India’s engineering exports to Qatar have been hit by the geopolitical situation arising out of the isolation of the West Asian country by other regional powers, according to the Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC) of India.
“Inputs from our engineering exporters indicate that shipping lines operating between India and Doha are keeping the containers on hold,” the trade’s apex body said in a statement. “A few such incidents have been reported from Jebel Ali and Krishnapatnam ports.”
‘Close eye’
EEPC India chairman T S Bhasin expressed concern and said, “Indian business and trade have a big stake in the region and it is important to keep a close eye on the fast-changing situation there.”
The industry group said since the West Asia trade had a lot of interoperability between different ports, shipments were being affected. As a consequence, banking channels, particularly in Doha and some other parts of the region, had also been disrupted.
West Asia is among the key destinations for Indian engineering exports, accounting for 13% of India's total engineering exports. Shipments worth $8.18 billion were destined for the countries in the region, EEPC India said. Major trading partners include UAE, Oman and Saudi Arabia. Exports industrial and electrical machinery.
