Odisha sets export target of Rs 3.5 lakh crore by 2026-27

Bhubaneswar: Odisha government’s progressive policy framework is poised to take the state to the league of top five exporting states and achieve an export target of Rs 3.5 lakh crore by 2026-27.

The Export Promotion Policy-2022 promotes the design and implementation of sector and product specific export promotion strategies in collaboration with leading export promotion councils and other trade-related organisations of repute to aid product and market diversification.

The policy advocates diversification of the state’s export basket by facilitating value addition of products to further maximize the export value. It acknowledges the need for a product and market-relevant quality and standards ecosystem (testing facilities and certification).

To ensure that, ‘Made in Odisha’ products meet globally-accepted quality standards. The state is strengthening the current network of quality control and certification labs.

The state government is on the path to transform six testing labs into Centers of Excellence providing state of the art testing and certification facilities for exporters of various product groups such as fertilizers, marine seafood products, PVC pipes, textile materials and building materials, said an official.

The policy provides an enabling framework to achieve this vision. The policy promotes improved accessibility to common facility center, processing center and raw materials to enhance the productivity of manufacturing and export-oriented units in Odisha.

The policy emphasizes on export-oriented capacity building programmes to improve awareness on phyto-sanitary requirements, testing and certification requirements. It also provides a framework to address information gaps through regular awareness programmes on export market opportunities, packaging and requirements.

According to the official, the policy promotes market diversification with a particular focus on access to new markets. It encourages implementation of various marketing support measures such as market research in sector-specific international destinations, collaboration with Export Promotion Councils (EPCs).

Addressing the need for export-oriented infrastructure through TIES or any other scheme implemented by centre/state is a key objective of the policy.

The policy advocates a ‘whole-of-government’ approach to improve export competitiveness of the state. The state government has established a robust institutional mechanism for efficient policy implementation comprising the State Level Export Promotion Committee (SLEPC), District Level Export Promotion Committee (DLEPC) and Sector-specific task force.

The policy focuses extensively on improving the overall ease of exporting from the state through various measures such as a single window for information dissemination, online grievance redressal mechanism, branding of Made in Odisha products in national and international platforms by incentivizing participation of exporters in trade fairs and exhibitions.

The policy suggests fiscal incentives for first time exporter to cover costs incurred towards registration/membership up to Rs 40,000. It has also introduced fiscal incentives to cover the cost incurred towards quality certification (up to Rs 10 lakh) and technology acquisition (up to Rs 5 lakh).

Fiscal incentives have been designed to help cover costs incurred towards testing and export related certification. Special incentives have been proposed to support new product / value added product exported to new markets.