Need pro-active stance to promote exports: Commerce minister

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday called upon the Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) to take a pro-active stance to promote exports.

Addressing concerns expressed by the EPCs, the minister "urged the councils to be more pro-active on behalf of exporters", a commerce ministry statement said here.

Sitharaman held a meeting with the EPCs to review the current trend of exports from India and take stock of issues faced by the exporters. As many as 14 EPCs participated in the meeting, the statement said.

"In terms of (export) volumes, most commodities have shown resilience and have maintained the levels achieved in the 2014-15 fiscal. Keeping in view the initiatives like Interest Equalisation Scheme (IES) for supporting exports, along with the global factors, there was a feeling that exports will increase," the statement said.

Meanwhile, export organisations sought government support on interest subvention for gem and jewellery sector, inclusion of merchant-exporters under the IES, promotion of brand India on a consistent basis and more incentives for project exports etc.