Pre-budget meets to start today

NEW DELHI, JAN 4: Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha begins his week-long pre-budget meetings tomorrow amidst industry8217;s demand for a stable taxation policy and rationalisation of customs and excise duty structure.

quot;Central excise and customs should be suitably amended to safeguard the interest of domestic industries on the lines of India8217;s stand at WTO,quot; Assocham said on pre-budget meetings beginning with representatives of farmers and economists tomorrow.

During the meeting with industrialists on January 7, the captains of Indian industry would impress upon the finance minister to consider introduction of alternative measures to neutralise the hidden costs, like high cost of power and capital, to make India8217;s exports competitive to meet the challenges of globalisation.