State clocks Rs13,463cr export earning in '08-09

Orissa recorded export earnings of Rs 13,463 crore in 2008-09 with minerals and metallurgical products accounting for 90 per cent of the amount.

“The export earnings of Orissa have progressively grown from Rs 5,391 crore in 2004-05 to Rs 13,463 crore in 2008-09. The export of minerals and metallurgical products from the state stood at Rs 11,702 crore”, said PK Mallick, director, Export Promotion and Marketing (EPM).

Other products like engineering goods, chemicals, electronics and software services as well as handloom and handicrafts also contributed to the export earnings of the state.

Mallick stressed on the need to diversify the export basket of the state as minerals and metallurgical products were having the lion's share in the export pie.

“The second half of 2008-09 witnessed an unprecedented downturn in the exports due to the global financial turmoil as a result of which the global trade shrank by 9 per cent during that period. The export-import policy recently announced by the Government of India is expected to enhance the competitiveness of the Indian exporters”, he said.

Mallick was speaking at a workshop on export finance, jointly organized by the Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO), State Bank of India (SBI) and the Directorate of Export Promotion and Marketing. Panchanan Das, additional secretary, industries department said, “Over the years, the state has clocked growth in its export earnings but there is no room for complacency. We should make continuous efforts to ensure that more and more products from the state are exported.”

All facilities and support need to be provided to the exporters in the state, especially those in the SME (small and medium enterprises) sector, he added.

Saroj Kumar Biswal, assistant general manager (international banking), SBI said, Orissa offers a huge potential for exports and SBI handles 75-80 per cent of the export transactions in the state.

Debdatta Nandwani, deputy director general, FIEO (eastern region), Niranjan Mohanty, president, Utkal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UCCI) and Pradeep K Dora, manager (international banking), SBI also spoke on the occasion.