Global slowdown may dampen export growth prospects in 2013
said 2012 was one of the most challenging years.
"We witnessed lower buyer sentiments due to sluggish market condition," he said. Sectors which contribute maximum in the country's exports have been registering negative growth since April-November period of this fiscal.
While exports of engineering and gems and jewellery items contracted by 5.3 per cent and 10 per cent, respectively, that of cotton yarn, jute, readymade garments and handicrafts shrunk by 11 per cent, 14 per cent, 8 per cent and 65 per cent, respectively, during April-November period of the current fiscal.
"This is a matter of serious concern to us. They are directly linked to job creation and job sustenance," Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma has said.
However, the government is making every effort to support exporters. Sharma has recently announced several measures including extension of cheap loan facility for one more year till March 2014.
The minister said those incentives will help in bridging the trade deficit.
The two per cent interest subsidy scheme, which was to end on March 2013 has been extended for one more year. Besides, more sectors have been covered under it with the engineering exporters being the major beneficiaries.
Merchandise shipments to the US, European Union and the Asian markets will now qualify for additional sops. Exporters are facing a demand slowdown in these markets.
"With these measures, we should be able to give a push to our exports in the last quarter of this financial year. The objective is to stabilise the
Be the first to comment.
