Govt likely to give incentives to exporters in forthcoming foreign trade policy

14 May 2012 Evaluate

In the forthcoming foreign trade policy (FTP), which is slated to be declared in the first week of June, is likely to have some incentives for export sectors to support them from the slowdown in international market.

Commerce and Industry Minister, Anand Sharma said, ‘slowdown in exports growth in April in the backdrop of the economic crisis in the Euro Zone is also a worrisome development. I will be undertaking a stock-taking exercise with all Export Promotion Councils on May 17, and a meeting of the Board of Trade will be convened on June 01, 2012. After the stock taking exercise is complete, the government will intervene in sectors which require support.’

In April, India's exports sector witnessed a growth of 3.2% after being in negative zone in March. Few of the labour-intensive sectors like gems and jewellery contracted by 25.7%, and ready-made garments contracted by 9% in the overseas shipment. Further, sectors like engineering goods, electronic products and textiles posted high growth in the initial months of 2011-12, but subsequently slowed down. The textiles sector posted negative growth in April. For 2011-12, exports clocked 21% growth at Rs 14.5 lakh crore.

While giving reactions to the IIP data, Sharma stated that the slowdown, mainly in manufacturing and capital goods sector was causing worry. By adding further he said there is a huge social dimension attached with the manufacturing sector since it supports millions of jobs and recommended the Reserve Bank for differential rate of credit for manufacturing.

The industrial output registered a growth of just 2.8% in 2011-12 compared to 8.2% expansion in previous fiscal. On the other hand, trade deficit in 2011-12 was about 10.3% of GDP, while current account deficit was about 4% of GDP.

Earlier this year, the government did not seem leaning to give concession to exporters as it was mainly focusing on controlling ballooning fiscal deficit. In fact, the Budget for 2012-13 totally ignored the exports sector and concessions worth about Rs 1,700 crore given in October 2011 were allowed to lapse.

 

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