[ad_1]
Gujarat has topped Niti Aayog’s Export Preparedness Index 2021 that aims to help evaluate states’ and Union Territories’ preparedness to export and take measures for improvement wherever possible.
This is the second consecutive year that Gujarat has emerged as the top performer.
According to a report by the government’s policy think tank NITI Aayog on Friday, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Haryana bagged the second, third, fourth and fifth positions, respectively. Lakshadweep, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Ladakh and Meghalaya were placed at the bottom of the index.
“While the central government plays an active role in enhancing India’s exports, it is also essential for the state governments to actively strategise their industrial policies to achieve more significant exports. The top-six states in India —Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana —contribute 75 per cent of India’s overall exports,” NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman
Rajiv Kumar said.
The ranking is based on four main pillars — policy, business ecosystem, export ecosystem and export performance —and 11 sub-pillars, such as export promotion policy and business environment. The index aims to instil competition among all states to bring about favourable policies, ease the regulatory framework, create necessary infrastructure and assist in identifying strategic recommendations for improving export competitiveness.
Since states have a predominant role in the allocation of all factors of production, India’s export policy needs to be more decentralised and state-specific, Kumar said.
The index was released days after the government said India had exported goods worth $400 billion 10 days ahead of schedule —37 per cent higher than the earlier fiscal year.
Commerce Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam said exports have done extremely well and crossed $400 billion-target ahead of schedule despite issues like shortage of containers, shipping freights, shortage of chips and semiconductors.
“About 18 per cent of the economy is merchandise exports… I think we should be aiming at something like 25 per cent of the GDP to be actually traded,” he said, adding that the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) comes out with ODOP (One District One Product) programme, which has actually created a buzz all around and “we have actually built on that to have district export hub initiative, which we are trying to convert into a scheme”.
The commerce secretary also said the government will soon be launch a portal which will contain commodity and country-wise export data. It will also provide real-time data of exports from states and possibly from districts. “I think we should get it going in April,” he added.
Dear Reader,
Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance.
We, however, have a request.
As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed.
Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard.
Digital Editor
[ad_2]
Source link