Question : EXPORT GROWTH RATE

(a) the product-wise export-import position of India during each of the last three years;

(b) the rules prescribed for the export-import of any product;

(c) whether the percentage of export growth in India is declining as against the percentage of import during December, 2006 in comparison to November, 2006;

(d) if so, the reasons therefor;

(e) whether the Government proposes to formulate a scheme to face the challenge of international market;

(f) if not, the measures taken to increase the exports; and

(g) the details of the achievements made after taking such measures?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH)

(a) The product-wise details of exports and imports are given in the Publications Monthly Statistics of Foreign Trade of India - Volume I (Exports including Re-exports) and Volume-II (Imports) published by the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence & Statistics (DGCI&S), Kolkata. These are available in the library of the Parliament. This information is also posted on the website of the Department of Commerce at http://www.commerce.nic.in/.

(b) The export and import of any product is governed by the Rules and orders framed and notified under the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992.

(c) There was a deceleration in the growth rate of both exports and imports in the month of December, 2006 compared with November, 2006. However, there has not been any absolute decline in the growth rates of exports and imports in the above mentioned period.

(d) Does not arise.

(e) to (g) Policy measures are announced from time to time including those contained in the Annual Supplement of the Foreign Trade Policy (2004-09). These measures are aimed to augment and sustain the current rate of export growth in line with India’s comparative advantage and the emerging situation in the domestic and international market.