Odisha plans new export strategy targeting Rs.1 lakh crore business by 2025

Bhubaneswar: MSME Minister Prafulla Samal on Saturday said Odisha is going to have a new Export Strategy soon and the export turnover of Odisha may touch to Rs.1 lakh crore before 2025.

Inaugurating the ‘Raptani Bhawan’ at Indradhanu Market here, Samal said that the state is going to have a new Export Strategy soon, which is being prepared in consultation with FIEO, Government of India.

With opening and shifting of all export-related organisations under a single roof, exporters will be able to get services at a common point. It will help furthering the growth of exports, said the Minister.

Directorate of EPM, Odisha and Federation of Indian Export Organisation(FIEO) have started functioning at the Raptani Bhawan immediately.

Marine Products Exports Development Authority (MPEDA) and the office of Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) which have already been allotted space by BDA at Raptani Bhawan will start their functioning from the Raptani Bhawan very soon.

Speaking on the occasion, MSME secretary L.N. Gupta stated that because of the highest growth rate of 114% amongst all the states achieved by Odisha during 2016-17, the union government has recognised the state as ‘Champion State’.

He added that a trend of increase in Odisha export continues, which is reflected in the export turnover of nearly Rs.26,000 crore by November 2017.

To further boost the export turnover from Odisha, he said that a new export strategy will be in place shortly.

It will focus on improvement in standards of quality and products, value addition in traditional exportable products, products and market diversification, downstream and ancillarisation of industries, unleashing the potential of e-commerce and development of eco-tourism in the state.

He added that in order to improve the quality of products and services, MSMEs should register themselves under the Zero Effect-Zero Defect (ZEZD) Programme offered by the Quality Council of India.

Gupta hoped that with the commencement of commercial operations by the Quality Control Laboratory of MPEDA and Testing Laboratory of Export Inspection Agency (EIA), standard and quality of exports would get further improved.

Dr Omkar Rai, Director General, STPI stated that opening of Raptani Bhawan is a landmark decision of Odisha government, by which needs to exporters can be catered to in a holistic manner.

He said that there is a vast potential of IT and ITES services exports from Odisha.

Last year, IT & ITES exports from Odisha was of the order of Rs.3,500 crore, which is likely to increase this year.

He added that exports of IT & ITES from the state by October 2017 has been of the order of Rs.2,600 crore.