Many products made in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu are not being exported, despite their potential, owing to the mindset of its producers and lack of awareness, according to D. Gajapathy, Deputy Director General of Foreign Trade, Madurai.
The Office of Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) had the mandate to help exporters by providing all requisite technical and procedural information, he said.
Mr. Gajapathy was delivering the inaugural address of a seminar on 'Strategic export management' jointly organised here on Friday by Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TNCCI), Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India, and Indian Overseas Bank.
He said that DGFT had 35 regional offices in four zones of the country. The south zone had nine regional offices including one at Madurai having jurisdiction over Dindigul, Theni, Sivaganga, Kanyakumari, Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli, and Tuticorin.
While Madurai had tremendous potential to export yarn, textile products, conveyor belts, and granites, many southern districts had potential to export agricultural products. He gave a detailed lecture on the technical and procedural details needed to foray into the export-import business.
Speaking earlier, R. Asokan, director, FIEO-Southern Region, said that seminar would focus on various aspects of the international market such as the Government departments involved, the means of finance available and how to meet risk.
S. Rethinavelu, senior president, TNCCI, said export had become a necessity to survive at present. Even small and medium industries could enter the export market, which is no more the sole domain of corporates. The vital qualities needed to enter the segment were competitive pricing, consistent quality and strict adherence to delivery schedule.
Speaking about the upcoming announcement of a new trade policy, he expressed hope that it would reduce the number of forms to be filled up and transaction costs.
M. Britto, member, managing committee of FIEO, said that in view of the prevailing power shortage, new industries must opt for equipment that were highly energy efficient.
