The exports were valued at $17,451.89 million against $14,112.88 million in this period and the increase was largely due to various policy measures initiated by the government, the analysis says. The export growth target has been set at 18 per cent for the whole of 2000-01.

Cumulatively, the imports during April-August 2000 grew by 20.51 per cent to $21,743.13 million from $18,042.32 million in April-August 1999, pushing up the trade deficit to over $4.2 billion.

The high export growth during April-August 2000 was close on the heels of a distinct turnaround in exports which clocked a 11.6 per cent growth during 1999-2000, exceeding the target of 11.3 per cent. During 1998-99, however, the exports registered a measly 2.64 per cent growth (provisional) over 1997-98.

The ministry says the high level of export performance is being sustained through continuous promotional measures, sector-specific and various other measures like cutting the transaction costs.

An "indicative" medium-term plan to fix export targets and strategies annually for the next five years (2001-06) has also been initiated by the commerce ministry. The export promotion councils and commodity boards will prepare the plan in about three months and forward it to the ministry. The plan is expected to contain an analysis of the strategies, options and further facilitating measures to achieve the year-wise targets set by these councils and boards.

In this regard, the commerce secretary has indicated to the councils and boards, the parameters to be kept in view while formulating the plan. The ministry is even willing to consider funding the councils and boards through the mechanism of MDA grants if support of any institution or consultant is needed to frame the plan. All the commodity boards in the commerce ministry will provide necessary support to the councils and boards and will interact with them in order to facilitate the job. As per the parameters laid down by the ministry, the indicative medium term plan is to contain trends in world trade in commodities for the past five years vis-a-vis India, major importing countries, their import trends and forecasts.

Other inputs that are to be included in the plan are major exporting countries, their export profile, and markets and forecasts as well as price trends of identified items, domestic and foreign.

The councils/boards are also to identify the products and major markets (new/upcoming ones) with a high import growth rate.

The medium-term strategy is to include identification of thrust countries and focus products for each-analysis of trade barriers, import trends of each country, and indicative targets and action plan to achieve them with country-wise break-up.