Shri Kamal Nath stated exports have emerged as an increasingly important source of job creation in the Indian economy, according to the Report titled “Towards an Employment Oriented Export Strategies: Some Explorations”, completed by RIS (Research & Information System for Developing Countries).
This was released by Shri Kamal Nath, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, while announcing the Annual Supplement to the Foreign Trade Policy (2004-09).
In his foreword to the report, Shri Kamal Nath says: “Employment generation is a very high priority in the National Common Minimum Programme of the UPA government. It is only with a conscious multi-pronged, multi-dimensional effort that we can address the massive challenge of finding job opportunities for millions of our unemployed youth, and export-oriented production has a huge potential for generating jobs”.
In 2004-05, the export sector is reported to have generated incremental direct employment of 1.4 million (i.e.14.85 lakh) over the previous year, bringing the total employment generated by the export sector in India to 9 million (i.e., 90.06 lakh) jobs, corresponding to exports amounting to nearly US $ 80 billion achieved during the year.
This is besides the export-related indirect jobs created through backward linkages and in logistics and related sectors which are estimated to add up to another 6.9 million (i.e. 69.66 lakh) jobs.
The report says that If India is able to exploit export opportunities in labour intensive goods and follow labour intensive modes of production, India's merchandise exports in 2009-10 could reach US $ 165 billion which would generate 21 million (i.e. 210 lakh) new jobs (directly and indirectly).
The report identifies the following 12 export sectors as employment intensive:
- Textiles & garments
- Leather goods
- Gems & jewellery
- Cereal exports
- Horticulture exports
- Flowers, fruits and vegetables
- Dairy products
- Processed foods
- Toys & sports goods
- Pharmaceutical industry
- Automobiles and auto components
- Consumer electronics and electronic hardware
Press Information Bureau Government of India
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