Trade body stresses for increased direct exports

Gujarat contributes over 17 per cent of the total Indian exports, but over 70 per cent of the exports from the state are channelled through other states.

Deys and chemicals, agro-products, engineering products, petrochemicals, gems and jewellary, textiles are the exported from the state to countries such as the US, the UK, the UAE and Hong Kong.

But of the total exports from Gujarat, only 5 per cent are directly exported from the state while the rest is channeled through other states.

"We are working to connect the Gujarat-based entrepreneurs to the international markets. Once the Gujarat-based entrepreneurs are able to network with international businesses and institutions the state will be able to exports directly from Gujarat," said Jagat Shah, president Chamber of Young Gujarat Entrepreneurs (COYGE).

He was speaking at an interactive session on 'The Art and science of using Internet as a Tool for Export,' organised by COYGE in Ahmedabad on Friday.

India's export has grown by over 20 per cent in the last financial year. India has exported over Rs 56,000 crore to the US, accounting for over 21 per cent of the total Indian exports, followed by the UAE at Rs 16,000 crore.

Indian exports to the UK stood at Rs 12,000 crore and to Hong Kong Rs 10,000 crore. The state-wise study shows that Gujarat holds major chunk of export to these countries.

"The chamber, formed on June last year with over 150 members, will promote an environment for quality-focused international trade and will evolve as a techno-commercial linkages to the exporter-importer co-operation. The chamber will provide international organisational linkages to the members and the institutions at the suitable level and will provide feedback to the members on international market expectations," said Shah.

COYGE will provide international marketing support to its members by discussing various export and import difficulties facing the exporters and importers, suggesting measures to address those issues and implementing those measures and creating necessary infrastructure to implement those measures.

The chamber will also create programmes for the industry and institutions and implement the same with support of national and international institutions and experts in a self-sustainable way.

"The board base of the chamber will support the ideas in the fast changing international market scenario and also economise in provision of related services in a professional manner. The chamber will do a benchmarking against the best practices in the industry and continuously create new and innovative ideas for the improvement of international trade of its members," Shah added.