States have been told to prepare their own export strategy and the Ministry for Commerce and Industry would share data points on their strengths and weaknesses, said Sanjay Chadha, Joint Secretary, Union Ministry for Commerce and Industry.
“We will be sharing data points on trends relating to exports for each State and the related challenges which would help the State take effective measures,” he told reporters in Chennai.
Mr. Chadha gave an example of how data might highlight port or logistics-related issues which a State needs to address. He said that States can also use the Ministry’s Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES) launched last year to strengthen export infrastructure.
Mr. Chadha said States like Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Tripura have utilised the scheme, while Tamil Nadu is yet to send in its proposal. The scheme would provide assistance for the setting up and upgradation of infrastructure projects with overwhelming export linkages like the Border Haats, Land customs stations, quality testing and certification labs, cold chains, trade promotion centres, dry ports, export warehousing and packaging, SEZs and ports/airports cargo terminuses, among others.
Matching contribution
Mr. Chadha pointed out that a State utility should invest and the Ministry would make a matching contribution. He said the Ministry has sought an increase in the outlay of the scheme to ₹300 crore from the ₹100 crore at present.
He pointed out that one way Tamil Nadu could use the scheme could be machinery for the leather industry which would be costly to buy and can be rented out on a use-and-pay basis.
Mr. Chadha was in Chennai for the announcement of the 18th edition of Indiasoft — an IT sector event aimed at helping medium and small companies tap new markets. The two-day event begins on January 24 and will be held in Bengaluru.
He noted that Japan could be one of the potential export markets for IT firms where India has only 1% share when compared to 70% in the U.S.
“One of the major challenges in tapping the Japanese market is the language barrier. Here the State governments can chip in and set up training centres to learn the Japanese language,” Mr. Chadha noted.
