Most Indian sectors maintaining mkt share on exports: Teaotia

Indian industries have managed to maintain and increase their market share in most of the sectors despite countries all over the world experiencing fall in exports, Union Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia said today.

"... it is not just India that has seen fall in exports, China last month reported 25 per cent fall in exports. Europe, US, (in) all countries the demand has contracted, this is the situation," Teaotia told reporters here.

"We are going to have to see that we strengthen our industry to be able to ride out this period, to maintain the market share; and I may assure you that most of the sectors are managing to maintain their market share, even increase their market share," she said."It is the price realisations which have reduced and which hopefully as the commodity prices begin to improve and the global economy strengthens, those will also go up." Teaotia was speaking to reporters after meeting exporters along with the state government officials here.

She said sectors like pharmaceutical gems and jewellery have been good news for the country in exports.

Pharma sector has continued to remain robust and to increase its market share across the globe, textile sector and garments export in some markets continued to remain robust, she said, adding that gems and jewellery has certainly "held its own." Engineering exports except for the last three months have performed very well, she said.

On India's export situation, she said figures for the last more than one year have not been at all positive, and it is an "issue" that "concerns" all of us.

She said "the commodity prices have hardened throughout the world, what we are seeing is of course sharp fall in petroleum prices which is all good for India, but also we have been seeing a sharp fall in the prices of other commodities." There has been currency devaluation in many countries which has affected the competitiveness of Indian products and there has been contraction of global demand, she added.

Responding to a question about the concerns that were shared by the exporters at the meeting today, she said regarding the state government issues were about tax refund, land availability and stamps duty, among others.