EEPC organises international meet,registers record jump in export

Kolkata, Jan 18 (UNI) Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC), the apex body of engineering exporters,is organising a three-day India Engineering Meet and Exhibition from January 22 to 24 in New Delhi.

Announcing the three-day mega event in the capital, EEPC Chairman Rakesh Shah today said over 300 leading importers, buyers, dealers, distributors and wholesalers of engineering products from the USA, Europe, Africa, Latin America,ASEAN group of nations,Australia, New Zeland and CIS countries are participating at the India Engineering Meet and Exhibition, to be inaugurated by Union Commerce Secretary S K Pillai at the famous India-Expo centre.

"We have confirmed participation from 82 buyers from Africa,15 from the USA and Canada,30 from Europe,50 from Latin America, 80 from ASEAN members,Australia,New Zealand and 50 from CIS countries, who intend to outsource their engineering requirements from India for the event", EEPC sources quoting Mr.Shah said.

In addition, around 150 Indian companies, including some of the leading names from the Indian corporate world like Maruti Udyog Ltd, Lalco, Forbes Gokak, RITIES,TVS Motors, Bharat Earth Movers Ltd, Exide Batteries, Batliboi International, Mundhra SEZ, West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation,Finolex Cables were participating.

Regarding the EEPC's export performances, Mr Shah informed that the engineering sector had emerged as the largest contributor to India's total merchandise exports, even ahead of gems and jewellery.

Export of engineering goods crossed 13 billion dollars during April to October in 2006-07, an increase of 29 per cent compared to the corresponding period last year.

At this rate, Mr Shah said engineering exports would touch 24 billion dollars mark in 2006-07 to become the highest among all items in overall merchandise exports from India.

Incidentally, during 2005-06 engineering exports registered a growth of 25.5 per cent amounting to US 20.34 billion dollars compared to US4 16.2 Billion dollars in 2004-05.

UNI