Govt to revise export target this month: Nath

Noida, Nov 1 (UNI) The government will meet this month to consider the revision of the export target of 160 billion dollars for 2007-08, Commerce Minister Kamal Nath today said.

''We have achieved export figures of 72 billion dollars in the first half of current fiscal which is a credible achievement.

The major concern is appreciating rupee,'' Mr Nath told reporters here.

''The fall in in non-oil imports during September was due to the weaking dollar and does not reflect a slowdown. I am still very confident exports will pick up in the next six months,'' he added.

The sops to the exporters might be through remission or refund of taxes or levies, he added.

Regarding duty cut, the minister said that it will be taken by the cabinet.

Country's exports rose 19.26 per cent in September from a year earlier to 12.80 billion dollars, steady from the previous month, government data showed today. Imports rose an annual 2.31 per cent to 17.22 billion dollar in September.

UNI