(a) the percentage of India`s total exports to USA;
(b) whether India`s exports to USA constitute only 0.7 percentage of total imports of USA from other countries; and
(c) if so, the steps taken by the Government to increase the share of India`s exports to USA?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI OMAR ABDULLAH)
(a) & (b): The percentage of India`s exports to USA constituted 22.70 % of India`s total exports in 1999-2000. However for the period April-August, 2000, it has been 23.34 % of India`s total export. India`s export to USA constituted 0.89 % of total imports of USA in 1999. Till September, 2000, India`s export have been 0.93 % of total US imports.
(c) : The Government`s plan for promotion of Indo-US trade outlines the strategy for promoting India`s exports to USA in general, and identifies products with good exports potential. Through targeting these sectors, the plan strives to exploit the untapped potential in bilateral trade. It also focuses on special efforts towards developing new and fast growing areas of cooperation, such as information technology and biotechnology. It lays emphasis on promoting exports through participation in major trade shows and specific trade promotion events, apart from streamlining the information and data base of the Indian Embassy in USA to enable it to respond to trade enquiries in a timely and effective manner. The Action Plan also incorporates close monitoring of, as well as liaison with, the US authorities on important bilateral trade related issues.
To further buttress these efforts, the two sides have agreed to set up India-US Commercial Dialogue, which was signed on 23.3.2000. The framework aims to (a) facilitate trade (b) maximize investment opportunities across a broad range of economic sectors, including information technology, infrastructure, biotechnology and services.