(a) whether a special export promotion package for exporters has been announced after August, 2001;
(b) whether the above package consists of measures to promote export of marine products, spices and rubber;
(c) if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the export of marine products are badly affected resulting in loss of huge amount of foreign exchange due to the war in Afghanistan; and
(e) if so, the measures taken to increase the export of marine products?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY ( SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY )
(a) to (c): Yes Sir. A number of measures have been taken to boost exports, which include reduction in export credit rate for both pre-shipment and post-shipment, special interest rate package to manufacturer exporters with an export contract of Rs.100 crore or above for a period of one year from October 2001, extension of normal repatriation period from 180 days to 360 days for exports made to Latin American countries for a period of one year, upward revision of drawback rates, removal of value caps under the DEPB Scheme and extension of the export obligation period by six months.
(d) : An accurate assessment of the impact of war in Afghanistan on our marine exports can be made only on receipt of export data for October and November, 2001. However, the September 11,2001 incidents in USA has affected our marine product exports as is evident from the export data given below:
Parameter September, 2001 September, 2000 % change
Quantity
(in tonnes) 28548 33003 -13.5
Value
(in Rs. Crores) 397.12 585.92 -32.2
Value
(in US $ million) 82.73 128.92 -35.8
Source: Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA)