Facility of Digital Signature for exporters - Feb 21, 2004

No.14/00/106/2004                                                                                       Feb 21, 2004

Members of the Council                                                                                   IMPORTANT
Dear Members,

Sub: Facility of Digital Signature for exporters 

We would like to inform that the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) launched Digital Signature project on Jan 28, 2004 for electronic filing of applications to DGFT for various licences like Advance Licence, DEPB, DFRC, EPCG etc. By virtue of introduction of Digital Signature, the DGFT will accept digitally signed applications filed electronically by the exporters and will issue the licenses.

The DGFT has tied-up with M/s. Safescrypt Limited for issuance of digital certificate services for filing of online applications for licenses by the exporting community. M/s. Safescrypt Limited will provide the ‘Safe Exim’ product package for digitally signing application form and filing online.

A brief write-up on ‘Digital Signature for exporters’ is enclosed at Annexure I for your information and guidance.

We would like to emphasis the following few points in respect of digitally signed applications.

1. Reduced transaction time and cost and minimizing visits to licensing offices
   

2. Applications submitted through digital signature and electronic fund transfer facility, shall be charged 50% of the normal application fee
   

3. Current facility of electronic filing of applications based on password will be discontinued with effect from April 1, 2004 in favour of digitally signed applications

As regards the 50% waiver of application fee, the DGFT issued Public Notice No.45 (RE-2003) dated Jan 28, 2004, a copy of which is enclosed herewith at Annexure II.

Member-exporters may please note the above, and avail the facility of digital signature for electronic filing of applications for various licenses. 

More details on the above are available in the DGFT website http://www.dgft.nic.in  under the caption “E-commerce user” (click for getting a digital certificate). The contact details of M/s. Safescrypt Ltd are also available therein to get more information about the new system

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,
K Abdul Sattar Khan
Assistant Director

Annexure