June Merchandise Exports to Reach 88% Last year Figure, Commerce & Industry Minister Tells EEPC India New Chairman

Commerce and Industry Minister Mr Piyush Goyal informed the incoming Chairman of the EEPC India Mr Mahesh K Desai that total merchandise exports for June, 2020 would return to almost 88 per cent of shipments of the corresponding month of the previous fiscal, as the unlocking process gathers pace in the country.

Mr Desai, a first generation technocrat-entrepreneur and founder of the Hyderabad-based Meera Group of engineering firms, has taken over as the new Chairman of the EEPC India, the apex organisation of the country's engineering exporters.

Extending a warm welcome to Mr Desai, Mr Piyush Goyal said that with unlocking of the economy, the exports should come back on track and the trend would be reflected in the June numbers.

The new EEPC India Chairman assured the Commerce and Industry Minister that the engineering industry is committed to supporting the Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi's call for AatmaNirbhar Bharat. ''We are encouraging our members to increasingly use the indigenous raw material and the intermediate products," Mr Desai said.

The Minister exhorted the exporters to be more competitive and play on their comparative strength. Mr Desai, who has been associated with multilateral organisations like the World Bank and UNDP in various capacities, said that in a global market, disrupted by the unprecedented health crisis, the Indian industry and exporters are adapting fast with new strategies, product differentiation and pricing.

Mr Desai pointed out to the Minister that some of the capital goods consignments from Taiwan, crucial for manufacturer-exporters, are being held by the Customs authorities.

He apprised Mr Goyal about some of the restrictive measures being faced by Indian exporters in different countries and sought the government intervention. For instance, Turkey has imposed inappropriate duties on engineering goods like pumps.

Mr Desai also discussed the Minister other issues like formal launch of the Nirvik scheme, need for export credit being available at Repo plus two percentage points.

''As the exporter country has reposed a great confidence in me, as the EEPC India Chairman, even in the turbulent waters, I would try and navigate the country's exporters to new success'', a widely-travelled Mr Desai said.

Hardcore engineer, Mr Desai was associated with the B.I.S (Bureau of Indian Standards) as Convener of a sub-committee on standardization of hand pump operated by solar power, suitable for rural and tribal India and small communities. He represented India for two years in International Standard Organization, Canada.

He had worked on an R and D project with Lund University, Sweden and with S.K.A.T (Swiss Technology Development Center) Switzerland. Worked with World Bank and UNDP for Research Project in the field of rural water supply, for small community.

Mr Desai was also associated with projects under UNICEF, World Bank, Asian Development, African Development Bank, European Funds, Japanese Funds, Scandinavian Countries Funds. He worked in consortium projects with Mitsubishi International and other Japanese companies