Share of goods exports rises to 17.7% of GDP

New Delhi: Despite a slowdown in global demand for goods, the share of India’s merchandise exports has increased to 17.7 per cent in 2011-12 from 13.9 per cent in 2009-10. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry D. Purandeswari said there has been a continuous upward movement of percentage share of merchandise exports in the overall GDP of India which showed that it played an important role in the economic development of the country. The percentage share of merchandise exports in the overall GDP of India from increased from 13.9 per cent in 2009-10 to 16 per cent in 2010-11 and 17.7 per cent in 2011-12, she said. The Minister also pointed out that as per WTO trade statistics, India’s share in the total global exports has also been increasing since 2007. “The long-term vision of the Government is to make India a major player in world trade and assume a role of leadership in international trade organisations commensurate with India’s growing importance,” Purandeswari said.