A first: Punjab comes up with exclusive state export plan

Chandigarh : In a first, the Punjab Government has come up with a state export plan to give further boost to ease of doing business besides promoting the export of local products in the border state.The Chief Secretary, Ms Vini Mahajan, gave nod to the first-of-its-type initiative by any state in the country, which will vary district to district, product to product, and issue to issue.Chairing the state-level export committee’s meeting for finalising the state export plan 2021-26, Ms Mahajan said the state government has prepared the Punjab State Export Plan 2021-26 in order to implement ‘district as export hub scheme’ as well as ‘one district one product scheme’. This will transform the state into an export power house and promote local products with an objective of an increase in the volume of export, synergies of various schemes of Centre and State, besides increasing efficiency in supply chains and augmenting export infrastructure, products and market diversification.The Chief Secretary appreciated the initiative to prepare Punjab State Export Plan and expressed hope that this will help the state in deciding what issues need to be taken up on priority and what measures were required immediately.The Punjab State Export Plan has clearly listed out the products which the state was proud of and other products that will make the state feel proud. “It is a matter of pride that after finalising the plan in a record time, Punjab has become the first state in the country to adopt the same,” she asserted.
The Chief Secretary said the plan christened, “Export Analysis & Export Vision – Punjab 2021-26”, was an innovative exercise done by the state in which district by district, product by product, and issue by issue has been analysed thoroughly with respect to the export potential and hoped that this will help as a reference in formulating policy and schemes for export promotion in the state.The plan was prepared by the DGFT, Ludhiana, in collaboration with the Department of Industries and Commerce, along with active involvement of all stakeholders in export sector in the state after conducting various consultative meetings in the districts.The state export plan also comprises all 22 district-level export plans and the potential items for export from each district has been identified, which include rice, hosiery, bicycle, honey, terry towel, pharmaceutical, tractor parts, cotton, cotton yarn, agri implements, kinnow, bakery products, and entertainment services.Presently, Punjab ranked at 13th position by way of contribution to export in the country. The overall export from Punjab was only 2 per cent of the total export India.The plan showcases the SWOT analysis of all the districts and the state with respect to its export potential and contains a road map for exponential growth of export from the state.