Releases........pt3

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Ministry of Commerce & Industry

India's foreign trade data: September, 2009

New Delhi: November 3, 2009

 

 

India's exports during September, 2009 were valued at US $ 13608 million (Rs. 65916 crore) which was 13.8 per cent lower in dollar terms (minus 8.4 per cent in Rupee terms) than the level of US $ 15789 million (Rs. 71941 crore) during September, 2008. Cumulative value of exports for the period April- September, 2009  was US $ 77855  million (Rs. 378196  crore) as against US $ 108907 million (Rs. 464451  crore) registering a  negative growth of 28.5  per cent in Dollar terms and 18.6  per cent in Rupee terms over the same period last year.

India's imports during September, 2009 were valued at US $ 21377 million (Rs.103546   crore) representing a decrease of  31.3  per cent in dollar terms (minus 27.0  per cent in Rupee terms)  over the level of imports valued at US $ 31136  million ( Rs. 141865  crore) in September, 2008. Cumulative value of imports for the period April- September 2009 was US $ 124584   million (Rs. 605075 crore) as against US$ 185002  million (Rs. 790644 crore) registering a negative growth of  32.7 per cent in Dollar terms and 23.5 per cent in Rupee terms over the same period last year.   

 Oil imports during September, 2009 were valued at US $ 6343   million which was 33.5  per cent lower than oil imports valued at US $  9543 million in the corresponding period last year.   Oil imports during April- September, 2009 were valued at US$ 34808  million which was 45.0 per cent lower than the oil imports of US $ 63285 million in the corresponding period last year.

Non-oil imports during September, 2009 were estimated at US $ 15034 million which was 30.4 per cent lower than non-oil imports of US $ 21592 million in September, 2008. Non-oil imports during April- September, 2009 were valued at US$ 89776 million which was 26.2 per cent lower than the level of such imports valued at US $ 121717 million in April- September, 2008.

The trade deficit for April- September, 2009 was estimated at US $ 46729 million which was lower than the deficit of US $ 76095 million during April-September, 2008. 

EXPORTS & IMPORTS  : (US $ Million)
(PROVISIONAL)
	SEPTEMBER		APRIL-SEPTEMBER
EXPORTS(including re-exports)
2008-2009	15789		108907
2009-2010	13608		77855
%Growth 2009-2010/ 2008-2009	-13.8		-28.5
IMPORTS
2008-2009	31136		185002
2009-2010	21377		124584
%Growth 2009-2010/ 2008-2009	-31.3		-32.7
TRADE BALANCE
2008-2009	-15346		-76095
2009-2010	-7769		-46729
EXPORTS & IMPORTS  : (Rs. Crore)
(PROVISIONAL)	SEPTEMBER		APRIL-SEPTEMBER
EXPORTS(including re-exports)
2008-2009	71941		464451
2009-2010	65916		378196
%Growth 2009-2010/ 2008-2009	-8.4		-18.6
IMPORTS
2008-2009	141865		790644
2009-2010	103546		605075
%Growth 2009-2010/ 2008-2009	-27.0		-23.5
TRADE BALANCE
2008-2009	-69924		-326193
2009-2010	-37630		-226879
Figures for 2008-09 are the latest revised whereas figures for 2009-10 are provisional

 

rj/mrs/dk/kol/16:20 hrs.

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Ministry of Commerce & Industry  

Anand Sharma calls for diversification of new markets and integrated development of Leather Sector

New Delhi: November 3, 2009

 

Shri Anand Sharma, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, while meeting a delegation from Footwear design & Development Institute (FDDI), led by Sri Rafeeque Ahmed, Chairman, here today, said that it would be imperative to diversify into new markets while carving out a greater niche into existing markets and added that the leather industry has to focus more on higher unit value realization in line with the creation of an India brand consciousness. While appreciating the performance of FDDI, Shri Sharma emphasized that the institutes providing technical training are crucial not only for the growth of the industry but also for providing employment opportunities and expressed confidence that FDDI would fulfill this responsibility. During the meeting, a presentation was made by FDDI about their performance details and new initiatives to compete global challenges.

The Minister underlined that the government is committed towards the integrated development of Leather sector, which has tremendous potential for growth and high impact on social equity. "To give thrust to the sector an allocation of Rs. 1300 crore has been made for the leather sector during the XI Plan. Our various programmes, interventions and trade policies are targeted towards the sustainable development of the Leather industry", the Minister added.

Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion has initiated a major initiative during the 11th Five Year Plan (2007-12) under "Indian Leather Development Programme" (ILDP) with an outlay of Rs. 1300 crore for overall development of the leather sector by augmenting raw material base, enhancing capacity, addressing environmental concerns, human resource development, infrastructure development, attracting investment and global marketing of Indian Leather. Sub-schemes with an outlay of Rs. 1237.52 crores under ILDP have been approved and are at various stages of implementation.

For addressing the issue of shortage of manpower for the leather industry, human resource development programmes has been identified as an important initiative during the 11th Five Year Plan period and the Central Government has approved sub-schemes with outlay of Rs. 442.09 crores under ILDP out of total approved outlay of Rs. 1237.52 crores (approximately 36% of the total approved outlay) for this purpose. FDDI has been awarded certifications and accreditations from some of the most reputed organizations such as ISO 9001, ISO14001, and ISO 17025 etc. In the process of bridging the critical gap in infrastructure and the qualitative human resource requirement in the Industry, DIPP has sanctioned the establishment of three full fledged campuses at Tamilnadu, West Bengal and Haryana and one training centre at Chhindwara, MP during the XI Plan.

 

rj/mrs/dk/kol/16:20 hrs. 

 

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Ministry of Steel  

Shri atul Chaturvedi takes over as Steel Secretary

New Delhi: November 3, 2009

 

Shri Atul Chaturvedi has taken over as the Secretary, Ministry of Steel. He succeeds Shri P.K.Rastogi who superannuated on the 31st October. A 1974 batch Indian Administrative Officer of UP cadre, Shri Chaturvedi was the Secretary, Department of Fertilisers in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers.

 

dnm/pkm/dk/kol/16:20 hrs. 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Ministry of Environment and Forests  

New Policy on Expansion of Existing Ports and Initiation of New Projects Along the Coastline

New Delhi: November 3, 2009

 

The Ministry of Environment and Forests had constituted an Expert Committee under the Chairmanship of Prof. M. S. Swaminathan to review the comments received on the draft Coastal Management Zone 2008. The Committee in its Report dated 16th July, 2009 at para 7.4 had recommended an immediate study to be undertaken to examine the cumulative impacts of port projects on the coastline, pending which there should be a moratorium on expansion of existing ports and initiation of new projects.

2.            Accordingly, the Ministry issued an Office Memorandum (OM) dated 21st August, 2009 in which it was decided to defer consideration of proposals pertaining to development the ports and its expansion projects received in the Ministry after 31st July, 2009 and not to accept any new projects seeking environmental/ Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance till a policy is finalised.

3.            As a part of the above decision a study was assigned to the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) for identifying the coastal stretches with regard to erosion/accretion.

4.            The Report has been received and has been put up on the Ministry's website http://www.envfor.nic.in. Based on the Report, the Ministry had issued an OM for undertaking development with regard to ports and harbour:-

A.   Expansion of existing ports and harbours, jetties etc., within their notified port limits shall be undertaken subject to the condition that:-

(i)            The hydro-dynamic studies indicate that the expansion activities of the existing port do not have significant impact to the shoreline abutting the project; and

(ii)           has no significant impact on the ecologically sensitive areas along the stretch.

B.            New projects to be located in the identified sites shall be subjected to Comprehensive Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), based on a minimum of 3 seasons data, and EIA Report prepared based on actual field measurements, appropriate modeling studies etc.

C.            With regard to the hotspots stretches viz. those areas which are prone for high erosion above 1 meter per year (identified by the concerned Central/State Government agencies), locations identified within 10 km on either side of the eco-sensitive areas categorized as CRZ-I(i) and water bodies with high bio-diversity, shall not be considered for locating ports and harbours. However, fishing jetties/embarkation facilities for local communities could be set-up with EIA as per Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2006.         

D.            With regard to Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands, the port and harbour projects shall be undertaken in accordance with CRZ Notification, 1991 and approved Coastal Zone Management Plans. The port projects of more than 5 Million Tones per annum in these islands which are to be located in these islands, shall be subjected to Comprehensive EIA including physical and mathematical modeling and ground verification.

6.            Institute for Ocean Management (IOM), Chennai and ICMAM shall identify the shoreline changes at micro level and map them in atleast 1:25000 scale map. A decision with regard to specific conditions will be taken by 31st October, 2010. Subsequently, a National Policy in this regard shall be drawn up.

7.            An OM dated 3rd November, 2009 in this regard has been issued.

kp/dk/kol/16:21 hrs.