---

The policy framework is in place and the possibilities of exports are quite good, Exim Bank MD Y Mathur told KNN adding that the Indian SMEs have to consider their competitive strengths. As the exports are showing stubborn trend of decline since last 15 months, KNN caught up with the Exim Bank chief to know about the measures the bank is taking to help exporters reverse the trend. The 70 member Board of Trade (BOT), headed by Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, met on Wednesday to brainstorm on the issues faced by the exporters. Global factors are undoubtedly one of the prime reasons for decline in exports. But blaming it all only on that is incorrect. Credit, which is the most common problem faced by every MSME exporters, coupled with the problems such as lack of policies, delays due to infrastructure problems, implementation issues are also the reasons to not enthuse them much. However, talking exclusively to KNN, Managing Director cum Chairman of Export Import Bank of India (EXIM), Yaduvendra Mathur, said, “The exports are supported through variety of policy measures that the Government of India has taken and the Banks are also fully geared up under the Stand-up India Scheme. The possibilities of exports are very good, off- course the Indian SMEs have to consider their competitive strengths. The opportunities are there and policy frame work is well in place,” he added. Talking about the initiatives taken by the government to boost exports, he said, “One of the initiatives of Government is the line of credit. The EXIM Bank has been extending line of credit to facilitate project exports and our SME customer can participate along with the project exporter to be a part of joint venture and exports under the lines of credit to more than 65 countries in Asia, Africa and in central republics.” Mathur pointed that the clusters are being formed in North- East Region particularly and the bank is working with an arrangement to support them. “The bank will support specifically in the North-Eastern part of India the SMEs to form clusters when they can export to Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam under the act east policy of the Government of India,” he said.