Chamber at a glance

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, Inauguration of AIEC was by none other than the then Commerce Minister, Late Shri Lal Bahadur Shahstri. The merger took place due to the vision and foresight of the Founder Members to continue to promote International Trade and strengthen the organisational capacities.

AIEC had the good fortune to have at the helm of affairs visionaries dedicated to undertake pioneering work in the field of export, 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 Textile 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 comprising 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 Manufacturer 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 four decades has had Seventeen Presidents and each one had left his indelible mark by his dedicated contribution.

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 organisation, as the Export quantum was insignificant. However as the time passed and India became independent and Industrialisation 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.

• 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 feeling among the members of the Chamber on all subjects involving their common good.

• To secure organised action on all subjects relating to the foreign trade, and particularly in the matters relating to Shipping and Transport, Industry, Banking and Insurance and such other matters as are useful to the trade.

• To establish, regulate and encourage just and equitable principles, healthy and fair dealings in the foreign trade in India.

• To establish cordial relations and encourage friendly feeling and maintain active co-operation with commercial and cultural institutions in India as well as outside having similar objective as that of the Chamber.

• To urge or oppose by lawful means legislative and other measures 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 inconveniences 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.

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.

The chamber is represented on a number of bodies concerning Import Export trade such as:
Customs and Central Excise Advisory Committee, Panel of Arbitrators & Umpires of Cotton Textile Export Promotion Council, Customs Advisory Committee etc.

Chamber has representation on Committee of Administration of Cotton Textile Export Promotion Council, Plastic Export Promotion Council, Federation of Import and Export Organisation, Indian Merchant Chamber, Indian 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.

The bond between AIEC and Cotton Textile Export Promotion Council (TEXPROCIL) is very old and very strong. The former is sponsored and constituted by the Trade whereas the later is sponsored by the Ministry of commerce, Government of India and represented by the Industry and Trade. When the TEXPROCIL was 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 (Comprising Africa & Overseas Exporters' Chamber and All India Exporters' association) 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 recogonised it. AIEC through its members participated with all the Export activities of TEXPROCIL including forming its constitution and their contribution to the working of the TEXPROCIL was recognised with honour. Several active members of the Chamber graced Chairmanship of TEXPROCIL with high dignity. A number of active members of this Chamber are constituents of committee of Administration of TEXPROCIL and contributed a lot for progress of Export. Both AIEC and Texprocil are complimentary to each other in their objective to promote Textile Export.