Exports to directly generate 8 million jobs by 2009

New Delhi, Apr 7: Exports are likely to generate 81.57 lakh (8.1 million) direct jobs in the economy in the next five years.

''Doubling of exports to 150 billion dollars by 2009-10 is likely to generate 136 lakh new jobs (81.57 lakh direct and 54.61 lakh indirect) in the economy in the next five years,'' according to a report - Towards an Employment Oriented Export Strategies: Some Explorations - by Research&Information System for Developing Countries (RIS).

The report further said India's merchandise exports by 2009-10 could reach 165 billion dollar which would generate 21 million (210 lakh) new jobs (directly and indirectly).

''Exports have emerged as an increasingly important source of job creation in the Indian economy,'' the report said.

The report was released by Commerce and Industry Minster Kamal Nath while announcing the Annual Supplement to the Foreign Trade Policy (2004-09) here.

The Minister said, ''It is only with a conscious multi-pronged, multi-dimensional effort that we can address the massive challenge of finding job opportunities for millions of our unemployed youth, and export-oriented production has a huge potential for generating jobs.''

In 2004-05, the export sector is reported to have generated incremental direct employment of 1.4 million (14.85 lakh) over the previous year, bringing the total employment generated by the export sector in India to 9 million (90.06 lakh) jobs, corresponding to exports amounting to nearly 80 billion dollars achieved during the year.

This is besides the export-related indirect jobs created through backward linkages and in logistics and related sectors which are estimated to add up to another 6.9 million (69.66 lakh) jobs.

In all, merchandise export activity seems to sustain nearly sixteen million jobs currently, the report added.

The report identifies the following 12 export sectors as employment intensive - Textiles and garments, Leather goods, Gems and jewellery, Cereal exports, Horticulture exports, Flowers, fruits and vegetables, Dairy products, Processed foods, Toys and sports goods, Pharmaceutical industry, Automobiles and auto components, Consumer electronics and electronic hardware.

UNI

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