CHANDIGARH: As export of
merchandise items by India declined by 17.53% in the period of April-November 2020 compared to the corresponding period in 2019 due
Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, exports from
Haryana shrank by 14%, from
Punjab by 9% and from Union Territory of Chandigarh by 6%.
However, exports from
Himachal Pradesh recorded a surge of 15% during this period, mainly due to the exports of drugs and pharmaceuticals from its Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh region, which is Asia’s largest pharmaceutical hub.
Export of merchandise items fell in Haryana to $6,743 million in Apr-Nov 2020 from $7,852 million in Apr-Nov 2019, in Punjab to $3,220 million from $3,550 million and in Chandigarh to $48 million from $51million during this period. On a positive note, exports from Himachal increased from $905 million in Apr-Nov 2019 to $1,049 million in Apr-Nov 2020.
Export of cereals rose by 155% in Apr-Nov last year, House toldHaryana’s share in India’s overall export remained at 3.87% in Apr-Nov 2020, Punjab (1.85%), Himachal Pradesh (0.60%) and UT Chandigarh (0.03%).
These details were disclosed in the
Lok Sabha by the
Union ministry of commerce and industry through reply to a question put up by DMK MP Dhanush M Kumar and four other MPs from Karnataka and Maharashtra.
The nationwide lockdown imposed by India on March 25 last year to check the spread of Covid-19 pandemic had brought the industrial sector to a screeching halt as it had restricted inward and outward movement of finished goods as well as raw material.
The Lok Sabha was told that the value of India’s overall exports, including merchandise and services, in Apr-Nov 2020 was recorded at $304.53 billion compared to $351.83 billion in Apr-Nov 2019 , thereby showing a drop of 13%.
Despite the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, the exports of cereals recorded an increase of 155% in Apr-Nov 2020 compared to the corresponding period in 2019.
It was followed by 62% increase in export of iron ore, 39% increase in rice export, 24% increase in oil meal export and 15% increase in drugs and pharmaceutical products.
However, export of petroleum products faced 46% decline during this period as compared to Apr-Nov 2019, gems and jewellery export dropped by 44% and leather products went down by 37%.
The Union government had provided Rs 245 crore during the last three years and the current year financial assistance under Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES) for projects located in various states and UTs.
Under this scheme, Haryana got Rs 6.06 crore for one project in financial year 2020-21, Punjab got Rs 5.77 crore for two projects in 2020-21 and UT Chandigarh received Rs 2.81 crore for one project in 2018-19.
The Union ministry of commerce and industry also informed the Lok Sabha that a new scheme – Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products – has been launched from January 1, 2021.