GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

LOK SABHA

UNSTARREDQUESTION NO: 3756

ANSWERED ON: 17.12.2012

EXPORT AS BASIS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 

(a) whether the Government has taken a decision to make exports the basis of economic development in the country; 

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the existing sharepercentage of Indian exports in the global trade market; 

(c) whether the growing difference between the import and export prices has adversely affected the economy of the country; 

(d) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto; 

(e) whether the said difference between the prices has rapidly increased up to 3.5 percent of the total gross domestic product of the country during the last one year; and 

(f) if so, the details thereof along with the difference between the import and the export prices during the last three years and the current year? 

ANSWER

(a) & (b) Exports have always played an important role in the economic development of most countries. This is evident even in Indian case from the continuous upward movement of percentage share of merchandise exports in the overall GDP of India from 13.9 percent in 2009-10 to 16.0 percent in 2010-11 and 17.7 percent in 2011-12. As per the WTO trade statistics Indias share in the total global exports has been measured at 1.07 during 2007, 1.21 during 2008, 1.31 during 2009, 1.48 during 2010 and 1.67 during 2011.

   (c) to (f) The difference between imports and exports is the measure of Trade Balance, which contributes to Current Account Balance stability of a country. Macro Economic growth and stability of a country has a very close correlation with Current Account Balance of that country. Hence,

Government and policy makers keep a close watch on Trade Balance and Current Account Balance. 

The table below gives the figures of Exports and Exports and Trade Balance for the last three years as also for April - October of the current year: 

Year  Exports  Imports  Trade balance Trade balance          as % of GDP      

2009-10  845534   1363736  -518202  8.5      

2010-11  1142922  1683467  -540545  7.6      

2011-12#  1459281  2344772  -885492  10.8      

2012-13#  908340   1507203  -598862    (Apr-Oct.)         

 Provisional.   Source: DGCI & S, Kolkata.