Bhubaneswar: Setting a target to scale up the export performance of the state to Rs 21,559 crore during the year 2016-17, the Odisha government today decided to set up export promotion councils in the state capital for separate products to be sent abroad, official sources said.
The decision in this regard was taken at the first meeting of the state level empowered committee on export. The committee also stressed on the proper implementation of the Odisha Export promotion Policy.
"It was decided in the meeting that different export promotion councils on various products like handicraft, handloom, cashew, engineering goods, agricultural and food products would be set up in Bhubaneswar," an official statement released after the meeting last night said.
The departments like Textile, Handloom and Handicraft, Industries, Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Resource Development, Steel and Mines, Health & Family Welfare, Electronics and IT were advised set up export promotion cells in their respective departments, it said.
The committee also discussed the issues relating to setting up of "Raptani Bhawan", for showcasing exportable products of the state in prominent cities of India and abroad, implementation of a new state assistance scheme for creation of export infrastructure and supply of raw material to exporters through state an agency.
During the year 2015-16 about Rs 10814 crore of metallurgical products were exported from Odisha followed by electronics and software products of worth Rs 2700 crore, marine products of worth Rs 1967 crore and engineering chemical & allied products of worth Rs 1295 cr.
Other products exported included the mineral, agricultural, handloom, handicraft, textile, pharmaceutical, gems & jewelry and service providers. During this year products of worth Rs 17,346 crore was exported from the State.
"Target has been set to scale up the export performance to the tune of Rs 21,559 crore during the year 2016-17," the official said.
The committee also reviewed the progress of the export related projects like common processing center for marine product at Balaramgadi, establishment of testing laboratory facilities by MPEDA and Export Inspection Council, development seafood park at Deras, Reefer Container facility at Paradeep port, waiver of entry tax on silk products, direct air connectivity to different export destinations and adoption of organic farming.