CATEGORIES

'Lowered Incentives Have Hurt Exports'

The decentralised powerloom sector is the backbone of India’s textile business. It not only contributes about 60% to India’s fabrics export, but also provides employment to over seven million people. The Dollar Business caught up with Purushottam K. Vanga, Chairman of Powerloom Development and Export Promotion Council (PDEXCIL), to understand what the Council is doing to boost exports from the sector.

“it's Time to Explore Untapped Markets”

Charan Reddy Arutla (CRA): I have always been passionate about apparel and shopping – usually, I spend a lot of time and money on shopping.    In 2011, an enthusiastic young man combined his passion for fashion with business and started Roman Island. Six years later, this Rs.100 crore company is making its presence felt both in the domestic and international markets. CEO and Chairman Charan Reddy Arutla shares the company’s growth, challenges and plans with The Dollar Business.

Fta Will Create A Win-win Situation

Edgar Vasquez, Vice Minister of Foreign Trade of Peru, was in India recently to push for a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) covering goods, services and investments between the two countries. The Dollar Business caught up with him to understand the rationale behind the proposed FTA, which is in line with the agreements the Latin American nation already has with 53 countries.

The 'Soap' Opera Has Just Begun

Indian exporters of organic soaps have been making ‘clean’ hits across overseas markets for quite some time now. As a result, exports of this product from the country has risen steadily. So, what really makes this product a popular choice amongst foreign buyers and Indian exporters (who enjoy high average margins)?

GST: Right Intent. Wrong Rules

A catalyst or deterrent for India's exports?

The Sweet Sound Of Profits

Usage of earphones and headphones in India has been increasing at a rapid clip, in tandem with mobile phone and Internet penetration. And that should be music to the ears of importers of the product as production lags demand by a huge margin.The Dollar Business dives deep into the business to understand and analyse the dynamics of this lucrative market.

Protectionism Is On The Rise Globally

Dr. Shashi Tharoor dons many hats with equal élan – a Congress leader, a Member of Parliament representing the Thiruvananthapuram constituency, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, and a much acclaimed and awarded author. In an exclusive interview with The Dollar Business, Dr. Tharoor shares his views on the changing dynamics of global trade.

A Fashionable, ‘Boot'iful Idea

When India’s exports were on a decline over the last couple of years, one product category that did not lose its shine is leather boots. On the contrary, its exports from India surpassed that of traditional leaders like Germany and Netherlands. The Dollar Business analyses what makes this product a bestseller overseas.

What's In Store For Global Trade In 2017?

The year gone by was eventful, both for the world and India. While the much-awaited Goods and Services Tax (GST) was passed by the Indian Parliament, United Kingdom voted to exit the European Union. While Donald Trump took the world by surprise, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's sudden announcement of demonetisation left the whole country in a financial shock. The global commodity market too woke up from a slumber, though there is more recovery that can be made. While these and many other such events shook the world in 2016, their impact on global trade and policy environments will only likely be seen in 2017. Will 2017 be a year of change for the better? The Dollar Business takes a look at key elements and occurrences that could change world trade in 2017.

Demonetisation & Its (Side) Effects

While a large segment of the Indian population supports the post-Diwali demonetisation drive, that its impact on India's economy will be negative in the short term is a given. The Dollar Business analyses how the move could well prove a headwind for India's manufacturing, foreign trade and economic growth.

Will Trade Triumph Over Trump?

With the Electoral College in US voting in favour of Donald Trump, questions of who will be the most powerful man in the world after Obama have been put to rest. What would a President Trump, who won on an isolationist platform, mean for the future of world trade? Will a US withdrawal from TPP signal the beginning of the end for the mega trade pact? Will China eventually benefit? The Dollar Business finds out.

MSMEs Can Drive India's Growth

Ever since he was tasked with revamping India’s MSMEs and bringing them at par with their global counterparts, Kalraj Mishra, Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) has introduced many dynamic schemes. In an interaction with The Dollar Business, Mishra shares his plans for enhancing the sustainability and competitiveness of a sector that was largely ignored for long.

Our Partnership With India Is Vibrant & Growing

The US-India relationship has been called as one of the most defining partnerships of the 21st century by none other than US President Barack Obama. In an interaction with The Dollar Business, Richard R. Verma, US Ambassador to India, talks about the ties between the two democracies and the way forward for bilateral trade and investments.

Enhance Support Under Meis To 5%

Council for Leather Exports (CLE) is the apex trade promotion organisation of the Indian leather industry. Of late, this industry body has taken up several initiatives to bolster exports of leather products from the country. The Dollar Business caught up with M. Rafeeque Ahmed, Chairman, CLE, to understand what the Council is doing to give up a leg up to the industry in overseas markets.

We Helped Namibia Conduct Its 2015 General Elections

The Indian government’s recent decision to relax FDI norms in defence has brought in a wave of dynamism into the sector. The Dollar Business caught up with Kiran V., General Manager – International Marketing, Bharat Electronics Ltd., one of the few defence exporters from India, to learn what the policy change means for the sector.

India Can Become A Hub For Defence Manufacturing

Samtel Avionics is one of India’s leading players in high-technology avionics and rugged electronic systems for military applications. In an exclusive interaction with The Dollar Business, Puneet Kaura, MD & CEO, Samtel Avionics Ltd., talks about opportunities available to Indian companies in the defence sector and how Samtel is tapping them to become a powerhouse in avionics and technology solutions.

Honey, I Blew Up The Profits!

