Exports rise 24.39 per cent

On the back of nearly 8 per cent industrial growth, India8217;s exports recorded an impressive 24.39 per cent growth in the first half of the current fiscal far exceeding the annual growth target of 18 per cent.

The country8217;s exports touched 33.75 billion during April-September, 2004-05 as against 27.13 billion in the corresponding period in 2003-04. This is in contrast to a mere 5.7 per cent growth witnessed in the first half of 2003-04. However, export growth in September, 2004 was only 17.39 per cent at 6.198 billion, less than the monthly growth of over 20 per cent in the past months.