Apr-Dec 2016 saw rise in merchandise exports: Govt

There has been a positive growth in exports to the tune of 4.37 per cent in rupee terms and 0.75 percent in US Dollar terms between April and December last year in merchandise exports, compared to the corresponding period the previous year, government said today.
During the Question Hour in Rajya Sabha, Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said during the period April to December 2016 merchandise exports saw favourable growth compared to the previous year.
"However, there was decline of 9.49 percent in rupee terms and 15.48 percent in US Dollar terms in merchandise exports during the year 2015-16 as compared to the year 2014-15," she said, adding that several steps were taken to address the issue.

Besides an Export Development Fund and other policy intiatives like Services Export from India scheme to boost exports, the government is also ceased of the problems related to "inverted duty structure" and steps are being taken to address them, she said.
During the Question Hour, Heavy Industries Minister Anant Geete said the Government has unveiled a Capital Goods policy to increase the share of capital goods from 12 to 20 per cent.