India allows over 100,000 tonnes of flour export to Maldives till FY14

New Delhi (PTI): The government today allowed export of over 1 lakh tonnes of wheat flour to Maldives till 2013-2014 fiscal, under the bilateral trade pact.

“Now, the quantity of wheat flour is permitted to be exported for the years 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 to Maldives under the Bilateral Trade Agreement between India and the Republic of Maldives through (state-owned trading firm) MMTC,” the Director General Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification.

In 2011-12, 32,095 tonnes of wheat flour would be exported to Maldives, it said.

During 2012-13 and 2013-14, India would ship 35,304 tonnes and 38,835 tonnes, respectively, it added.

India has banned the export of wheat and wheat products but allows shipments of small amounts under the diplomatic channel.

The DGFT has also permitted export of stone aggregate to Maldives under bilateral trade agreement between the two governments.

An annual stone aggregate export ceiling of 5 lakh tonne for the current fiscal, followed by 5.5 lakh tonnes in 2012-13 and 6 lakh tonnes in 2013-14 has been fixed by the government, the DGFT said in a notification.

“For the export of stone aggregates, the Chemical and Allied Product Export Promotion Council (CAPEXIL) shall ensure that the suppliers/extractors have obtained appropriate clearances,” it added.



Besides, the government permitted 1,185,455 tonnes of river sand (also known as construction sand) to Maldives for 2011-12 fiscal.

“...CAPEXIL shall ensure that the suppliers/extractors have obtained appropriate clearances and mining of the sand is not undertaken in the Coastal Regulation Zone Area, which is prohibited under the Coastal Regulation Zone notification,” DGFT said in a notification.

It added, export of river sand will be allowed subject to the exporter obtaining necessary environmental clearances/no objection certificate from the designated nodal authority of respective state governments from where the river sand is obtained.