Explain preliminary stage of import procedure.

Ist Stage : Preliminary Stage: 

(1) Registration : In order to carry out import, the importer has to get himself registered with the authorities given below:

• Director General Foreign Trade (DGFT) in order to get an Import-Export Certificate Number. 
• The Income Tax department to obtain Permanent Account Number. 
• To carry out GST formalities.

(2) Negotiation or Trade enquiry : The importer must collect information from overseas suppliers regarding the goods he wants to import of a product. It contains details like

• Price 
• Delivery schedule, 
• Credit period and 
• Terms and conditions of sale, payment and delivery.