India eyes Gulf, Iran and CIS to expand its export basket

Chennai:

India is now focusing on Gulf countries, Iran and common wealth of independent states to expand its market for export of apparels, according to union commerce secretary S R Rao.

Speaking to reporters after the Open House organized by Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) and Confederation of Indian Industry on Friday, Rao said India is now looking beyond traditional markets

He also said that the government is planning to make custom operations 24/7. “We want to follow the global model to make it competitive globally,” he said.

Interestingly, his statement came in the wake of chief commissioner of customs Mala Srivastava opposing the move in the open house stating that it involves huge costs.

Mala Srivastava also said that Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) has cleared Larsen and Toubro’s Kattupalli port near Chennai as a transshipment facility. “Soon it will be ready for Export and Import (EXIM) trade,” she added.

Walter D’Souza, regional chairman FIEO said exports from the state during 2011-12 crossed $33.50 billion, 26 per cent higher than the previous year’s export. The state’s share was 11 per cent of the country’s exports,” D’Souza said.

FIEO president Rafeeque Ahmed also spoke on the occasion. Director General of Foreign Trade Anup K Pujari gave a patient hearing to a series of complaints from the exporters.