Responding to the monthly export figures, Sharad Kumar Saraf, President, Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) held that exports in the month of August showed trends similar to that of July 2020 with a double-digit negative growth of 12.66 per cent at USD 22.70 billion. As the businesses and economic activities are inching towards normalcy, Saraf added that exporters have started receiving a lot of enquiries and orders from across the globe helping many sectors to show improved export performance, which is likely to get better and better in the next few months.

The start of business activities across major economies like the US, EU, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand has also helped in bringing back the tempo to the sector said Saraf.

Integration in the global supply chain is key to the revival of the exports sector. FIEO believes that the focus now should also be on important Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and multilateral agreements to further give a boost to our exports and withstand the competition coming from smaller countries like Vietnam, Bangladesh and Malaysia. Further with China seen with a sense of scepticism, this has come as an immense opportunity for India.

14 out of the 30 major product groups were in positive territory during August 2020. Saraf added that the exports during the month for emergency and essential items apart from some labour-intensive sectors including drugs & pharmaceutical, jute manufacturing including floor covering, carpet, plastics & linoleum along with some agri, plantation and meat & dairy products besides, iron-ore were in positive territory showing signs of further revival with few showing impressive double-digit growth.

FIEO President expressed his concern over yet again dip in figures from labour-intensive sectors of exports, which directly or indirectly impacts employment generation in the country. FIEO President further reiterated that there is a need to analyse imports as well, as such a steep decline in imports may hamper the industrial recovery in the coming months.

FIEO Chief reiterated that the growing enquiries and orders from new buyers and destinations show immense opportunity for Indian exports. Hence, there is an urgent and immediate need for a special support package for exports, which is facing huge liquidity challenges due to the stoppage of Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) benefits and IGST refund now. Creation of a long-pending demand of Export Development Fund with 1 per cent corpus of the total value of exports during the last fiscal and addressing "risky exporters" issues apart from quickly deciding on Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) rates are some of the key concerns, which should be immediately considered to give a much-needed boost to the exports sector and the overall economy and make India a key player in the global supply chain in the years to come.

Saraf also has confidence that as export performance is improving and with due support from all the stakeholders, exports will be back on track by the end of the year.