Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, with a view to give proper direction, guidance and encouragement to the Services Sector, has set up an exclusive Export Promotion Council for Services in the name of Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC). SEPC was registered under the Societies Registration Act in November, 2006.  DGFT, vide Gazette Notification dated 5/3/2007, included SEPC in the list of the recognised Export Promotion Councils. SEPC has been mandated to promote export of services in the following sectors:-

Ministry of Commerce & Industry administers a scheme known as Market Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme for the promotion of exports including services exports.  Service Exporters, who are members of SEPC, are eligible for financial assistance under MDA scheme for participating overseas “Buyer Seller Meet” or in any international conference to showcase their service capability. 

With the new Foreign Trade Policy (2009-14), the Government of India has aimed to accelerate growth in export of services so as to create a powerful and unique ‘Served from India’ brand.  All services providers who have a total foreign exchange earnings or earning in Indian rupees which are otherwise considered as having been paid for in free foreign exchange by RBI, of at least Indian rupee 10 lakhs in the preceding or current financial year shall be eligible to qualify for duty credit scrip.  They shall be entitled to duty credit equivalent to 10 percent of the foreign exchange earned by them in the preceding financial year.  Duty credit entitlement may be used for import of any capital goods including spares, office equipment and professional equipment, office furniture and consumables, provided it is part of their main line of business. In addition to this all service exporters are also entitled for EPCG and other benefits as provided under

FTP 2009-2014

Management of council

The management of the SEPC vests with the Central Governing Council elected by member. Eminent personalities, Shri Lalit Bhasin, reknowned advocate, is the Chairman and Dr. Naresh Trehan, reknowned cardiologist, is the Vice-Chairman of the Council. Shri Rajesh Sharma has been appointed by the Central Government, who is the Director General and CEO of the Council.

Aims and objective for which Services Export Promotion Council is established are:

• Organizing visits of delegations of members to explore opportunities for Services

• Organizing, participation in seminars, conferences and meets in India and abroad, trade fairs/exhibitions/buyer-seller meets.

• Disseminating information regularly and continuously in foreign countries regarding the potential image of Indian Services sector and informing the public in foreign countries the advantages of availing Services from India.

• Compiling statistics and other relevant information regarding international trade in Services.

•  Providing commercially useful information and assistance to members in developing and increasing export of Services.

•  Disseminating information useful to members by literatures, discussions, books, correspondence or otherwise.

•  Offering professional advise to members in areas such as technology upgradation, quality and design improving, standards and specifications of the products and Services;

•   Maintaining liaison with agencies dealing in international trade and Services so as to promote export of Services from India.

• Communicating with the chambers of commerce and other mercantile chambers of commerce, professional bodies, other mercantile and public bodies in India and abroad for promoting measures for the advancement of exports of Services from India.

• To take up various issues/problems and suggestions connecting with Services, with government and International agencies to promote interest of Services Providers.

(B)  Promoting interaction between Services providers and government both at central and state levels.

(C)    To channelize financial assistance rendered by the central government to members for assisting their export market  development efforts.

(D)    To collaborate in kindered activities with the other export promotion councils/export promotion organisations in India and similar bodies in foreign countries and with international organizations working in the field. 

(E)  To enter into contracts

(G)  To invest the money of the Council in any Bank approved by the Governing Council and the money received from the Central government as per directions of that government.

(H)    To subscribe for, become a member of and cooperate with any other Association, whether incorporate or not, whose objects are, altogether or in part, similar to those contained in this Memorandum and to obtain from and to communicate to any such Association such information as may be likely to fulfill the objects of this Council.

(I)     To obtain from the members and to prepare for the Council as a whole, action plans for promotion of exports of Services, development of exports markets, generation of production for exports, setting of export target, generally and in relation to specific countries and sectors, on an annual basis and for such medium and long terms as may be considered desirable and to ensure/undertake execution of such plans.

(J)    To construct building(s) and to furnish security by way of mortgage, charge, etc of the Council’s properties and assets. 

(K)   To avail of loans and financial facilities from banks, Financial Institutions, Companies or Corporations for construction of building(s) and to furnish Companies or Corporations for construction of building(s) and to furnish security by way of mortgage, charge, etc. of the Council’s properties and assets. 

(L)    To do all such other lawful acts as would be conducive for the promotion of exports and to the interests of the Council or incidental to the attainment of the above objects or of any of them.