The Hindu Business Line : Karnataka plans export surge in five years

KARNATAKA, which has a 14.53 per cent share in the country's total exports, plans to achieve Rs 1.5 lakh crore exports in the next five years, according to Mr B.R. Umakanth, Managing Director of Visvesvaraya Industrial Trade Centre (VITC).

Inaugurating a two-day training programme on export promotion — jointly organised by the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), VITC, and the District Industries Centre — in Mangalore on Wednesday, Mr Umakanth said that the State recorded export worth Rs 62,638 crore during 2004-05. It was set to surpass the stated target of 15 per cent share of the country's export by 2006-07.

On the efforts to take the export figure to Rs 1.50 lakh crore, he said exporters were being given more facilities. For hassle-free transportation of export commodities, the government has introduced a `Gold Card'. Women entrepreneurs are also being encouraged to venture into export.

Mangalore has good export potential as it has major infrastructure such as airport, seaport, railway connectivity and national highway network, he said.

Jewellery export

Karnataka, which leads in gems and jewellery exports among southern States, has given a thrust to this sector. He said that a Design and Development Centre for Gems and Jewellery was being set up under the ASIDE (Assistance to States for Developing Export Infrastructure and other Allied Activities) scheme. Of the total project cost of Rs 3.68 crore, the government has sanctioned Rs 1.78 crore. The courses are already under way and many women from Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts have enrolled, he said.

The State exported gems and jewellery worth Rs 4,644 crore during 2004-05, registering a growth of 76 per cent over the previous fiscal.

Dr H.V. Parswanath, Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner, said the government was keen to promote export in Mangalore. The proposed coastal special economic zone (SEZ) and IT (information technology) SEZ would help the region achieve more exports, he said.

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