Recession upsets export target

CHANDIGARH, Aug 28: Faced with recession, exporters in Punjab and Chandigarh have inability to meet the target of 20 per cent growth in exports set by the government.

Discussing issues related to measures to check the sagging exports at meeting of the State Level Export Promotion Committee Punjab and Chandigarh, they said that only the agri-exporters seemed to be capable of meeting the target. Other sectors had been severely affected by the slowdown, they added.

However, they are looking forward to the eight members cabinet committee under the Prime Minister, which will review the performance and take steps to give impetus to exports. Earlier, in his keynote address, Rajan Kayshap, Principal Secretary Finance, Punjab, said the government had decided to develop Amritsar, Ludhiana and Bathinda as economic growth corridors to facilitate exports. In addition, it had launched a single-window clearance system 8220;Udyog Sahayak8221; to ensure that various clearances for setting up units were given in a time-bound manner, he added.