Engineering product exports to touch $100bn by 2012-13

Chennai:

The southern region accounts for 20 per cent of India’s total engineering exports and exporters hope to attain the target of 100 billion worth exports by 2012-13.

Hailing the growth of export of engineering goods, Tamil Nadu governor K Rosaiah urged the exporters to achieve the ambitious target of $100 billion by 2012-13.

Complimenting the EEPC role in taking the exports of engineering products to amazing level, he said the exports of engineering products has risen by 84 per cent when compared to last year.

He also said total exports from the country during 2010-11 was $ 251.13 bn comparing to previous year export worth $178.75 billion registering growth of 40 per cent.

Sixty exporters were honoured for export excellence by the governor.

National chairman of EEPC Aman Chadha said exports dropped from $40.5 billion in 2008-09 to $32.5 billion in 2009-10 but now has risen to $60 billion.

He said the immediate goal is to lower the current account deficit in the balance of payment to one per cent of India’s GDP in the next five years from the over two per cent at present.

Later speaking to Express, exporters said government should make efforts to decongest ports in Chennai and Ennore to boost exports,.

Speaking to Express after being honoured with the top exporter award, K Sridhar vice-president of Toyota Kirloskar Motor said the Chennai port is the gateway to South East Asia and Union government should take initiatives to make port operations smooth in Chennai and Ennore so that exporters could use the logistics features.

Ruing that Ennore port is charging exorbitant fee, Sridhar his company’s operations has contributed to the growth of the Indian company.

Interestingly, Toyota Kirloskar has exported engineering good worth Rs 420 crore but then they are not that buoyant about the future following the global recession. Similarly, Ashok Leyland special director of International operations Antony Lobo said his firm won the golden trophy for exports of engineering goods worth Rs 1,200 crore. “Last year alone we supplied trucks and buses to over 30 countries. I am happy in getting the top honour,” he added.