Lok Sabha Question No. 112 (STARRED), answered on 2024-07-30
Subject: Districts as Export Hubs Initiative
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Dr. Hemant Vishnu Savara

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *112 ANSWERED ON 30/07/2024

## DISTRICTS AS EXPORT HUBS INITIATIVE

## *112.   DR. HEMANT VISHNU SAVARA:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  identified  export  potential  in  all  districts  in  the  country  under Districts as Export Hubs initiative;

(b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  including  the  locations  and  products  identified  so  far,  State-wise including Maharashtra specially in Palghar district;

(c) whether  any  other  initiatives  have  been  taken  by  the  Government  under  'Vocal  for  Local' specially in Palghar district; and

- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## 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 (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  OF  PART  (a)  to  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.112 FOR ANSWER ON 30 TH  JULY, 2024 REGARDING 'DISTRICTS AS EXPORT HUBS INITIATIVE'

(a) to (d) Yes,  the  Government  has  taken  measures  to  promote  exports  from  the  districts under  the  Districts  as  Export  Hubs  Initiative.  It  includes  identification  of  the  products  and services  with  export  potential  in  all  the  districts  of  the  country  in  consultation  with  all stakeholders  including  the  States/UTs.  An  institutional  mechanism  has  been  set  up  in  all States/UTs including Maharashtra by forming the State Export Promotion Committee (SEPC) and District Export Promotion Committee (DEPC) at the District level.

Under the initiative, District Export Action Plans detailing the existing bottlenecks in the supply chain and identifying possible interventions to mitigate the existing gaps have been prepared for 590 districts and are being prepared for the rest of the districts.

To  encourage  exports  from  the  districts  under  "Districts  as  Export  Hubs",  DGFT, through Regional Authorities, has been engaging with States & Districts to conduct specific export promotion  outreach events &  handhold  the  potential exporters.  The  Regional Authorities  of DGFT,  in  collaboration  with  e-commerce  platforms,  have  been  conducting training workshops to handhold exporters, promote trade of products & push new businesses to  export  through  the  e-commerce  route.  An  outreach  event  on  E-commerce  was  also conducted  in  Mumbai  region  on  26.06.2024  where  exporters  from  the  districts  close  to Mumbai including Palghar were invited.

The Government has taken several initiatives under the  'Vocal  for  Local'  campaign, particularly in Palghar district. The Chitrawarli Foundation For Art & Craft Cluster in Jawhar, Palghar,  focuses  on  promoting  Warli  painting.  This  cluster  operates  under  the  Micro  and Small  Enterprises  -  Cluster  Development  Programme  (MSI-CDP)  and  benefits  40  units engaged in the production of Warli paintings. Additionally, export promotion programs and local entrepreneurship events such as Laghuswapna 2024 have been conducted to empower local  MSMEs.  Further,  to  promote  Chikoo  from  the  district,  ODOP  Stall  is  functional  at Palghar Railway station and Saphale Railway station in Palghar District.

Under  Districts  as  Export  Hubs  Initiative  and  ODOP  initiative,  Dahanu  Gholvad Chikoo (Sapota), Iron and Steel products, Chemical/Pharmaceutical products, Warli Painting (Handicraft)  and  Marine  Products  are  the  products  identified  from  Palghar  district  in Maharashtra.

List  of  all  districts  State-wise  including  Maharashtra  where  products/services  have been identified under the Districts as Export Hubs initiative is available on DGFT portal in the link given below.

(https://www.dgft.gov.in/CP/)

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