| The CII paper says among the eastern Indian states, West Bengal has the highest potential in the export sector. |
| In recognition of this, the state government has announced the "West Bengal export policy", which will be in force upto 2007. |
| A recent CII survey on business climate in West Bengal revealed 62 per cent of respondents expected share of export revenue to total revenue to increase in 2004-05 over 2003-04, while 31 per cent felt it would stagnate. |
| Exporters in West Bengal have set a target of capturing 9 per cent of India's total exports by 2007. |
| The Kolkata Leather Complex and the gems and jewellery SEZ 'Manikanchan' were expected to boost exports. |
| The 2-day seminar will feature Nirupam Sen, the minister for commerce and industries, besides B Muthuraman, chairman of CII eastern region. T C Venkat Subramanian, CMD of Exim Bank, and economists Shubhashis Gangopadhyay and Jamal Mecklai. |
| The meet will also feature a session on the role of enablers for enhancing exports, which will deal with various excise, customs, and port related issues. |
| The state's advantages included geographical location and the potential of SAARC neighbours like Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar besides proximity to south-east Asia. |
| Trade with Myanmar would flow through Assam and Manipur. The possibility of land trade with China through the Nathu-La Pass in Sikkim offered new opportunities for export growth. Kolkata could be the main trading hub and Siliguri the satellite for trade with neighbours. |
| West Bengal's foreign exchange earnings were already high thanks to export of agricultural commodities, minerals, manufactured goods and software. Kolkata and Haldia ports and Kolkata airport could feed remote destinations while border trade could be done through land ports to feed neighbouring country markets. |
| Exports to China increased in April 2003-July 2004 to $616 million, up from $469 million during the corresponding period in the previous fiscal. Potential for exports of services was huge. |
| At present, world trade in services was about $1.4 trillion or 5 per cent of the total world trade. Indian exporters have set a target to corner 1 per cent of world merchandise trade by 2007. |
| Exports during April- January 2003-04 touched $47502 million, 12 per cent higher than the level of $ 42100 million attained in April-January 2002-03. |
| In rupee terms, the value of exports was Rs 218825 crore during April-January 2003-04. |
| Exports during January 2004 touched $5117 million against $4706 million during January 2003. In rupee terms, exports in January 2004, were Rs.23263.57 crore. |
| Major sectors which contributed to high export growth during 2002-03 and 2003-04 included agriculture and allied products, marine products, ores and minerals, gems and jewellery, chemical and related products, engineering goods, computer software and hardware. |
| Small exporters urged to team up |
| Entrepreneurs and existing businesses should team up into co-operatives or associations to compete with larger organisations and grab large orders from the export market profitably, the principal secretary of the state's department of food processing industries and horticulture, S S Ahuja, said here today. |
| "It may not be possible for an individual entrepreneur to cater to large demand for flowers and other related products. A co-operative of some sort will allow profitable exploitation of the export market and compete with large Indian companies in the area," he explained. |
| Ahuja was addressing the inaugural function for a 6-week training course in export-oriented floriculture business, organised by the Bengal National Chamber of Commerce (BNCCI). |
| The secretary said exporters should explore new markets. "They should find ways and means of getting into new markets to increase their export volumes," he explained. |
| This would also require a strong product line, without which no market could be captured. Ahuja said the flower market had become very dynamic in the last few years and producers should now plan production with care. They should also go for enhancing their knowledge base. |
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