Continuation Of Operations Of Covid 19 Helpdesk For International Trade

The

Direct General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has announced the Continuation of operations of DGFT COVID-19 Helpdesk for International Trade-related Issues vide a Trade Notice No. 02/2021-2022 dated 26.04.2021. The DGFT took this initiative to monitor exports and imports’ status and the difficulties being faced by trade stakeholders because of the surge in COVID-19 cases. The current article briefs the COVID-19 Helpdesk for International Trade.

Synopsis of Notification

The Department of Commerce, Government of India, and DGFT have undertaken steps to monitor the status of export and imports and the difficulties faced by trade stakeholders because of the surge of COVID-19 cases. DGFT has accordingly operationalized a ‘COVID-19 Helpdesk’ to support and seek suitable resolutions to issues arising in respect of International Trade.

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Service Offered

This ‘COVID-19 Helpdesk’ would look into issues relating to the following:

Issues related to Department of Commerce/ Direct General of Foreign Trade (DGFT)
Import and Export Licensing Issues
Customs clearance delays
Complexities arising
Import/Export documentation issues
Banking matters

Helpdesk would also collect and collate trade-related issues concerning other Ministries, Departments, Agencies of Central Government and State Governments, and coordinate to seek support and provide possible resolutions.

Procedure to Submit Issues

EXIM community may submit information on the DGFT website and submit information relating to their issues on which support is required using the following steps: The applicant needs to access the official website of the

DGFT Website and click on the Service option. Select The applicant can submit the issue by clicking on ‘Create New Request.’ Login to the DGFT web portal using the login credential. After login into the portal, select the Category as ‘Covid-19′ and Select the suitable sub-category, enter the other relevant details and submit. Note: Alternatively, The applicant can send the issues with the subject header: Covid-19 Helpdesk or call at Toll-Free No 1800-111-550

The status of resolutions and feedback may be tracked using the Status tracker under the DGFT Helpdesk Services.
Email and SMS would also be sent as and when the status of these tickets is updated.

The official trade notice about the COVID-19 Helpdesk for International Trade is as follows:

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about COVID.

The COVID-19 Helpdesk for International Trade is an initiative by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) to monitor the status of exports and imports, and to address the difficulties faced by trade stakeholders due to the surge in COVID-19 cases. It aims to provide support and seek suitable resolutions to issues related to international trade.

The COVID-19 Helpdesk can assist with issues related to Department of Commerce/DGFT import and export licensing, customs clearance delays, complexities arising in import/export documentation, banking matters, and other trade-related issues concerning various ministries, departments, agencies of the central and state governments.

You can submit an issue to the COVID-19 Helpdesk by accessing the DGFT website, selecting the "Service" option, and clicking on "Create New Request." After logging in, select the category as "Covid-19," choose the appropriate sub-category, enter relevant details, and submit.

Yes, you can also submit issues to the COVID-19 Helpdesk by sending an email with the subject header "Covid-19 Helpdesk" or by calling the toll-free number 1800-111-550.

You can track the status of your submitted issue using the Status Tracker under the DGFT Helpdesk Services. You will also receive email and SMS updates regarding the status of your ticket.

The trade notice does not specify an end date for the operations of the COVID-19 Helpdesk for International Trade. It mentions that the DGFT has announced the continuation of the helpdesk's operations.

No, the trade notice does not mention any limitations regarding regions or industries. The helpdesk seems to be available for all trade stakeholders facing difficulties related to international trade due to the COVID-19 surge.

The trade notice does not provide details on a specific format or template. However, it suggests providing relevant details about the issue you are facing while submitting a request through the DGFT website or other mentioned channels.

The trade notice does not mention any restrictions on the number of issues that can be submitted. It is advisable to submit each issue separately for better tracking and resolution.

No, the trade notice does not indicate any cost or fee for using the COVID-19 Helpdesk for International Trade. It appears to be a free service provided by the DGFT to support trade stakeholders during the COVID-19 surge.