\"We have proposed to increase freight subsidy under the new export policy. We are providing it already to make products competitive,\" Navneet Sehgal, Additional Chief Secretary (MSME and Export Promotion)said

Local manufacturers who could benefit include makers of auto components, furniture, cast items of iron and steel, ceramic items, bags and briefcase, among other items

The meeting is crucial given that no private investor has so far shown keen interest in acquiring the debt-laden carrier forcing the government to extend bidding date thrice

FM Sitharaman, while announcing relief measures under Atmanirbhar Bharat package, said that government agencies would partially release bank guarantees, to the extent contracts are partially completed, to ease cash flows

While refunds for 'risky' exporters have been a contentious issue, tax consultants with sizeable client base said that technical glitches are also being cited for pending GST refunds

With foreign trade pattern changing drastically over the last few months in the wake of global supply disruptions and demand slump among other key factors, lower imports have resulted in fewer containers coming back to India

Government feels if big companies clear their dues, MSMEs will be able to revive their business during festive season

With festive season stoking demand for consumer items, logistics firms expect stellar growth in the remaining part of the fiscal and plan to substantially increase their headcount

MSME Ministry in a statement said that it will now be possible to know the emotions of the people involved with or dependent on the MSME sector and address their grievances in real time

All ministries and departments have been asked to expedite asset monetisation exercise and meet the timelines set for each project

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman projected that the fresh stimulus would boost demand by Rs 73,000 crore during the remainder of FY21. However, experts do not rule out slippage in capex

Air India fears Gulf carriers will eat its market share on long-haul routes such as India-Europe, India-US and India-UK once travel restrictions are lifted

Meenakshi Malik, Commercial Director, last week tested positive and has been in home quarantine

Weeks before the festive season begins, some of the high-frequency indicators such as auto sales, air traffic, toll collection and rail freight loadings have revived hopes of recovery

MSMEs have claimed that GST Act imposes higher tax rate and compliance burden for businesses selling online, thus preventing them from swiftly transitioning to online platforms

Labour unions have opposed new rule which allows companies with upto 300 employees to lay-off staff and close the firm without government approval. The threshold for this was 100 employees earlier

Under cash flow-based lending, banks extend credit to companies considering their future sales projection; it is one of the relief measures MSMEs have sought amid coronavirus crisis

The Code on Industrial Relations allows companies with up to 300 workers to fire them without prior government approval; they also make it difficult for unions to go on strike without prior 60-day notice

MSMEs have called for allowing medium enterprises to access Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Councils, a mechanism to settle payment disputes open only to micro and small enterprises so far

Sectors that would be the focus of discussion are hospitality, textile and real estate. Measures to boost the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), one of the worst affected sectors, would also be discussed