Andhra Pradesh with its vast resources could unleash the huge untapped export potential, Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Assistant Director Selvanayagi has opined.
Addressing a seminar here on Friday on ‘Entrepreneurship development programme on exports’, she said the State with a strong agricultural base could easily step up its share in the national exports to a healthy double-digit figure by focusing on such things as value-added agro products, chemicals, marine products, and granite.She wanted entrepreneurs to focus on countries with which India had free trade agreements (FTAs). Exports to FTA countries attracted almost zero import duty, she pointed out.
India has bilateral agreements with, among other countries, SAFTA comprising Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan and ASEAN consisting of Brunei Darussalam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam (ASEAN–India Free Trade Area)
The FIEO planned to promote clusters in Prakasam district to accelerate export of granite, aquaculture, and value-added agro-products.
Customs Deputy Commissioner Srujan Kumar, Joint Director-General of Foreign Trade Punnam Kumar, Export Credit Guarantee Corporation Guntur Branch Manager T. Suresh Babu, and Federation of Andhra Pradesh Small Industries Association President K. Subba Rao also spoke.
