Odisha has potential to be a leading exporting state
The Dollar Business Bureau
The Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia said on Thursday that Odisha has the potential to become a leading exporting state in the country as the state is rich in minerals, agriculture products, marine products, handlooms and handicrafts.
“Odisha has the potential to jump up the list of exporting states of India from 13th position to the 6th,” she said while speaking at an interactive session organised by FIEO in Bhubaneswar.
The state is capable of exporting minerals, agriculture products, marine products, handlooms and handicrafts. However, there is a requirement for value addition, she added.
“Both the Central and state governments are dedicated for infrastructure development in Odisha. We need to work in close collaboration in order to sort out regulatory issues and to speed up the projects’ completion," the Commerce Secretary said
A facility for container handling will be established at Paradip Port in the next 6 months to give a boost to the exports from the state, informed Teaotia.
Teaotia also met Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister of Odisha, in which the latter raised several key concerns pertaining to the development of export infrastructure in the state.
“I am very optimistic that there will be growth in exports soon. The fall in exports is due to global slowdown, which was further impacted by currency devaluation and fall in commodity prices. But things have started improving,” she said.
Odisha, owing to its geographical position, has always had a great tradition of exports. The state has more than 20 marine and seafood exports worth more than Rs.2,000 crore being exported.
In spite of a global slowdown, exports from Odisha crossed the Rs.19,500 crore during 2014-15.
