Steps to better services sector contribution in exports mooted

The government is working on services sector reforms and trying to remove barriers in order to increase service sector contribution in exports, Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Saturday.

At a meeting of the Consultative Committee of Parliament, the minister emphasised on the need to focus on the service sector and identify the key barriers faced by different types of services and then to undertake specific reforms.

The meeting took place on Friday, according to a statement. The minister said that the government would identify the key barriers facing the sector and take corrective measures.

“The minister also questioned that when services constitute 57 per cent of our GDP, why should our share in world exports of services remain at a low level of 3.24 per cent?,” the statement said. Sitharaman emphasised the role of services in the success of ‘Make in India’ campaign in the consultative committee meeting.

Sitharaman told the committee that India offers the world abundant human resources, including quality professionals who are at par with international standards. In this regard, she cited an example of her recent visit to Myanmar where India has been offered all help to set up facilities for healthcare.