For those Indians in the business of honey exports, the past few years have actually been ‘extra sweet’. India’s exports of natural honey has grown in proportion to the increase in consumption across international markets, making this non-fancy food product a clear treat for exporters in India.

'We Are One Of India's Biggest Trade Partners'

References of a strong trade alliance between India and Netherlands can be traced back to the 17th century. Even today, the two nations boast of a robust relationship. In an interaction with The Dollar Business, H.E. Alphonsus Stoelinga, Ambassador of Netherlands to India, talks about the ways to further consolidate the strong bilateral relations and maximise opportunities for investors from both countries.

'India Is A Priority Market For Amul'

When one talks about dairy products in India, the first name that perhaps comes to mind is Amul. R. S. Sodhi, Managing Director of Gujarat Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF which owns the brand) Ltd., spoke with The Dollar Business about the USP of the cooperative, the continued relevance of its business model and Amul’s expansion across overseas markets.

New-gen Newsmakers

The Dollar Business Celebrates the Success of Rising Stars of Indian Foreign Trade for Them the Sky Is No Limit, It’s Just a Direction!

We Will Be Exporting to 30 Markets From India by End of 2016

Daimler AG has been active in the commercial vehicle business in India since the 1950s. However, it only started manufacturing in the country in 2012 through its subsidiary Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV). And since then there has been no looking back. The Dollar Business caught up with Erich Nesselhauf, MD & CEO, DICV, to know the secret to DICV's success.

FTP Mid - Term Review : Will Exporters Woes Continue?

India's exporters got little from this year's Union Budget. The recently implemented Goods and Services Tax (GST) further left them confused. They now can't wait to learn what 'happy surprises' the mid-term review of the Foreign Trade Policy has in store for them. And not to say, their expectations from the mid-term review have changed in the past weeks. [It's just getting bigger!] The Dollar Business reaches out to India's EXIM community to learn what it desires from the FTP revision and how GST has impacted its wishlist.

Exporters Find It Tough To Honour High Volume Commitments

Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), established in 1985, has been instrumental in identifying new markets and providing better support systems to exporters of agricultural and processed food products. In a tête-à-tête with The Dollar Business, Devendra Kumar Singh, Chairman of APEDA, throws light on the various initiatives that APEDA is taking up to give exports a boost.

Can India's Outsourcing Industry Survive The Trump Attack?

Uncertainty has descended upon the $150-billion Indian outsourcing industry in anticipation of the protectionist regime under President Trump. Protectionism has been a popular election rhetoric across nations, and more so in recent times. And the voting masses seem to like it. Will Trump’s campaign cry for protectionism cross the boundaries of poetic drama and come alive as laws? There is no doubt that US being the largest consumer nation in the world, governments across the globe will keep a close watch on Trump’s policies. India will be no exception. The hot-button topic for India – ‘outsourcing’, has surfaced again and the impact of Trump’s announcements, be it restrictions on H-1B visas or penal taxes on US companies for outsourcing jobs, is being felt already in India. And this, coming during times when India's outsourcing industry has been experiencing a rough patch isn't an encouraging development. How hard will an avalanche of protectionist measures from the Trump regime hit India's outsourcing industry?

Our Sourcing From India Will Double In The Next Few Years

It's a known fact that the Indian government is working hard to increase defence and aerospace procurement from indigenous sources – from the current 40% to 70%, in the next 10 years. The Dollar Business recently caught up with Pratyush Kumar, President, Boeing India, to understand how manufacturers in India can leverage growth opportunities and what makes India a preferred sourcing destination for the American aircraft-maker.

Telecom Exports Can Be The Next Big Growth Area

Telecommunications is one of the fastest growing sectors across the globe. Telecom Equipment and Services Promotion Council (TEPC) has been actively working to promote India’s exports from this sector. In an exclusive interaction with The Dollar Business, Rakesh Kumar Bhatnagar, Director General, TEPC, talks about the issues plaguing the sector and the outlook for the future.

'Li-ion' Of The Imports Business...Become One!

To say that almost all modern day gadgets are powered by lithium-ion batteries would not be an exaggeration. From mobile phones and medical devices to defence equipment, these batteries are omnipresent. Interestingly, while their demand has been on the rise little has been done to produce them indigenously. And that means importers of these batteries are making hay. The Dollar Business analyses the present and the future of the business.

'It's Puzzling That Exports Hasn't Been Consistent'

Dr. Rakesh Mohan over his long and illustrious career has been the Deputy Governor of Reserve Bank of India (RBI); Executive Director at International Monetary Fund; Chief Economic Advisor to the Ministry of Finance, GoI and more. In an exclusive interaction with The Dollar Business, on the eve of the launch of his new book, he held forth on a wide-range of topics including fiscal responsibility, GST, the role of RBI and more.

'India Is An Exciting Place To Do Business In...'

Cargill Inc., a multi-national food major with a presence in 70 countries, started operations in India in 1987. Today, the company is one of the largest originators and marketers of several commodities in India. Siraj Chaudhry, Chairman, Cargill India, in an exclusive interaction with The Dollar Business, talks about Cargill’s journey in India – trials, tribulations, triumphs and the road ahead.

A Profitable Connection?

From postcards to video calls, the world has moved on to newer, faster and easier forms of communication in a matter of a few decades. This progress has been made due to the proliferation of optical fibre cable (OFC) networks around the globe. But many miss the fact that India is already the world’s third-largest exporter of OFCs, with exports witnessing double-digit growth over the last few years.