlements exports and imports in INR in sync with RBI’s A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.10 dated 11th July 2022.

In continuation to the above notification, changes have been introduced under Para 2.53 of the Foreign Trade Policy, for grant of exports benefits / fulfilment of Export Obligation under the Foreign Trade Policy, for export realisations in Indian Rupees as per the RBI guidelines dated 11th July 2022.

The updated provisions for Export Realisation in Indian rupees been notified for, imports for exports (Para 2.46 of FTP), export performance for recognition as Status Holders (Para 3.20 of FTP), Realisation of export proceeds under Advance Authorisation (AA) and Duty Free Import Authorisation (DFIA) schemes (Para 4.21 of FTP) and Realisation of Export Proceeds under Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) Scheme (Para 5.11 of HBP).

Accordingly, benefits / fulfilment of Export Obligation under the Foreign Trade Policy has been extended for realisations in Indian Rupees as per the RBI guidelines dated 11th July 2022. Given the rise in interest in internationalisation of Indian Rupee, the given Policy amendments have been undertaken to facilitate and to bring ease in international trade transactions in Indian Rupees.

International Trade Settlement in Indian Rupees now permits INR export realisations to satisfy Foreign Trade Policy export benefits and obligations. Permits invoicing, payment and settlement of cross-border exports and imports in Indian Rupees and aligns export realisation requirements under the Foreign Trade Policy with central bank guidance, allowing INR-denominated export realisations to satisfy eligibility for import-for-exports recognition, Status Holder export performance, and fulfilment of export obligations under Advance Authorisation, Duty Free Import Authorisation and Export Promotion Capital Goods schemes.