Lok Sabha Question No. 532 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-16
Subject: Impact of Lockdown
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Imtiaz Jaleel Syed, Asaduddin Owaisi, Rita Bahuguna Joshi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 532 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 th SEPTEMBER, 2020

## IMPACT OF LOCKDOWN

## 532. SHRI SYED IMTIAZ JALEEL: SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वािण�य एवं उ�ोग मं�ी ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the export sector has been the worst affected due to lockdown;
- (b) if so, whether the manufacturing, hotel and hospitality industry have been the worst affected;
- (c) if so, whether there is any sign of recovery by these sectors after unlock 01; and
- (d) the steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx ea=h ( Jh ih;w'k xks;y ) THE MINISTER OF  COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) to  (c): India's  overall  export  (merchandise  plus  services)  has  declined  by  25.42%  during    the period  April-June,  2020  as  compared  to  the  corresponding  period  of  previous  year.  The  latest merchandise exports show a recovery, with export decline reducing to (-)12.66% in August,2020. With the gradual opening up of the economy after the nation-wide lockdown, industrial activity has started to normalize. The quick estimate of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation for the month of June, 2020 stands at 107.8 as compared to 53.6 and 89.5 in April, 2020 and May, 2020 respectively.
- (d): Government has taken the following key steps to boost exports:
- (i) The validity of Foreign Trade Policy (2015-20) extended by one year i.e. upto 31-3-2021 and relaxations granted and time lines extended due to COVID-19.
- (ii) Interest  Equalization  Scheme  on  pre  and  post  shipment  rupee  export  credit  has  been extended by one year i.e. upto 31-3-2021.
- (iii) Line  Ministries  have  notified  various  sectoral  incentive  packages,  such  as  Production Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI) by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and PLI Scheme by Department of Pharma for Key Starting Materials (KSMs)/ Drug Intermediates and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs).
- (iv) Common Digital Platform for Certificate of Origin has been launched to facilitate trade and increase FTA utilization by exporters.
- (v) A  comprehensive  'Agriculture  Export  Policy'  is  under  implementation  to  provide  an impetus  to  agricultural  exports  related  to  agriculture,  horticulture,  animal  husbandry, fisheries and food processing sectors.
- (vi) Promoting and diversifying services exports by pursuing specific action plans for the 12 Champion Services Sectors.
- (vii) Promoting districts as export hubs by identifying products with export potential in the District, addressing bottlenecks for exporting these products, supporting local exporters/manufacturers to generate employment in the District.
- (viii) Strengthening  eco-system  for  adoption  /  implementation  of  mandatory  technical standards for goods, services and skilling.
- (ix)Energising Indian missions abroad towards promoting our Trade, Tourism, Technology and Investment goals.
- (x) Package announced to support domestic industry, including through various banking and financial sector relief measures, especially for MSMEs, which constitute a major share in exports.

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