Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, July 20: In a bid to boost exports, the state government Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the World Trade Centre (WTC).
The MoU was signed between Orissa Small Industries Corporation (OSIC) under micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) department and WTC at Idcol Auditorium. OSIC managing director Partha Sarathi Mishra and WTC advisor AO Kuruvila inked the pact.
In the absence of proper information, logistic arrangements and handholding support, the small and medium enterprises in the state are unable to export their products, MSME officials said. The move is expected to create a platform for such industries and enterprises for export of their products.
The move holds significance as the state government has projected to scale up its export potential to `21,560 crore in 2016-17 fiscal. Besides, the government has also projected that the export figure will reach `38,714 crore by 2022-23.
Records say sectors like metallurgical, mineral, software, engineering helped the state government boost the export potential even as performance of sectors like handlooms, handicrafts, pharmaceuticals and agriculture products was not very encouraging.
With the signing of the MoU, the state MSMEs can use this international platform of WTC, which has presence in 92 countries with 327 centres all over the world, for promotion of their products, officials said.
This is expected to help the government augment exports as there is a huge demand for state’s mineral and non-mineral products in the international market which includes handicrafts, handlooms, spices, cashew, marine products and service sectors such as IT and tourism.
MSME minister Jogendra Behera said, “The MoU between OSIC and WTC, paves way for MSME as well as associated departments to work together with WTC for market development and penetration opportunities for the enterprises of the state.”
