Ganesh Kumar Gupta takes over as new president of FIEO

Gupta has worked for the overall growth, development and exports of the textile industry for over 4 decades. He has also earlier held the post of president, vice president, regional chairman (WR), FIEO; chairman, Textile Committee; chairman, SRTEPC and Silk Export Promotion Council; director, ECGC and member, National Productivity Council. A great votary of aggressive marketing for exports, he has also aggressively taken up many issues of the exports sector and brought them to logical conclusions.

Associated with the leather industry for more than 4 decades, Ahmed has played a crucial role in the overall growth and development of the industry. Before his stint as vice president, FIEO, Ahmed has held several key positions including president and regional chairman (SR) of FIEO; president, All Indian Skin and Hide Tanners and Merchants Association; chairman, Tamil Nadu State Council of FICCI; chairman, CLE and chairman, FDDI, ministry of commerce & industry, Government of India.

Gupta expects the merchandise exports to be around $315 billion and services exports to about $185 billion in FY 2017-18. The Federation expects to end the fiscal 2016-17 with an export of about $270-275 billion as against $262 billion in the previous year, with a growth of around 3-4 per cent for the year in the merchandise sector whereas in services sector FIEO is expecting an export of $160 billion in 2016-17.

The new FIEO president is of the view that as we had already touched the $300 billion merchandise exports in the past, we should look at more aggressively increasing our exports with previous 6 months specially the February exports showing an impressive double digit growth of around 17.5 per cent.

Gupta also feels that a greater emphasis needs to be given to exports in the new GST regime with liquidity being the key challenge for the exporters. He also said that in the upcoming mid-term review of the Foreign Trade Policy, there is a need to look at further diversifying the product basket focusing more on high-tech products where India's share in global trade is very low, to further compete in the international market. (KD)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India