Karnataka exports up 48%

Exports from Karnataka increased by 48 per cent during financial year 2004-05 touching an all time high of Rs 61,758.69 crore, as compared to Rs 41,670.24 in 2003-04.

All India exports grew at less than half the rate, at 23 per cent to touch Rs 4,30,888 crore in FY 2004-05, compared to Rs 3,49,581.93 in FY 2003-04.

As a result, the percentage of the state's share in all India exports has grown to 14.33 per cent in FY 2004-05 as against 11.92 per cent in FY 2003-04. With this, Karnataka is ranked fourth in the country, said industries minister P G R Sindhia, at a press conference here on Monday.

Sindhia, attributed the good growth due to the state government's proactive measures involving the trade and chambers of commerce at both state and district levels. The state has clocked 52 per cent export growth in the computer software sector to touch Rs 27,600 crore whereas all India growth in the sector was at 29 per cent to touch Rs 74,820 crore.

In product exports (non-software) too, the state witnessed a 45 per cent growth at Rs 34,158.69 crore which was more than double the all India rate of 22 per cent at Rs 3,56,068 crore.

Following are commodity wise export performance of Karnataka for FY 2004-05, with the previous year's figure in brackets:

Electronics, computer software and biotech Rs 31,488.73 crore (Rs 20,522.28 crore), readymade garments Rs 4,500 crore (Rs 4,038 crore), petroleum and petroleum products Rs 6,186 crore (Rs 4472.15 crore), engineering products excluding HR coils Rs 2,147.35 crore (Rs 1,899.49 crore), iron ore and minerals including granite Rs 4,480 crore (Rs 2093.43).

In addition to these, export of silk products was Rs 898.80 (Rs 967.99), coffee products Rs 705.65 crore (757.57 crore), basic chemicals, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics Rs 746.03 crore (Rs 649.22 crore), agriculture and processed food products Rs 362.41 crore (Rs 361.25 crore), gems and jewellery Rs 4,644 crore (Rs 2,631 crore), cashew and cashew kernals Rs 518.35 crore (Rs 265.72 crore), handicrafts (includes agarbatti "" figures awaited) Rs 324.28 crore (Rs 324.28), leather products Rs 186.75 crore (Rs 276.51 crore), chemical and allied products Rs 705.52 crore (Rs 338.62 crore), marine products Rs 91.65 crore (Rs 81.58 crore), Plastic goods Rs 2,779.10 crore (Rs 749.07 crore), spices Rs 109.54 crore (Rs 99.58 crore), wool and woollen products Rs 109.40 crore (Rs 89.25 crore), miscellaneous and others Rs 775.13 crore (Rs 1053.25 crore).