New Delhi, April 4 (Inditop.com) The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) has urged the government to exempt companies from paying service tax on marketing and sales promotions in rural areas.

In a post-budget memorandum submitted to Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Assocham president Swati Piramal said the next level of growth will come from rural areas and smaller cities because government schemes have lent greater purchasing power in the hands of rural folks.

Tax exemptions, she said, will not only help stimulate demand for quality products in rural areas but also prevent widespread use of fake products.