New export policy to promote MSME products

Reported by Chinmaya Dehury
Bhubaneswar, May 5:

While the Odisha government is giving a final shape to the draft export policy aimed at maximizing exports from Odisha in micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector, the Finance department has agreed to provide subsidy up to 50% of the total cost of transportation of exporters to a port outside the state in case cargo handling facilities for such items are not available with the ports in Odisha.

“Subsidy to the extent of 50% of the cost of transportation to a port of outside the state may be reimubrsed, provided the ports within the state do not have facilities for handling such cargo,” said a note sheet of the Finance department.

The government has also decided to develop a website, which could carry the details of the export firms and highlight the export potential in the state.

Keeping an eye on the global market, the government has decided to promote its MSME products on international platforms. Sectors which have been identified as having the potential for exports include handicrafts, handloom, textiles, engineering and chemicals, marine products, agro and forest products, pharmaceuticals, electronics and software products as well as gems and jewellery.

Odisha’s overall export figure which stood at Rs 2382.83 crore in 2001-02, has seen consistent growth over the years. While metallurgical and mineral products have contributed the maximum to the rise in the total volume and value of exports, the MSME products too have played their part.

However, exports from Odisha, which stood at Rs 16139.20 crore in 2011-12, saw a drop of 5.61 per cent when compared to Rs 17,098.88 crore in the previous fiscal.

Exports of metallurgical products too fell marginally in value terms from Rs 4807.98 crore in 2010-11 to Rs 4793.94 crore in 2011-12, official sources revealed.