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Commerce and industry minister Murasoli Maran, as part of the five-year Exim policy, announced a ‘Focus Africa’ programme here on Sunday to boost trade with the sub-Saharan African region.
Under it, exporters will be given export house status on trade worth Rs 5 crore.
A similar programme ‘Focus CIS’ is also on the anvil in the coming years.
The first phase of ‘Focus Africa’ will cover Nigeria, South Africa, Mauritius, Kenya, Ethopia, Tanzania and Ghana.
Releasing a booklet containing the details of the programme, Mr Maran invited all stakeholders, especially the industry and the exporting community to take full advantage of the programme.
The seven countries accounted for nearly 70 per cent of India’s total trade of $3.3 billion with sub-Saharan region during 2000-01. Out of this, exports accounted for $1.8 billion and imports were valued at $1.5 billion.
Certain target commodities identified for exports are: Cotton yarn, fabrics and other textile items; drugs, pharmaceuticals; machinery & instruments; transport equipment and telecom and information technology.
Various trade-promotion measures to be undertaken by the export promotion councils, trade organisations such as ITPO and the apex chambers such as Fieo, CII, Ficci, Assocham, will be encouraged as part of the programme.
Select Indian missions will provide business services to visiting exporters/businessmen at nominal fee on more or less cost basis.
An action Plan for 2002-03 has been prepared for implementing ‘Focus Africa’ in consultation with export promotion councils (EPCs) and apex chambers.
In 2000-01, exports to CIS countries reached a level of $1,082 million, and with the launch of ‘Focus CIS’, trade ties are expected to further strengthen between these countries.
The above two programmes have been envisaged on the lines of ‘Focus LAC’ programme launched in November 1997 in order to accelerate trade with Latin American region.
Exports to Latin American countries have risen from $700 million in 1997-98 to $982 million in 2000-01, a growth of 40 per cent. This programme has now been extended up to March next year in order to consolidate the gains of the previous years.
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