Commerce Ministry is pitching for a major chunk of the remaining Rs 280 crore Plan expenditure in the 2010-11 Budget to promote exports under a scheme that seeks to create new markets for Indian products.
Under the 11th Five-Year Plan (2007-12), Rs 550 crore was provided for promoting exports through Market Access Initiative (MAI) scheme.
The budget estimates for 2009-10 for the scheme were Rs 124 crore and about Rs 95 crore were allocated during the first two years of the Plan period (2007-12).
"We are demanding more assistance, at least Rs 150-180 crore, for exporters under MAI for the next fiscal," an official said.
The Finance Ministry has started inter-ministerial consultations for the next Union Budget.
Though India's exports have shown recovery since November 2009, Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma had said some of the sectors still required support.
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The exports were showing growth due to demand recovery in some of the economies and also because of low base effect.
Under the scheme, project-based assistance is provided to Export Promotion Councils, Trade Promotion Organizations, Apex Chambers of Commerce like CII, Assocham and Ficci.