Seminar on ‘Strategy for Augmentation of Export from Odisha’ Held
On the fifth day of MSME Trade Fair 2016, a seminar on ‘Strategy for Augmentation of Export from Odisha’ was inaugurated by F.M Nayak, Additional secretary, MSME Depatment of Odisha. He stressed on the need to support and create awareness amongst entrepreneurs on how to market and export their services and products in the international market and in turn boost foreign exchange and Indian economy.
The 2014 guidelines on foreign export has been approved by the government and shall be notified shortly on how to efficiently facilitate credit, technology and marketing support to entrepreneurs on exporting.
UCCI president Ramesh Mohapatra urged the MSMEs to emphasize on exporting by taking the help of the government. Government has started giving subsidy on export loans and MSMEs are encouraged to go global.
Director EP&M B.K Das elaborated on the export policy of Odisha. He spoke on various strategies that MSMEs can undertake in order to explore international market and start trade export.
Director of Industries N. Palai revealed that MSMEs add to 23% of the total export and approximately 20,000 crores worth of export goes from Odisha only, in the form of agricultural produce, forest produce, handicrafts, chemicals and metals. To promote and market MSMEs in the global scale, government is providing 50% of the ground/stall rent to enable maximum participation in international trade fairs, added Palai.
During the technical sessions, Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India Limited (ECGC) Branch manager L.N Sahoo explained the role of ECGC in Export Promotion and how credit facilities can be availed from banks and insurances covered if losses are incurred by entrepreneurs in export trade.
WTC advisor A.O. Kurvilla who has been a part of the state trade fair since 2 years addressed the budding entrepreneurs and encouraged them to seek assistance from the regional offices of World Trade Centre as they have a global presence with offices in over 92 countries. WTC aids the MSMEs by providing them with an e-platform that is accessed by potential buyers from around the world.
WTC faculty Arun Sehgal gave a detailed presentation on how to attract investment from other countries to improve Indian economy. Citing India’s agricultural GDP to be the highest among BRIC countries, he encouraged MSMEs in the agricultural and food processing sector to start exporting domestic produce.
K.K Sahoo from FIEO spoke on the role of FIEO in export and Promotion of MSMEs based in Odisha while Deputy Director (Statistics) EP&M P.M Dwibedy held an open house discussion where entrepreneurs clarified their doubts with the help of the resource persons.