Exports seen growing at 15 per cent in 2017-18: Jaitley

New Delhi: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said the country’s exports are likely to expand by about 15 per cent during the current fiscal. “Our exports are expected to grow at about 15 per cent in 2017-18,” he said while presenting Union Budget 2018-19 here.

The country’s merchandise shipments rose 12.36 per cent to 1722.22₹ billion in December 2017. Cumulatively, exports during April-December 2017-18 grew by 12.05 per cent to 14241.07₹ billion.

Total exports value was recorded at 17498.69₹ billion in 2016-17, up from 16711.81₹ billion in the preceding year. Currently, the government provides export incentives through two schemes merchandise and services export from India scheme.

In December last year, the government announced incentives worth Rs 8,450 crore to boost exports of goods and services, mainly from labour-intensive sectors.