NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The government may offer more incentives for exporters on top of the stimulus measures announced last year to help labour-intensive export firms hit by the global economic slump, newspapers quoted trade minister Anand Sharma as saying.
India's exports have fallen for 11 straight months to August, with media reporting they dropped an annual 14 percent to $13.6 billion in September, as the recession in major overseas markets flattened demand.
"We will review and see if we can give some more incentives," the Hindu Business Line newspaper quoted Sharma as saying on Sunday.
"We may extend help to the engineering, textile, apparel, pharmaceutical and handicraft sectors. These could include fiscal or non-fiscal measures," the minister said in comments reported by the Hindu newspaper.
Sharma, who told Reuters on October 13 that Indian exporters still face weak demand from Europe and the United States, told reporters on Sunday that it was premature to consider ending the various stimulus measures offered since last December.
India had cut factory gate taxes and offered exporters cheaper credit and other benefits.
Source : REUTERS