March 31, 2002

'16'

MARAN LAUNCHES FOCUS: AFRICA PROGRAMME

NEW TERRITORIAL INITIATIVE TO BOOST TRADE WITH AFRICA

        Shri Murasoli Maran, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, launched the "FOCUS: AFRICA" Programme giving a boost to India’s trade with the Sub-Saharan African Region, while announcing the first 5-year Exim Policy of the new millennium here today. The programme FOCUS:AFRICA is geared towards tapping the tremendous potential for trade with the sub-Saharan African region, which had remained negligible despite the growth recorded in India’s trade with Africa in recent years. The share of the sub-Saharan region in Africa’s total trade has grown from 45 per cent in 1995 to 71 per cent in 1999. During 2000-2001, India’s total trade with Sub-Saharan Africa was US $ 3.3 billion. Out of this, India’s exports accounted for US $ 1.8 billion and imports were US $ 1.5 billion.

        In the first phase of the "FOCUS: AFRICA" Programme, the target countries identified are: Nigeria, South Africa, Mauritius, Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Ghana. These seven countries accounted for nearly 70 per cent of India’s total trade with the Sub-Saharan African Region during 2000-2001. Similarly, certain target commodities for export focus have also been identified. These are:

        In order to accelerate India’s exports to the Sub-Saharan African Region, the existing institutional mechanism such as Joint Trade Committees and Joint Business councils with the countries of this region will be strengthened. Further, various trade promotion measures to be undertaken by the Export Promotion Councils and Trade Promotion Organisations such as ITPO and the apex chambers such as FIEO, CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM etc., will be encouraged. The Department of Commerce will be giving financial assistance in the form of Market Development Assistance to them.

        Releasing a booklet containing the details of the programme at the Exim Policy news conference, Shri Maran invited all the stakeholders, especially the industry and the exporting community to take full advantage of this "FOCUS: AFRICA" Programme. He said he was confident that this programme would be a great success in the footsteps of the ‘FOCUS: LAC" Programme.

        It may be recalled that the Ministry of Commerce had launched the "FOCUS: LAC" Programme in November 1997 in order to accelerate India’s trade with the Latin American Region, which has been a great success. India’s exports to the Latin American Countries (LAC) have risen from US $ 700 million in 1997-98 to US $ 982 million in 2000-01, a growth of 40 per cent. This programme has now been extended up to March 2003 in order to consolidate the gains of the previous years.