As part of the review of the bilateral comprehensive economic partnership agreement, the two countries also plan to integrate customs and logistics portals to track goods in real time prior to entering ports.
“India’s exports (to the UAE) are about $28.3 billion. We want to hit a record high of $32 billion this year,” the government official said.
India and the UAE are working on customs facilitation, where their logistics and customs portals will be integrated and facilitate real-time data exchange and tracking of ships prior to entering ports.
A review of the trade agreement, which goes into effect on May 1, 2022, is likely to take place in May.
On a monthly basis, about $1.3 billion of Indian exports were duty-free, while outbound freight totaled $2.72 billion.
As many as 6,944 certificates of origin were issued in February, compared with 5,754 in November last year.
India’s exports of gems and jewellery, automobiles, coffee, tea and steel products increased during the June 2022-February 2023 period compared to the same period last year.
“The use of CEPA has increased,” the official said.
However, India’s garment and steel exports to the UAE declined during the period.
Clothing exports fell due to global headwinds, while steel shipments fell, even as the government lifted restrictions on their exports. According to the official, their exports are expected to pick up in the next fiscal year.
India’s overall merchandise exports to the UAE rose 10.4% year-on-year to $23.03 billion during June 2022-February 2023, while imports rose 12.9% to $38.95 billion.