The Hindu Business Line : `Cement units must focus on exports'

THE domestic cement industry should pay more attention to exports in its growth strategies, said Mr Rajeeva Ratna Shah, Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Inaugurating the eighth NCB international seminar on `Cement and Building Materials' here, Mr Shah said that the industry should not "fight shy" of exports. The four-day seminar has been organised by the National Council for Cement and Building Materials.

The Secretary held that exports could come in handy in situations of cyclical downturns. During 2002-03, the industry exported about 7 million tonnes of cement to neighbouring countries.

Cement industry officials feel that there is good possibility for cement and clinker exports to touch a level of 15 m.t. per annum if the Government provided the impetus .Mr Shah said that it would not be possible for the Government to continue with subsidies.

"Any subsidies to the industry have to be phased out as they are countervailable under the WTO framework," he said.

India, which is the second largest producer of cement in the world after China, has an installed capacity of about 151 m.t.

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