EEPC for enabling policy environment to raise productivity

Kolkata, Sep 5 (UNI) Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC) India, the apex body of engineering exporters from the country, today urged the Centre to create an enabling policy environment that allows exports to devote all energies in raising productivity.

This was expressed by EEPC India Chairman Rakesh Shah while interacting with Union Commerce Secretary G K Pillai here.

Mr Shah said India had set an ambitious target of achieving USD 660 billion merchandize export by 2015, which implied an annual growth rate of at least 23 per cent.

'' For this growth to happen, the industry continues to require the back up support of progressive policy measures from the Government, '' he observed.

Mentioning a quick survey in regard to the export of 24 tariff lines in the engineering sector during the first quarter of the current fiscal, Mr Shah pointed out that while there had been consistent value growth, the volume growth remained a problem area that required urgent policy action.

On the occasion, Mr Shah also presented a ''concept note'' to Mr Pillai on the national raw material policy noting that increase in the prices of raw materials like pig iron, steel were the biggest problem area for engineering exporters.

UNI ADG SJC DB1857