The government issues a notification that exempts eligible units in the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) located within an International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) from needing a licence to charter foreign vessels. The exemption covers chartering for export-import (EXIM) and other international trade activities. It is issued under the Coastal Shipping Act, 2025, and applies specifically to the licensing requirement for foreign vessel chartering by these IFSC units. Multiple outlets report that the exemption is limited to the IFSC GIFT City entities and does not alter the broader coastal trade regulatory framework. The notification therefore changes a specific compliance requirement related to chartering foreign vessels for EXIM and international business, while leaving existing rules governing coastal trade unchanged.