With a view to doubling our percentage share of global trade within 5 years and expanding employment opportunities, especially in semi urban and rural areas, certain special focus initiatives have been identified for agriculture and other areas. The following facilities have been extended to the agriculture sector:

• A new scheme called the Vishesh Krishi Upaj Yojana (Special Agricultural Produce Scheme) for promoting the export of fruits, vegetables, flowers, minor forest produce and their value added products has been introduced by providing incentives to exporters of such products. Exporters of such products shall be entitled for duty credit scrip equivalent to 5% of the FOB value of exports for each licensing year commencing from 1st April, 2004. The scrip and the items imported against it would be freely transferable.
   
• Funds shall be earmarked under ASIDE for development of Agri Export Zones (AEZ).
   
• Import of Capital goods shall be permitted duty free under the EPCG Scheme.
   
• Capital goods imported under EPCG shall be permitted to be installed anywhere in the AEZ.
   
• Import of restricted items, such as panels, shall be allowed under the various export promotion schemes.
   
• Import of inputs such as pesticides shall be permitted under the Advance License for agro exports.
   
• New towns of export excellence with a threshold limit of Rs. 250 crore shall be notified.

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