India: Buying
In this page: Customs Procedures | Industrial and Manufacturing Profile | Identifying a Supplier | Controlling the Quality of the Products | Organizing Goods Transport To and From India
Customs Procedures
- Export Clearance
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Just as for imports, a company planning to engage in export activities is required to obtain an Import Export Code (IEC) number from the regional joint Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). In addition, the exporter must verify whether an export licence is required, and consequently apply to the DGFT. The exporter must also register with the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), which issues Non-Preferential Certificates of Origin certifying that the exported goods originate in India.
After the receipt of the goods in the dock, the exporter may contact the Customs Officer designated for the purpose and present the checklist with the endorsement of Port Authority and other declarations along with all original documents. Customs Officer may verify the quantity of the goods actually received and thereafter mark the Electronic Shipping Bill and also hand over all original documents to the Dock Appraiser, who may assign a customs officer for the examination of the goods. If the Dock Appraiser is satisfied that the particulars entered in the system conform to the description given in the original documents, he may proceed to allow "let export" for the shipment.
For more information, visit: Indian Customs and Excise Gateway (ICEGATE) and Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs.
- Necessary Declaration
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Businesses are required to submit a set of documents for carrying out export and import activities in India.
The Foreign Trade Policy, 2015-2020 mandates the following commercial documents for carrying out importing and exporting activities:- Bill of lading or airway bill;
- Commercial invoice cum packing list;
- Shipping bill or bill of export, or bill of entry (for imports).
Additional documents like certificate of origin and inspection certificate may be required as per the case.
- Restrictions
- Certain goods are prohibited or restricted for import and/or export. Among the prohibited goods, there are: narcotic drugs, pornographic and obscene material, counterfeit and pirated goods, antiquities, aero models, chemicals etc.
- Export Taxes
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No tax.
Exports are also exempt from consumption tax.
Industrial and Manufacturing Profile
Industry represents 24.9% of the India’s GDP. The main sectors are heavy and light engineering, steel, automotive, cement, biotechnology, drugs and pharmaceuticals, food processing, mines & minerals, textiles and fertilizers. Automotive is one of the largest industrial sectors in the country. Food processing sector is another high potential area.
Sector-specific professional associations
57 professional associations listed for India.
Type of Manufacturers
- Original Equipment Manufacturers
- A large number of OEMs have established themselves in the country: in sectors like automobile, electronics, and engineering equipment because of the availability of low-cost but skilled manpower in the country.
- Original Design Manufacturers
- There are very few ODMs. There are very good R&D professionals available in India which could be an asset for multinational companies setting up their design centers in the country.
- Subcontractors
- Subcontracting is well established in sectors like automobile ancillaries, textile & garment, and mechanical engineering.
- Useful Resources
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Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
Identifying a Supplier
Indian multisector Business directories
All.biz - India - Directory of companies in India
Bloombiz India - Business directory for India
City By App India - Business directory for India
Cybo Inda - Business directory for India
E-indiabusiness - Global B2B trade opportunities
Enroll Business India - Business directory for India
Helplinks - Business directory for India
Hotfrog India - Indian business directory
Indiae.in - Search engine for companies in India
Indian Yellow Pages - Online B2B database
To see 10 more, check out our Business Directories database.
Indian Marketplaces
Sample of marketplaces incorporated in India (A to Z)
Upcoming Trade shows in India
Other Useful Resources
- Trade Agencies and Their Representations Abroad
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Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
The Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India
Federation of Indian Export Organization (FIEO)
Directorate of International Trade
- Contact Your Commercial Representations in India
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Mauritian Embassy in India
EP-41, Jesus & Mary Marg
Chanakyapuri
New Delhi - 110021, India
Tel: (91) 11 24102161/62/63
Fax: (91) 11 24102194
Contact the Embassy per Email.
Controlling the Quality of the Products
- Quality Control Organizations
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Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
Quality Council of India (QCI)
Organizing Goods Transport To and From India
- Main Useful Means of Transport
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The passenger and freight mobility sectors in India are becoming more efficient and the logistics sector is growing at the CAGR by 10.5% and according to the latest data from NITI Aayog will reach around $215 billion in 2020. Currently, freight transport in India is road-dominated—accounting for 59% of freight movement. 35% of freight demand is met by rail, 6% by waterways and less than 1% by air.
India is strategically located on the world’s shipping routes with a coastline of approximately 7,517 km. Maritime transport handles around 70% of India’s trading in value terms. The cargo traffic at major ports is estimated at 699.55 MT in 2019 and it is expected to growth at 2.9%, according to Invest India.
India's new international status as IT and manufacturing hub has led to the growth of international air traffic. India has 91 international carriers comprising of 5 Indian carriers and 86 foreign carriers, which ensure that India is well connected with most major countries. The total air freight traffic amounts to 3.6 MMT in 2019, according to Invest India.
India has one of the largest road networks in the world, the National Highways (NHs), with a total length of 66 590 km, serve as the arterial network of the country, connecting the State capitals, ports and big cities. The Government of India has given a massive push to infrastructure by allocating about $1.4 Tn for infrastructure to be invested until 2025. The construction of national highways in India was planned for 40 km per day in 2018-19. Road freight transport represents 15% share of GDP on logistics and transportation.
The Indian rail network is spread across 67,368 km (approximately 93,000 running track km) with about 7,300 stations. The Indian Railways transported over 1,221.39MT of freight in 2019, according to Invest India. Indian Railways envisages a prospective investment of $190 bn in the next 5 years.
By Sea
- Ports
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Main ports of India
- Transport Professionals
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Indian Ports Association
- Government Transport Organisations
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Directorate General of Shipping
Shipping Corporation of India
By Air
- Airports
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Delhi airport
Kolkata airport
Mumbai airport
Chennai airport
- Transport Professionals
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- Government Transport Organisations
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Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)
Airports Authority of India (AAI)
By Road
- Government Transport Organisations
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National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)
Border Roads Organization (BRO)
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Latest Update: March 2025