PIB 18th February

Contents:

1. Exports from SEZs achieve USD 100 Billion mark
2. KALA KUMBH – Handicrafts Exhibitions for promotion of GI Crafts
3. India to stop import of thermal coal from Financial Year 2023-24
4. Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) organized a day long consultative workshop

EXPORTS FROM SEZS ACHIEVE USD 100 BILLION MARK

• Number of operational SEZs grow to 241
• Even in the midst of volatile global economy, SEZs in India have shown resilience and have achieved 100-billion-dollar worth of exports in FY 2019-20,as on 17thFebruary 2020
• Important sectors that saw healthy growth in this financial year include Gems & Jewelry (13.3%), Trading & Logistics (35%), Leather & Footwear (15%), Non-Conventional Energy (47%), Textiles & Garments (17.6%).
• Petrochemicals constitute a major segment of SEZ exports, however growth was muted in this segment; which may be attributed to softening of global crude prices

KALA KUMBH – HANDICRAFTS EXHIBITIONS FOR PROMOTION OF GI CRAFTS

• To promote Geographical Indication (GI) crafts and heritage of India the Ministry of Textiles is organizing Kala Kumbha – Handicrafts Thematic Exhibition in various parts of the country through the Office of Development Commissioner (Handicrafts)
• The exhibitions sponsored by Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) started on 14th February, 2020 and will continue till 23rd February 2020 at Bengaluru and Mumbai and will also be organized in Kolkata and Chennai in March 2020.

• In Bengaluru exhibition, GI crafts like Mysore rosewood inlay, Channapatna lacquerware, Dharwad kasuti embroidery, Kolhapur chappal, Bidriware, Molakalmur handblock printing, Ananthapur leather puppet, Thrissur screwpine, Vishakapatna lacquerware, Sandur lambani embroidery, Jodhpur terracota, Jaipur handprinted textile, bronze casting, Medinipur mat weaving, Birbhum artistic leather and Khurdah palm leaf engraving are being displayed.

• In Mumbai exhibition GI crafts like Chittoor kalamkari painting, Thrissur screwpine crafts, Pokharan terracotta crafts, Kutch embroidery & crochet crafts, Pingla patachitra, Birbhum kantha embroidery, Jajpur photachitra painting, Madhubani Mithila painting, Kolhapur chappal, Palghar Worli painting, Kondagaon wrought iron craft, Agate stone crafts and Krishna handblock printing are being displayed.

INDIA TO STOP IMPORT OF THERMAL COAL FROM FINANCIAL YEAR 2023-24

• A two day brainstorming session was organized to find a way forward for the coal sector – at Kevadia in Gujarat on 17th and 18th February 2020
• Ideas have also been mooted that CIL could think of coming up with the state of the art pithead thermal power plants to transform it into an integrated energy company

MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (MSDE) ORGANIZED A DAY LONG CONSULTATIVE WORKSHOP

 District Skill Committees (DSCs) should be further empowered with substantial fund allocation to ensure stringent monitoring and evaluation of skill training under the next phase of PMKVY.

Other discussion points:

• Role of States to increase substantially in skill development activities
• Discussion on developing an action plan for better implementation of skilling initiatives and for creating employment opportunities for India’s youth
• Short Term Training courses to be introduced in ITIs in with due consultation from the State Skill Development Missions (SSDMs)
• Promoting Self Employment and Entrepreneurship for overall economic growth and innovation