i have been in Imports and Imports consulting business since last 34 years being proprietor of the firm in the name of "western commission agency". i have done Imports only against the advance deposit from the buyer of food items, furniture and it's parts,food supplements etc. then side by side i developed the consultations regarding everything for Imports from IEC code to that of door delivery of cargo with the help of the chas (Now referred as custom brokers). i had done the liasioning with the good offices of the a.d.g.f.t., Mumbai,dgft,Delhi, Customs, Gst, fssai etc. i have also done brokerages in various types of transferable Import licenses as per F.T.P. in force from time to time from the era of Additional import license and registered exporter's license to that of meis at present experiencing through S.I.L. (special import License), flexibilities, Exim scrips, V.A.L. (transferable value advance license), D.E.P.B. etc. etc. i always prefer the shipping agent or logistics from India i.e. from domestic market which prove cost effective from that of foreign supplier's shipping agent or logistics if negotiated from here while booking in foreign because then afterwards when the cargo manifests ,it is heavily charged locally for release washing out the discounts given there. so import needs to be carefully planned and keeping updates of the trade. similarly On Export front subsidies and risk should be carefully understood along with packing specifications.