Commerce Min chalking out fresh strategy to achieve $500 bn exports target

25 Jun 2012 Evaluate

At a time when global demand for Indian merchandise is showing signs of weakening, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry is busy chalking out fresh steps for achieving exports target of $500 billion by the end of 2013-14. The government had in May last year prepared a strategy paper on doubling exports in three years from $251 billion in 2010-11, however the global economic situation worsened a great deal since then, which has prompted the Commerce Ministry to give a re-look to its plan of action.

Trimming down the costs of transaction for exporters and making sure that they do not face non-tariff barriers in the importing countries would be some of the many important steps that the ministry is believed to be working on and the officials are likely to take around a month to prepare the complete action plan. With the lingering growth concerns over the traditional US and European markets, the ministry has been effortlessly trying to diversify India’s export basket to Latin American, African and Asian markets.

Despite the turmoil in the European markets and economic slowdown in world’s largest US economy, the African continent along with Asia showed resilience. Hence, the Commerce Ministry giving due importance to the African continent, which is growing by about 4.5 percent per annum, has identified around 25 African nations, including South Africa, Nigeria and Egypt to achieve increased shipments for about 200 Indian products including pharmaceuticals, fruits and vegetables and textiles.

By figuring out, which product has major demand in which particular nation and what type of challenges are faced by exporters, the ministry is trying to create a matrix. A final strategy will only take shape after the government-industry interface in which government will hold consultations with exporters and understand their views and opinions. Although, India's total merchandise exports to this African region stood only at $16.28 billion in 2010-11, huge demand is there for Indian goods.

Furthermore, Indian products are also gaining presence in Latin American and Asian markets, which are emerging as major export destination for domestic merchandize after demand slowdown in the traditional markets of Europe and the US. India's exports grew by 21 percent to $303.7 billion in 2011-12. However, in April, the shipments declined by 4.16 percent year-on-year.

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