In keeping with the Digital India vision, Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) launched the online payment facility for application fees of various schemes and services.
The facility also allows electronic funds transfer from 53 banks, according to an official release. The facility was inaugurated by Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia.
As a measure of Trade Facilitation and Ease of Doing Business, DGFT has already operationalised the facility of online filing of various applications by the exporters and importers under the Foreign Trade Policy (2015-20).
Early this year, DGFT also operationalised the facility of online submission of applications for issue of online Importer Exporter Code in digital format or e-IEC for entrepreneurs/exporters/importers.
Now with the online payment facility being available from 53 banks as well as Credit and Debit cards, it would be possible to not only apply online for benefits under various schemes under Foreign Trade Policy but also make payment of the required application fee online, thus totally obviating the need to visit the offices of DGFT or banks for submission of applications.
With the launch of this new facility applicants can now pay fees online to DGFT through their Credit /Debit Cards or through net banking in a 24×7 environment, from the comfort of their homes/offices or IT kiosks. This facility would also make the field offices of DGFT paperless to a large extent.
It would also ensure transfer of the fee amount into government account on T+1 working day, avoiding undue delay in deposit of bank drafts etc.
DGFT has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Central Bank of India, that will provide payment gateway services to the online portal of DGFT to enable applicants/exporters/importers to pay their application fees through Credit/Debit Cards or through net banking.
The Central Bank of India will thus:
(i) Provide facility for collection of fee through online portal of DGFT from banks through internet banking, debit cards and credit cards;
(ii) Provide e-challans, banks scrolls, transaction IDs for all successful transactions
(iii) Refund amount to the applicant within 3 days, in case of failed transactions;
(iv) Provide all relevant details for seamless integration with the PAO and subsequent reconciliation with banks and RBI; and
(v) Transfer the funds as per remittance norms of T+1 working day.