Amid rising imports, Centre mulls boosting production of specific items

Government officials also told industry representatives that exports and domestic production are inter-linked

Amid a sustained rise in inbound shipments, officials from the commerce department on Tuesday met industry representatives over ways to boost domestic production of specific items, beginning with consumer products. This, in turn, could give a fillip to exports, people aware of the matter said.

Officials refused to call this an import-substitution strategy, saying there is no attempt to stop inbound shipments. This is a strategy to enhance domestic production instead, they added. The department of commerce has identified 102 priority items that are imported in sizable quantities or saw a sharp rise in inbound shipments in recent times.

These 102 items