January 18, 2002
'16'
RUDY ASKS EXPORTERS TO FOCUS ON LATIN AMERICA
STRATEGY FOR GROWTH IN TRADE WITH LAC WORKED OUT
FIEO ORGANISES FIRST EVER VIDEO CONFERENCE FOR EXPORTERS
Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Minister of State for Commerce & Industry, has asked the exporting community to focus, expand and extend their reach in the region of Latin America to increase the exports. While inaugurating the first ever Video Conferencing focussing on LAC region, organised by Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), here today morning, Shri Rudy said that Latin America continues to be one of the fastest growing regions in the world, accounting for nearly 5 % of the world trade and requested the exporters to take benefit of the fact that imports by the Latin American countries have shown continuous increasing trend. Shri Janki Ballabh, Chairman, State Bank of India, Shri D.K.Mittal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce & Industry and Shri Ranjit Lal, Director General, FIEO were present in the conference along with the representatives from EEPC, CHEMEXIL, ECGC, Exim Bank, RBI and exporters from Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.
Shri Rudy informed in detail about the ‘Focus: LAC’ programme, which was launched by the government in November 1997 with the objective of enhancing India’s trade with that region and added that it has contributed significantly in encouraging Indian exporters to expand their presence in the region. Creation of information database, activation of Joint Commissions and Joint Business Councils, setting up Commercial Attaché in Missions in LAC, participation in fairs, inviting/mounting of delegation and holding buyer-seller meets, market surveys are the part of the strategy for growth under the programme, Shri Rudy said. The Minister informed that the government would be providing assistance in opening warehouses and offices in LAC region as a part of infrastructural development. He complimented the efforts of FIEO in organising the first ever Video Conferencing for the benefit of the exporters and observed that such efforts would definitely pave for the faster growth of exports.
In an effort to increase exports to LAC region FIEO has organised this Video Conference – Focus LAC with an objective of creating awareness amongst exporters about the Latin American countries through linkages in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. The Video Conference mainly focussed on Engineering Goods and Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals to strengthen the trade promotion measures. The exporters from Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi and Chennai participated, discussed various issues and interacted directly through Video conferencing.