In order to discuss ways to promote exports, Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu has called a meeting of various departments, including finance and textiles. The meeting would deliberate upon ways on sectoral export promotion strategy. The meeting assumes importance as India's merchandise exports in March fell after a gap of four months.
The outbound shipments increased by 9.78 percent to $302.84 billion in 2017-18 from $275.85 billion in the previous fiscal, but in March, exports contracted by 0.66 percent to $29.11 billion. Besides, petroleum products, carpet, jute items, readymade garments, gems and jewellery, iron, ore, meat, dairy and poultry products, oil meals and oil seeds were among the products that witnessed a decline in March. To boost the country’s exports, the commerce ministry is taking appropriate steps such as involving states and promoting ease of doing business. States such as Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Karnataka contribute significantly to the exports.
Further, officials from different ministries and departments including petroleum, civil aviation, agriculture, pharmaceutical, MSME, telecommunication, skill development, mines and electronics and information technology would participate in the meeting.
