Jammu, December 10: Principal Secretary Industries & Commerce, Ranjan Prakash Thakur and Director General Foreign Trade, Amit Yadav inaugurated a one day regional workshop on ‘Export Promotion with Thrust on Quality’ for northern region at Convention Centre here today.
The workshop was conducted and hosted by Jammu & Kashmir Trade Promotion Organisation in association with Ministry of Commerce and DGFT.
In his inaugural address, the Principal Secretary shed light on the initiatives being taken by the UT government to facilitate its exports. He shed light on the developments being made in terms of improved connectivity and upcoming logistics centres and respective facilities. The gathering was informed that the Lulu Group from UAE is already procuring products from J&K and marketing them also.
The Principal Secretary also highlighted the opportunities available due to proximity and better connectivity of Jammu region with Punjab.
While speaking, the DGFT underlined that exports constitute a significant portion of India’s economy and is crucial for the nation’s growth, employment and progress. He congratulated the UT government for setting up Districts Export Hub and for formulating a ‘district export plan’. It was stressed that the needs of all 20 districts be identified and necessary steps are taken to fill gaps, develop infrastructure and supply chains be strengthened.
The DGFT spoke on quality control and called it indispensable for infiltrating western markets, particularly those in Europe. He also stressed on the need for better packaging and branding of products.
He informed that in the recent years, the Department of Commerce has set definite export targets due to which the country is now exporting products worth 35 billion dollars every month. Our annual exports are expected to touch figure of 400 billion dollars this year, he added.
The DGFT iterated the Prime Minister’s slogan of ‘Local Goes Global’ and said that it could only be achieved by exploring new markets abroad. In this regard, the DGFT, called for taking inputs from various state governments and other stakeholders also.
Joint DGFT Ludhiana, Suvidh Shah spoke on strengths and exports potential of Jammu, Punjab and their surrounding regions. He highlighted the potential of developing pharma sector and rice exports to Europe.
A detailed presentation was given by Managing Director, JK Trade Promotion Organisation, Ankita Kar in which she highlighted the steps being taken by J&K government for identification, marketing and exports of various local products. She informed that the government is giving special attention to sectors like healthcare and pharmaceuticals, handloom and handicrafts, agri and allied sectors, milk, poultry and wool, tourism and hospitality among others. She informed that steps are being taken to improve access to finance, skill development and capacity building of traders and producers.
A concept paper introduction by Prof Nitin Seth (IIFT), presentation on export promotion by Joint Export Commissioner, Pawan Aggarwal and another on agriculture export facilitation by Devendra Prasad (APEDA) were given in the workshop. T Anil from Export Inspection Council also gave a presentation on export quality standards and technical regulations at the event. Shobhit Gupta from Government of Delhi also spoke on infrastructure development and export promotion. Introductory remarks were made by Development Commissioner Noida SEZ, Bipin Menon.
A number of trade organisations and representatives of state governments, which include Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Chandigarh and Delhi, were also present at the interactive session held as part of the workshop. Some others participated through virtual mode.
