Huge scope for state to improve exports: Experts

Bhubaneswar: With NITI Aayog’s Export Preparedness Index placing Odisha in fifth place, industry observers said there is a huge scope to improve exports in various sectors like marine, agriculture, handloom, handicrafts, textiles, IT & IT-enabled services.
The NITI Aayog study said Odisha is the most cost-competitive state in terms of setting up and running a business while the state has ensured lowest cost in key parameters like wages of skilled labourers, industrial power tariff and land rate.
The state’s total export volume is estimated to be Rs 51,742 crore in 2019-20 compared to 48,117 crore in 2018-19, with metal, mining, chemicals and petrochemicals being the major products exported.
Going by the growth of seafood export from Odisha over the years, experts believe the sector has huge growth potential. The state’s seafood export has jumped from Rs 800 crore in 2011-12 to Rs 3,032 crore in 2019-20. The growth is despite exporters from the state having to depend on ports in Vizag and Kolkata to send their products as shipping liners are not coming to ports in Odisha.
“If seafood export can start from Paradip port even with the help of a feeder vessel, it will be a great help for the growth of marine exports from Odisha. The facility will save both cost and time for the exporters,” said Kamlesh Mishra, Odisha region president of the Seafood Exporters’ Association of India.
Mishra also said the state government should incentivise exporters by facilitating captive sources like neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. “We now buy seafood from farmers, process it and export it. If we have our own captive source, it will be a big boost. States like Andhra Pradesh is exporting seafood worth Rs 18,000 crore every year. We should come up with such a policy,” Mishra added.
Sources said the state MSME department has been pursuing all stakeholders to facilitate seafood exports from Paradip port that has all facilities like international cargo terminal and refrigerator containers.
Exporters also felt IT and ITes sector has huge growth potential. During 2019-20, IT and ITes exports from Odisha were estimated at Rs 4,500 crore. “As Odisha has promulgated ordinance to promote contract farming, it can also give a boost to the export of agriculture products. We need a similar policy to boost other sectors as well,” said a senior official.
State government sources said it is planning a new export strategy for growth of exports in the state. “We have developed infrastructure like Raptani Bhawan that facilitates shifting of export-related organizations under a single roof. Federation of Indian Export Organization has opened its office to facilitate exporters. A refurbished quality control laboratory of Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) has also been opened in the state to help the marine exporters,” said Saran Kumar Jena, director of export promotion and marketing, Odisha.
EoM