Exports contributed Rs 7,900 crore in 2006-07 in Rajasthan

Jaipur, Mar 6 (UNI) The exports of spices, gold and coloured stones jewellery, handicrafts and carpets from Rajasthan has fetched around Rs 7,900 crore during the year 2006-2007 and is expected to grow two times by next five years, Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh said.

Talking to reporters here today, Mr Ramesh said that export of Handicraft items from the state had touched up the mark of Rs 4000 crore followed by Gold and Coloured Stone studded Jewellery (Rs 2,000 crore), Gwar Gum (Rs 1,300 crore), Carpets(Rs 400 crore) and Spices (around Rs 200 crore).

Of Rs 4,000 crore export of handicraft items, exports to the tune of Rs 2,500 crore was made from Jodhpur alone. Besides this, traders of Jodhpur also achieved land mark by contributing over 90 per cent in the export of Gwar Gum.

Similarly, Jaipur had emerged a major export center for carpets and jewellery items, Mr Ramesh said.

He said that Rajasthan has established itself a main contributor in exports of Fenugreek, Coriander and Cummin which had earned Rs 350 crore forex during 2006-2007. Rajasthan's share in Fenugreek export was 80 per cent followed by Coriander(54 per cent) and Cummin (25 per cent).

India had earned around Rs 3,700 crore from carpet exports and Rs 3,600 crore from export of spices during the period.

In carpet sector India had become number one exporter establishing supremacy over its rivals Iran and China. Till 2006 Iran was top caret exporter closely followed by India, China and Iraq.

He said that US sanctions against Iran had also helped us in achieving this feat.

Mr Ramesh said that the government had taken seriously the US campaign against issue of employment of child labourers in Indian carpet sector and said that all measures were being taken to curb the practice and discourage carpet manufacturers to employ children.

The efforts over a period of about 15 years had yielded good results and now the practice had decreased considerably.

He said that in the wake of recent US Government's warning about investigation by it for ascertaining status of child labourers in the Industry, the Centre had decided to conduct regular independent social audit in the industry to find out factual position in this regard.

The Government had also decided to launch campaign in the US to counter the false propaganda in this regard and bring forth the factual position.

Mr Ramesh was in the town to inaugurate buyer seller meet and carpet exhibition organised by the Indian Carpet Export Promotion Council. Around 80 buyers from different parts of the world including Turkey, US, Germany,Greece, Pakistan and Japan are participating in the two day meet.

UNI SS BJR PM1624