Exim Academy

 Can Used Laptop/Computer be imported? Every now and then, I get calls from people saying that they have been advised by the courier companies to find Customs agent to clear their laptops.   People are taken aback by the advice of the courier companies as it was in their contract to deliver the laptop to their premises.   But Courier companies shy away from clearance. Then consignees start looking around for people who would do customs clearance part.   Why these courier companies advise to get the laptop customs cleared by consignees?   Because, in terms of Foreign Trade Policy, import of used laptops is restricted for imports.   It means one has to obtain a valid licence from the Government.   Approaching the Government for a single laptop is not worthy and you may not even succeed.   Of course, there are exception to this rule, but we will dwell in to it in another post.   The said policy is reproduced below: Import Policy for Second Hand Goods: 2.31 Second Hand Goods S.No. Ca

Legalisation of Documents Legalisation of documents mean document issued with correct stamp in order to be recognised in another country.   In India, whenever, goods are shipped to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)member states, the importers require trade documents to be legalised before sending to them.   The member countries of GCC are Kuwait, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Bahrain.   While Legalisation can be sought by any country, GCC countries are more specific and demand the same.   These are the countries that are not part of Hague Convention, 1907.     According to Wikipedia, “ The Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents, the Apostille Convention, or the Apostille Treaty, is an international treaty drafted by the Hague Conference on Private International Law”   Since these countries are not in the Hague Convention, the documents from India are to be attested or legalised by their respective consulates/embassies in India. Th

 What do we learn from the Chinese? Ever wondered how China has become such a major power in economy, sports or in diplomacy in a matter of roughly 2 to 3 decades. This question always used to bother me a lot. A country which was equal or less than in India till 1978 leap frogged in to world stage. In the process lifting out 50% of its population from poverty and subsistence living. The only country that can be compared with India is China, no body else in terms population and concomitant problems.  Yes, the differentiating factor is democracy in India and dictatorship in China. But that also does not explain their economic miracle! If democracy is the factor, both India and US are democracies, where are we? The distinguishing factor is the work culture of the Chinese people. I attended Canton fair in 2011. The sheer size of the fair is mindboggling. As one stands in queue to enter you can hear voice as 'name cad, name cad'. Actually it is visiting card, that they were saying i