A meeting to chalk out an export strategy for Karnataka, organised by the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) in association with Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) in Mangaluru on Thursday, underscored the need to improve infrastructure to boost exports.

Export strategy

Sunena Sharma, who led the FIEO team for drawing up the State’s export strategy, in an interactive session with the KCCI members, said that the team had visited various parts of the State.

She said the plan will be finalised by January and submitted to the State government. Highlighting some potential sectors for exports from the coastal region, she said Karnataka stands fourth in merchandise export. There is a huge gap between it and the neighbouring Tamil Nadu in merchandise exports.

Referring to Tamil Nadu’s growth in merchandise exports, Abdul Rahman Musba, member of KCCI, said Tamil Nadu had seen industrial development across the State. In Karnataka, a majority of industrial development is limited to Bengaluru and surrounding areas.

Karnataka cannot surpass Tamil Nadu in industrial development unless the State government focusses on the development of other regions of the State, he said.

Ajith Kamath, Vice-President of Kanara Small Industries Association (KSIA), urged the government to improve the infrastructure in industrial areas and to provide land for the establishment of new units in the State.

Port cargo handling

YR Belagal, Traffic Manager of New Mangalore Port Trust, said the port handled 42 million tonnes of cargo in 2017-18, recording a growth of around 5 per cent over the previous fiscal.

PB Abdul Hameed, President of KCCI, and Issac Vas, Vice-President of KCCI, also spoke.

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