:
(a) whether despite huge potential, country`s export trade is suffering due to lack of containerization as reported in the `Economic Times` dated November 8, 2002;
(b) if so, the facts in this regard; and
(c) the plans formulated by the Government to meet this serious situation?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY ( SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY )
(a) to (c) The Government has been making sustained efforts to improve containerisation of export cargo and the share of such cargo in total exports has gone up from 11.46 % in 2000-01 to 12.94 % in 2001-02. Department of Commerce interacts on a regular basis with Ministries of Shipping, Railways, Finance, and Container Corporation of India as well as with the freight forwarders, shippers and shipping lines to facilitate containerisation of exports and imports. Boost to containersiation has also been provided with the establishment of more Container Freight Stations (CFSs)/ Inland Container Depots (ICDs). 113 ICDs/ CFSs are working all over India and another 33 are under various stages of implementation.