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DGFT tells exporters to look beyond eurozone and explore opportunities in Latin America, CIS nations and Africa
Jul 03, 2015

KOLKATA, July 3: In the wake of the current turmoil in Greece, Indian exporters need to look beyond eurozone and explore opportunities in emerging markets such as Latin America, CIS nations and Africa, according to Mr Pravir Kumar, Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Union Ministry of Commerce & Industry.

"When there are risks, it is extremely important to distribute risks and diversify elsewhere," Mr Kumar told an Open House Meet with more than 200 exporters organised by CII Eastern Region in association with the Federation of India Export Organaistion (FIEO) here today.

On its part, the Government will continue providing policy direction, incentivizing diversification and value-added exports,” he said.

In his view, Indian exporters will also do well by focusing on the countries with which India has a free trade agreement (FTA).

The volume of Indian exports in eurozone is 18-19 percent of the country’s total exports, and that is enough reason why Indian exporters should go and take a good good look at Latin America, CIS nations and Africa.

“In line with the Prime Minister’s Digital India call, the Central Government is working overtime to devise a single window clearance to make things easier for you. This is part of the Government’s resolve to facilitate trade,” he said.

Mr Kumar also informed the exporters that his department has designed an app on the android platform which will give them an easy access to relevant information and services. “We are in the process of making our work virtually paperless", he said.

Mr Sanjay Budhia, Chairman, CII National Committee on International Trade Policy & Exports, spoke of the yawning trade deficit and cited data which says the annual trade deficit in the Asia's third-largest economy reached $137 billion in the 2014-15 fiscal – from $135.8 billion in the preceding year.

“This puts tremendous pressure on the economy. The achievements in export of services, specifically IT (Information Technology) and business services and huge remittance receipts alone are not capable to bridge the gap,” explained Mr Budhia, who is also the Managing Director of Patton International Ltd. He, however, praised the Central Government for its sincere attempts at policy reforms. “That’s quite encouraging and an impetus to the economy,” Mr Budhia said.

Mr Ramesh Kumar Agarwal, Vice President & Regional Chairman (Eastern Region), FIEO, voiced concern at the declining exports from India. “We are much concerned as the decline may be now in volume as well which serious ramifications,” adding that the Government needs provide support to the export sector at this crucial stage. 

Ms Pallavi Kaul, Chairperson, CII West Bengal State Council, said in the growing trade imbalance, India needed a futuristic policy to revive export oriented industries in the country. It is a ground work for India’s involvement in international trading engagements and global value chain. Proper market and product or service strategy has been described in the policy for the enhanced participation of Indian industries in global trade. In doing so, high importance has been given to trade facilitation, reducing cost of trade and improving ease of doing business.

These policy initiatives are in line with making India as a hub of global production. Due consideration has been given to standards and conformity assessment. This is a critical area because if we cannot produce products or services as per international best practices, we will not be able to get access to certain markets. In this integrated trade regime, technical barriers affect trade in both value and volume terms more than tariff based trade barriers do.

The industries have been encouraged to import capital goods and technologies that in turn help to build domestic capacity and competitiveness. In the same respect, some of the low value added and scrap products have been disincentivised. This is to be remembered that the Government’s focus has been to make India as a producer of products and services in the higher end of value chain. This migration will not happen over the night. Together with policy incentives, it requires constant effort to improve our production processes and service deliveries. The Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20 has laid down a roadmap towards this goal.

The Meet also saw Mr Sanjeev Nandwani, ITS, Additional DGFT, Kolkata & Zonal Development Commissioner (Eastern Region & North-Eastern Region); and Mr K C Raut, Additional DGFT, Directorate General of Foreign Trade, joined the DGFT in taking questions on the issues facing the exporters.

July 3, 2015 
Kolkata

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