Bengal taps potential markets abroad to increase exports
Kolkata: As a part of its strategy to give more impetus to the export policy, the Bengal government has been identifying new countries and potential markets abroad, thereby strengthening bilateral trade ties with several countries.
The West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) will formulate country specific strategy to ease out difficulties in promoting exports with the countries. The move will not only open new avenues with various countries having tremendous market potential but it will also boost the state's economy in many ways.
To make it happen, the senior officials of the WBIDC will hold meetings with the Consul Generals of various countries in India so that the products from Bengal which are already being exported to some countries can find new markets in other countries as well.
The WBIDC will carry out a detailed study and research to prepare country specific export strategy. The foreign countries will also get to know the new export strategy of the state. One of the main purposes would be identifying the countries where there is a potential market for the products.
After coming to power, the Mamata Banerjee government felt the need of export promotion. A comprehensive export policy had been drafted and a road map has been chalked out to accelerate the exports.
According to a data published by a Central agency, Bengal has achieved a significant growth in terms of exports.
The export growth rate in the state touches 11.17 percent which is much higher than the national growth rate.
The Bengal government has been in constant touch with both top and medium scale exporters and industrialists to provide them assistance in order to increase the overall exports.
It may be mentioned that state Commerce and Industry minister Amit Mitra recently held a meeting with various stakeholders and exporters listening to the problems they were facing.
The only purpose of the government is to increase the exports. During his meeting with the industrialists, Mitra also announced that the government is trying to double its export growth rate within the next three years. He also stressed on the needs to explore ways in order to boost exports.
It was learnt that the government is targeting countries like Bangladesh, Ghana, Bermuda where there is a huge requirement of precious metals. Bengal has so far been exporting precious metals to the UAE, China, Switzerland and others.
Bengal exports highest number of leather hand bags. Countries like the USA, China, Switzerland, Italy are the ones importing leather hand bags from the state.
Bengal is soon going to export leather hand bags to Kazakhstan, Iran, Cambodia and Laos as there is a huge requirement of such items. Bengal is also targeting Peru, Paraguay, Nicaragua for exporting shrimps and prawns. The state has is also exporting shrimps and prawns to the US, Japan, France and Spain.
