Centre to increase export to USD 7bn in 2010-11, seek US market

Kolkata, Jun 14 (UNI) The Centre has set an ambitious export target of USD seven billion for leather and its products by 2011 and shift to new markets like America.

Speaking to mediapersons here today, Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh said export revenue during the last fiscal was three billion dollars and for the current fiscal is USD 3.28 billion.

''India should also shift its focus to new markets like US. The two-thirds of India's leather and leather goods exports were directed to European markets,'' Mr Ramesh said.

Presently, the European Union is the largest importer of leather products. EU purchases accounts for 64 per cent of the total leather exports from India.

India exports 12 per cent of its total volumes to the US, which is one of the fastest growing markets in the world.

The government is setting up the new leather parks to enhance capacity and compete with China in the international market.

The government has identified locations for setting up five Integrated Leather Parks (ILPs).

''Initially, the government would set up ILPs at Chennai, Kolkata, Kanpur, Agra and Tada near Nellore in Andhra Pradesh,'' Mr Ramesh said.

He said,''The Centre will shell out Rs 100 crore for infrastructure development for each park with an investment of Rs 100 crore. To increase our export volumes, the government has decided to shift the focus from value-based production to volume-based production.'' UNI