Chamber at Glance – The All India Exporters' Chamber

Origin and historical background

The All India Exporters Chamber, which came into existence in its present form in the year 1959, has its origin in the amalgamation of two other organisations having similar objectives. The organisations were the Africa and Overseas Exporters Chamber established in 1939 and the All India Exporters Association established in 1943.

Both these organisations were working for similar objectives and Membership due to which these organisations were merged to form the present All India Exporters Chamber in April 1959, Inaugration of AIEC was by none other than the then Commerce Minister, Late Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri. The merger took place due to the vision and foresight of the Founder Members to continue to promote International Trade and strengthen the organizational capabilities.

AIEC had the good fortune to have at the helm of affairs visionaries dedicated to undertake pioneering work in the field of exports, which was one of the strong factors in the nation building during the Post-Independence period. Incidentally most of the members of the Chamber were from Textiles Export Trade, as Textile constituted more than one third of the Export basket at the time. Today AIEC has members from a wide cross section of the Export Trade compromising all exportable commodities and covering all sectors of the Export Trade right from small scale to export houses, Star Trading Houses etc. from both Merchant and Manufacturing Exporters. The pioneering work done by the members of AIEC in expanding Textile Export Trade has made Indian Textiles reach every corner of the World. AIEC in its duration of five decades has had Seventeen Presidents and each one had left his indelible mark by his dedicated contribution.

Broadening of activities

Initially the members of all India Exporters Chamber were of Textile Exporters as those days it was one of the largest items of Export from India and catering to large number of Countries.

No other commodity Exporters needed the backing of this type of organization, as the Export quantum was insignificant. However as the time passed and India became independent and Industrial process started and the management of Indian Economy came into the hands of Indian people responsibility of Organisation increased and expansion process became faster. The membership has been widened making it broad based covering the exporters of every exportable commodity.

Aims and Objectives

To promote and protect trade, commerce and industries in India in general and Export in particular from India and to assist exporters in respect of their foreign Trade.
To bring about a friendly among the members of the chamber on all subjects involving their common good.
Transport, Industry, Banking and Insurance and such other matters as are useful to the trade.
and fair dealings in the foreign trade in India.
To establish cordial relation and encourage friendly feeling and maintain active co-operation with commercial and cultural institutions in India as well outside having similar objective as that of the Chamber.
affecting trade and commerce and to procure change of law and practice affecting trade, commerce and manufacture with a view to protecting the interest of trade and industry.
To communicate with the Chambers of Commerce and other Commercial Bodies and public Bodies throughout the World and to promote measures for protection of trade, commerce, industries and manufacturers in which the businessmen of India are concerned.
To make representations to the authorities in India and elsewhere in the matters of hardship and inconvenienced arising out of Policies and procedures related to Export trade.
To simplify and bring uniformity in rules, regulations and usages of trade and commerce.
To send or nominate representatives, delegates and advisors to represent this Chamber at any Government or public or private body or institution and to send delegations abroad for purposes of furthering trade and commerce in India.

Role of Chamber

The Chamber serves as an important link between the overseas buyers and the Indian exporters. It has endeavored to project to the outside world India’s tech-economic progress and enhanced capabilities in undertaking exports of sophisticated goods. The Chamber offers a spectrum of services like regular flow of information on export potential, acts as a catalyst in liasioning with Government Authorities and offers suggestions to the Government concerning promotion of Export trade keeping members informed of amendments in rules and regulations. It issues Certificates of Origin and recommendations for visas, arranges meetings with foreign, delegations, seminars etc.

Chamber is associated with Committee of Administration of Cotton Textile Export Promotion Council, Plastic Export Promotion Council, Federation of Import and Export Organisation, Indian Merchant Chamber, International Chamber of Commerce etc. The Chamber is playing a vital role in the foreign trade of the country and its views are considered by Government and other organisations which framing policy and procedures.

Bond between AIEC and TEXPROCIL

The bond between AIEC and Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (TEXPROCIL) is very old and very strong. The former is sponsored and constituted by the Trade and Industry whereas the later is sponsored by the Ministry of commerce, Government of India in the year 1954 with the sole purpose of promoting the export of Cotton Textiles, the All India Exporters Chamber already had about fifteen years experience in this field and was guided by a group of people with business acumen. It is but natural that Government recognized it.

AIEC through its mebers participated with all the Export activities of TEXPROCIL including forming its constitution and their contribution to the working of the TEXPROCIL was recognized with honour. Several active members of the Chamber graced Charimanship of TEXPROCIL with high dignity. A number of active members of this Chamber are constituents of committee of Administration of TEXPROCIL and contribute a lot for progress of Export. Both AIEC and Texprocil are complimentary to each other in their objective to promote Textile Export.